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Our souls, my friend! which once sup-Now

plied

One wish, nor breathed a thought beside,

Now flow in different channels; Disdaining humbler rural sports, 'Tis yours to mix in polish'd courts, And shine in Fashion's annals.

'Tis mine to waste on love my time, Or vent my reveries in rhyme,

Without the aid of Reason; For sense and reason (Critics know it) Have quitted every amorous Poet,

Nor left a thought to seize on.

POOR LITTLE! sweet melodious bard; Of late esteem'd it monstrous hard,

That he who sang before all, He who the lore of love expanded, By dire Reviewers should be branded, As void of wit and moral.*

And yet, while Beauty's praise is thine, Harmonious favourite of the Nine,

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-I must return to you,

And sure apologies are due,

Accept then my concession;

In truth, dear - --, in fancy's flight,
I soar along from left to right,

My Muse admires digression.
I think I said 'twould be your fate
To add one star to royal state,

May regal smiles attend you;
And should a noble monarch reign,
You will not seek his smiles in vain,
If worth can recommend you.

Yet, since in danger courts abound,
Where specious rivals glitter round,

From snares, may Saints preserve

you;

And grant your love or friendship

ne'er

From any claim a kindred care,

But those who best deserve you.

Not for a moment may you stray
From Truth's secure unerring way,

May no delights decoy;

O'er roses may your footsteps move,
Your smiles be ever smiles of love,

Your tears be tears of joy.

Oh! if you wish that happiness
Your coming days and years may bless,
And virtues crown your brow;
Be still, as you were wont to be,

And though myself may be the next, Spotless as you've been known to me,

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The Derivation of an Epigram. We call it, sir, an Epigram,

That, though it sometimes glows, Because 'tis like a PIG aud RAM;

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Select Biography.

"No part of History is more instructive and delightful than the Lives of great and worthy Men."

BURNETT.

LIFE OF DR. GOLDSMITH.

horrors of a prison. After he had got over this embarrassment he had a great desire to travel; and it is a circumstance worth recording, that he had so strong a propensity to see different countries, men, and manners, that even the necessity of walking on foot could not deter him from this favourite

learning procured him a favourable reception at most of the religious houses he visited. He him self tells us, that whenever he approached a peasant's house, he

This gentleman was born at pursuit. His German flute, on Elphin, in the county of Ros- which he played tolerably well, common, in Ireland, in the year frequently supplied him with the 1729. His father, the Reverend means of subsistence, and his Charles Goldsmith, had four sons, of whom Oliver, was the youngest. He studied the classics in Mr. Hughes's school; and on the 11th of June, 1744, was admitted a sizer, in Trinity College, Dublin. played one of his merry tunes, During his continuance at the and that generally procured him University he made no great dis- not only a nights lodging, but play of those shining abilities subsistance for the next day. which afterwards so distinguish- He had not long arrived at edly marked his genius. In Fe- Geneva, when he met with a bruary, 1749, two years after the young man, who became pos-regular course of things, he ob- sessed of a considerable income, tained the degree of Bachelor of on the death of an uncle, and to Arts. In 1751 he visited Edin- whom Dr. Goldsmith was recomburgh, having previously turned mended as a travelling companion. his thoughts to the profession of As avarice was the prevailing physic, and attended some courses principle of this young man, it of anatomy in Dublin. At Edinburgh, he studied the different branches of medicine under the respective professors in that Uni- Dr. Goldsmith, during his resiversity. His thoughtless, though dence at the college of Edinburgh, beneficent disposition soon involv- had given marks of his rising ed him in difficulties; and having genius for poetry, which Switzer

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made himself responsible for the

cannot be supposed he was long pleased with his preceptor, who was of a contrary turn of mind.

land greatly contributed to bring debts of another person, a fellow- to maturity. It was here he student, he was obliged abrupt- wrote the first sketch of The Fra-ly to leave Scotland to avoid the veller, which he sent to his brother

N

Henry, a clergyman in Ireland, who, despising fame and fortune, retired with an amiable wife to pass a life of happiness and obscurity, "A man he was to all the country

dear,

The Good-natured Man was acted at Covent Garden Theatre, in the year 1768, and succeeded, though in a degree inferior to its merit; many parts of it exhibit the strongest indications of our auThe pro

And passing rich at forty pounds a thor's comic talents.

year.

logue to it, which is excellent, was written by Dr. Samuel Johnson.

Our poet and pupil soon separated and the former being satisfied In 1773, the comedy of She with travelling, bent his course to- Stoops to Conquer or the Mistakes wards England. His situation of a Night, was acted at Covent was not much mended on his arri- Garden Theatre. This piece was, val in London, at which period the by some writers, considered as a whole of his finances were reduced farce; even if so, it must be ranked to a few halfpence. among the farces of a man of genius.

After having surmounted many difficulties he at last became a lit- The last theatrical piece the tle more settled, and in 1759 pro- Doctor produced was The Grumduced several works, particularly bler, a Farce, altered from Sedley. a periodical publication, called It was acted first in 1773, for The Bee, and An Inquiry the benefit of Mr. Quick, but it into the Present State of po- was acted that night only, and lite Learning in Europe. He was never printed. also became a writer in The Pub- He had been for some years, at lic Ledger in which his Citizen different times, affected with a vioof the World originally appeared lent stranguary, which contributunder the title of Chinese Letters. ed to imbitter the latter part of His reputation rapidly increased, his life, and which, united with the and at length was fully established vexations he suffered upon other by his publication of The Travel- occasions, brought on a kind of ler, in the year 1765. His Vicar habitual despondency. In this of Wakefield followed his Travel- condition he was attacked by a ler and his History of England nervous fever, which, in spite of was followed by the performance the most able medical assistance, of the comedy of The Good-terminated in his dissolution on natured Man, all of which contri-the 4th of April, 1774, in the 45th buted to place him among the of his age. first rank of the poets of these times.

• Deserted Village..

year

His remains were deposited in the burial ground of the temple, where he had resided some time, and a monument has since been

erected to his memory, in West- the Doctor, embellished with liteminster Abbey, at the expense of rary ornaments; underneath which a literary club to which he belong- is a tablet of white marble with ed. It consists of a large medal- the following Inscription, written lion, exhibiting a good likeness of by his friend, Dr. S. Johnson.

TRANSLATION

Of the Inscription on the Tomb of
OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

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This Monument is raised
To the Memory of

OLIVER GOLDSMITH,

Poet, Natural Philosopher, and Historian:
Who left no species of Writing untouched;

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