Chapter I: Front Matter

OLIVER GOLDSMITH (Sir Joshua Reynolds)

_OXFORD EDITION_

THE COMPLETE
POETICAL WORKS
OF
OLIVER GOLDSMITH

Edited with Introduction and Notes by AUSTIN DOBSON HON. LL.D. EDIN.

PREFATORY NOTE

This volume is a reprint, extended and revised, of the _Selected Poems_
of Goldsmith issued by the Clarendon Press in 1887. It is ‘extended,’
because it now contains the whole of Goldsmith’s poetry: it is ‘revised’
because, besides the supplementary text, a good deal has been added in the
way of annotation and illustration. In other words, the book has been
substantially enlarged. Of the new editorial material, the bulk has been
collected at odd times during the last twenty years; but fresh Goldsmith
facts are growing rare. I hope I have acknowledged obligation wherever it
has been incurred; I trust also, for the sake of those who come after me,
that something of my own will be found to have been contributed to the
literature of the subject.

AUSTIN DOBSON.

Ealing, _September_, 1906.

CONTENTS

Introduction Chronology of Goldsmith’s Life and Poems

POEMS Descriptive Poems The Traveller; or, A Prospect of Society The Deserted Village Lyrical and Miscellaneous Pieces Prologue of Laberius On a Beautiful Youth struck Blind with Lightning The Gift. To Iris, in Bow Street The Logicians Refuted A Sonnet Stanzas on the Taking of Quebec An Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize Description of an Author’s Bedchamber On seeing Mrs. *** perform in the Character of **** On the Death of the Right Hon.*** An Epigram. Addressed to the Gentlemen reflected on in ‘The Rosciad’, a Poem, by the Author To G. C. and R. L. Translation of a South American Ode The Double Transformation. A Tale A New Simile, in the Manner of Swift Edwin and Angelina Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog Song (‘When Lovely Woman,’ etc.) Epilogue to _The Good Natur’d Man_ Epilogue to _The Sister_ Prologue to _Zobeide_ Threnodia Augustalis: Sacred to the Memory of Her Late Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales Song (‘Let school-masters,’ etc.) Epilogue to _She Stoops to Conquer_ Retaliation Song (‘Ah, me! when shall I marry me?’) Translation (‘Chaste are their instincts’) The Haunch of Venison Epitaph on Thomas Parnell The Clown’s Reply Epitaph on Edward Purdon Epilogue for Lee Lewes Epilogue written for _She Stoops to Conquer_ (1) Epilogue written for _She Stoops to Conquer_ (2) The Captivity. An Oratorio Verses in Reply to an Invitation to Dinner Letter in Prose and Verse to Mrs. Bunbury Vida’s Game of Chess

NOTES Introduction to the Notes Editions of the Poems The Traveller The Deserted Village Prologue of Laberius On a Beautiful Youth struck Blind with Lightning The Gift The Logicians Refuted A Sonnet Stanzas on the Taking of Quebec An Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize Description of an Author’s Bedchamber On seeing Mrs. *** perform in the Character of **** On the Death of the Right Hon. *** An Epigram To G. C. and R. L. Translation of a South American Ode The Double Transformation A New Simile Edwin and Angelina Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog Song (from _The Vicar of Wakefield_) Epilogue (_The Good Natur’d Man_) Epilogue (_The Sister_) Prologue (_Zobeide_) Threnodia Augustalis Song (from _She Stoops to Conquer_) Epilogue (_She Stoops to Conquer_) Retaliation Song intended for _She Stoops to Conquer_ Translation The Haunch of Venison Epitaph on Thomas Parnell The Clown’s Reply Epitaph on Edward Purdon Epilogue for Lee Lewes’s Benefit Epilogue (_She Stoops to Conquer_) (1) Epilogue (_She Stoops to Conquer_) (2) The Captivity Verses in Reply to an Invitation to Dinner Letter in Prose and Verse to Mrs. Bunbury Vida’s Game of Chess

APPENDIXES Portraits of Goldsmith Descriptions of Newell’s Views of Lissoy, etc. The Epithet ‘Sentimental’ Fragments of Translations, etc., by Goldsmith Goldsmith on Poetry under Anne and George the First Criticisms from Goldsmith’s _Beauties of English Poesy_

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

OLIVER GOLDSMITH. From Joseph Marchi’s mezzotint of 1770 after the portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds. PANE OF GLASS with Goldsmith’s autograph signature, dated March, 1746, now at Trinity College, Dublin. VIGNETTE TO THE TRAVELLER. Drawn by Samuel Wale, and engraved by Charles Grignion. HEADPIECE TO THE TRAVELLER. Engraved on wood by Charlton Nesbit for Bulmer’s _Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell_, 1795. THE TRAVELLER. From a design by Richard Westall, R. A., engraved on wood by Thomas Bewick for Bulmer’s _Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell_, 1795. VIGNETTE TO THE DESERTED VILLAGE, 1770. Drawn and engraved by Isaac Taylor. HEADPIECE TO THE DESERTED VILLAGE. Engraved on wood by Charlton Nesbit for Bulmer’s _Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell_, 1795. THE WATER-CRESS GATHERER. Drawn and engraved on wood by John Bewick for Bulmer’s _Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell_, 1795. THE DEPARTURE. Drawn by Robert Johnson, and engraved on wood by Thomas Bewick for Bulmer’s _ Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell_, 1795. EDWIN AND ANGELINA. From an original washed drawing made by Thomas Stothard, R.A., for Aikin’s _Goldsmith’s Poetical Works_, 1805. PORTRAIT OF GOLDSMITH, after Sir Joshua Reynolds. From an etching by James Basire on the title-page of _Retaliation_, 1774. SONG FROM THE CAPTIVITY. Facsimile of Goldsmith’s writing and signature, from Prior’s _ Life of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B._, 1837, ii, frontispiece. GREEN ARBOUR COURT, OLD BAILEY. From an engraving in the _European Magazine_ for January, 1803. KILKENNY WEST CHURCH. From an aquatint by S. Alken of a sketch by R. H. Newell (_Goldsmith’s Poetical Works_, 1811). HAWTHORN TREE. From the same. SOUTH VIEW FROM GOLDSMITH’S MOUNT. From the same . . . To face p. 183. [This picture is unavailable.] THE SCHOOL HOUSE. From the same. PORTRAIT OF GOLDSMITH. Drawn by Henry William Bunbury and etched by James Bretherton. From the _Haunch of Venison_, 1776. PORTRAIT OF GOLDSMITH. From a silhouette by Ozias Humphry, R.A., in the National Portrait Gallery. LISSOY (OR LISHOY) MILL. From an aquatint by S. Alken of a sketch by R. H. Newell (_Goldsmith’s Poetical Works_, 1811). THE PARSONAGE. From the same.