It must be borne in mind that many of the poems included in this collection of Miscellanies were never intended for publication by their author; that some were the effusions of necessity-the kites of the day-others complimentary outpourings of a generous nature, intended for private perusal and the fire. Yet all contain some particular strokes of genius characteristic of their writer-and in four or five the poet himself in his happiest mood. A few will be found printed elsewhere in this edition. I wished to keep them where their author placed them-the original setting of such things is always of importance-and I wished to retain them among the Miscellanies for two reasons; previous editors had properly included them among the Poems, and their appearance together is essential to the full appreciation of Goldsmith's genius as a poet. MISCELLANIES. THE CLOWN'S REPLY. JOHN TROTT was desir'd by two witty peers, "An't please you," quoth John, "I'm not given to letter Edinburgh, 1753.1 PROLOGUE. WRITTEN AND SPOKEN BY THE POET LABERIUS, A ROMAN KNIGHT, PRESERVED BY MACROBIUS. WHAT! no way left to shun th' inglorious stage, With honest thrift I held my honour dear: 1 First printed in the Dublin Edition of Goldsmith's Poems and Plays, 8vo., 1777, p. 79. 2 First printed in "The Present State of Polite Learning," 1759; but omitted in the second edition, which appeared in 1774. But this vile hour disperses all my store, IN IMITATION OF DEAN SWIFT.1 LOGICIANS have but ill defin'd By ratiocinations specious, Have strove to prove with great precision, With definition and division, Homo est ratione præditum ; But for my soul I cannot credit 'em ; And must in spite of them maintain, That man and all his ways are vain ; Than reason,-boasting mortals' pride; 1 First printed in "The Busy Body," 1759; to draw attention to which publication it was announced as the production of Swift. It is improperly included in the Dublin edition of Swift's works, and in the two editions of Swift by Sir Walter Scott. And that brute beasts are far before 'em, Deus est anima brutorum. Who ever knew an honest brute At law his neighbour prosecute, Or friend beguile with lies and flattery? They eat their meals and take their sport, They never to the levee go To treat as dearest friend, a foe; They never importune his Grace, Nor draw the quill to write for Bob: 1 Sir Robert Walpole. 1 ON THE TAKING OF QUEBEC, AND DEATH OF GENERAL WOLFE.3 AMIDST the clamour of exulting joys, Which triumph forces from the patriot heart, O, Wolfe! to thee a streaming flood of woe, 1 First printed in "The Bee," 1759. 2 "The princess of Eboli, the mistress of Philip 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. 3 First printed in "The Busy Body," 1759. |