MISCELLANIES. THE CLOWN'S REPLY. John Trott was desir'd by two witty peers, To tell them the reason why asses had ears; "An't please you," quoth John, " I'm not given to letters, PROLOGUE, WRITTEN AND SPOKEN BY THE POET LABERIUS, A ROMAN KNIGHT, WHOM CÆSAR FORCED UPON THE STAGE. Preserved by Macrobius. (2) WHAT! no way left to shun th' inglorious stage, (1) [This is the only effusion preserved, of several which Goldsmith is said to have written while a student at Edinburgh.] (2) [This translation was first printed in “The Present State of Polite Learning," in 1759; but was omitted in the second edition, which appeared in 1774. Decimus Laberius was made a Roman knight by Julius Cæsar. For a long period he maintained the first character as a farce writer; but Publius Syrus at last became his rival, and carried off the applause of the theatre. See Aulus Gellius, 1. iii., c. 7; and Hor. Sat. lib. i. sat. x.] A time there was, when glory was my guide, THE LOGICIANS REFUTED. In imitation of Dean Swift. (1) Logicians have but ill defin'd As rational the human mind; By ratiocinations specious, Have strove to prove with great precision, (1) [First printed in the "Busy Body," 1759; to draw attention to which publication it was announced as the production of the Dean of St. Patrick. It was included in the Dublin edition of his works, and is continued by Sir Walter Scott, who had doubtless forgotten its position in the works of Goldsmith. See Life, ch. ix.] Homo est ratione preditum ; But for my soul I cannot credit 'em ; Who ever knew an honest brute At law his neighbour prosecute, They eat their meals and take their sport, Nor know who's in or out at court; They never to the levee go To treat as dearest friend, a foe; They never importune his Grace, Nor ever cringe to men in place; Nor draw the quill to write for Bob: (1) (1) [Sir Robert Walpole, the object of so much vituperation by Swift.] Of beasts, it is confess'd, the ape At court, the porters, lacqueys, waiters, EPIGRAM ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH, STRUCK BLIND BY LIGHTNING.(1) Sure 'twas by Providence design'd, Rather in pity, than in hate, That he should be, like Cupid, blind, To save him from Narcissus' fate.(2) (1) [First printed in "The Bee," 1759. See vol. i. p. 8.] (2) ["The princess of Eboli, the mistress of Phillip II. of Spain, and Maugiron, the minion of Henry III. of France, had each of them lost an eye; and the famous Latin epigram, which Goldsmith has either translated or imitated, was written on them."-LORD BYRON, Works, vol. vi. p. 390.] STANZAS ON THE TAKING OF QUEBEC, AND DEATH OF GENERAL Amidst the clamour of exulting joys, Which triumph forces from the patriot heart, O, Wolfe! to thee a streaming flood of woe, Alive, the foe thy dreadful vigour fled, And saw thee fall with joy-pronouncing eyes: STANZAS. Weeping, murmuring, complaining, Myra, too sincere for feigning, Fears th' approaching bridal night. Yet why impair thy bright perfection? She long had wanted cause of fear. (1) [First printed in the "Busy Body," 1759. The alleged relationship of the Poet with this distinguished officer, produced very naturally an effort to celebrate him, after a death so honourable.] (2) [First printed in "The Bee." 1759.] |