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tlful. The interefting abruptnefs of its opening — the humane 

 and delicate fentiments in the Hermit's fpeech, giving fo af- 

 fedling and engaging impreflion of his charadler — the fimpUcity 

 of the following narrative — his importmiate folicitation forcing 

 out at laft the ftory of the ftranger fo judicioufly delayed, and 

 the furprize and pathos of the conclufion, make this little 

 poem one of the mofl finifhed pieces of afFedling limplicity in 

 our language. 



Natural and afFeding fimplicity forms indeed Goldfmith's 

 peculiar excellence. Yet where his fubjed calls for it Gold- 

 fmith- is not deficient in fublimity- His defcription of the 

 rarapires artificial pride may ferve to prove this, 



Onward methinks and diligently (low 

 The firm connefled bulwark feems to grow : 

 Spreads its long arms amidft the wat'ry roar 

 Scoops out an empire and ufurps the ftiore. 



As may his defcription of the terrors of that horrid Ihore to 

 which his peafants emigrate : 



Thefe blazing funs that dart a downward ray 

 And fiercely ftied intolerable day ; 

 Thofe matted woods where birds forget to fing, 

 But filent bats in drowfy clufters cling; 



Thofe 



