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fentiment of folid compadnefs. The firft is the conclufion of 

 a pafTage where the fplendors of luxury are contrafted with 

 its evils : the peafant, he fays, is fcourged from the fmiling 

 land, 



And while he finks, without an arm to fave, 

 The country blooms — a garden and a grave. 



The fecond is not fo happy — it is a dcfcription of man in a 

 (late of early fimplicity and imagined equality, 



His beft companions, Innocence and health. 

 And his beft riches ignorance of wealth. 



It Is however evident from the neceflity of antecedent expli- 

 cation that thefe paffages are not without fome violence de- 

 tached from the context, and therefore even thefe are not well 

 adapted for popular quotation. 



But Goldfmith is not a didadlic — he is a defcriptive poet. 

 And many of his defcriptions cannot be praifed too highly. 

 The circumftances in his natural fcenes are feledled with pe- 

 culiar propriety, and painted in the moft glowing colours. 

 His views of Italy and Switzerland in his Traveller cannot be 

 excelled. His defcription of Auburn in its deferted flate would 

 have redeemed an ordinary poem. 



No more thy glaii'y brook reflefts the da)-, 



But choak'd with fedges works its weedy way : 



Along thy fliades, a folitary gueft, 



The hollow founding bittern guards its ncfl : 



Amidft 





