CHAPTER XXXII.

ADVERTISEMENT

There are an hundred faults in this Thing, and an hundred things might be said to prove them beauties. But it is needless. A book may be amusing with numerous errors, or it may be very dull without a single absurdity. The hero of this piece unites in himself the three greatest characters upon earth; he is a priest, an husbandman, and the father of a family. He is drawn as ready to teach, and ready to obey, as simple in affluence, and majestic in adversity. In this age of opulence and refinement whom can such a character please? Such as are fond of high life, will turn with disdain from the simplicity of his country fire-side. Such as mistake ribaldry for humour, will find no wit in his harmless conversation; and such as have been taught to deride religion, will laugh at one whose chief stores of comfort are drawn from futurity.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

Detailed contents

kindred likeness prevails as well of minds as of persons

increase the pride of the worthy

generally found at last to be of our own procuring

which depends not on circumstance, but constitution

hopes upon generally proves most fatal

comical for a night or two

productive of much

ever seems to confer superior breeding

miseries of the poor when they attempt to appear above their circumstances

Mortifications are often more painful than real calamities

confidence to give disagreeable advice

calamities may be real blessings

being-over-wise

pleasing temptation

government, and apprehensive of the loss of our liberties

but losing content

which is coeval only with mutual satisfaction

of comfort attending it

should reward as well as punish

of virtue in this life. Temporal evils or felicities being regarded by heaven as things merely in themselves trifling and unworthy its care in the distribution

to the happy and the miserable here below. That from the nature of pleasure and pain, the wretched must be repaid the balance of their sufferings in the life hereafter

and fortune will at last change in our favour