MISCELLANIES. THE CLOWN'S REPLY. John Trott was desir'd by two witty peers, To tell them the reason why asses had ears; "An't please you," quoth John, " I'm not given to letters, PROLOGUE, WRITTEN AND SPOKEN BY THE POET LABERIUS, A ROMAN KNIGHT, WHOM CESAR FORCED UPON THE STAGE. Preserved by Macrobius. (2) WHAT! no way left to shun th' inglorious stage, (1) [This is the only effusion preserved, of several which Goldsmith is said to have written while a student at Edinburgh.] (2) [This translation was first printed in "The Present State of Polite Learning," in 1759; but was omitted in the second edition, which appeared in 1774. Decimus Laberius was made a Roman knight by Julius Cæsar. For a long period he maintained the first character as a farce writer; but Publius Syrus at last became his rival, and carried off the applause of the theatre. See Aulus Gellius, 1. iii., c. 7; and Hor. Sat. lib. i. sat. x.] A time there was, when glory was my guide, For ah! too partial to my life's decline, No more my titles shall my children tell ; THE LOGICIANS REFUTED. In imitation of Dean Swift. (1) Logicians have but ill defin'd By ratiocinations specious, Have strove to prove with great precision, (1) [First printed in the "Busy Body," 1759; to draw attention to which publication it was announced as the production of the Dean of St. Patrick. It was included in the Dublin edition of his works, and is continued by Sir Walter Scott, who had doubtless forgotten its position in the works of Goldsmith. See Life, ch. ix.] Homo est ratione preditum; But for my soul I cannot credit 'em ; Than reason, boasting mortals' pride ; Who ever knew an honest brute At law his neighbour prosecute, Bring action for assault and battery, Or friend beguile with lies and flattery? No politics disturb their mind; They eat their meals and take their sport, Nor know who's in or out at court; They never to the levee go To treat as dearest friend, a foe; They never importune his Grace, Nor ever cringe to men in place; Nor draw the quill to write for Bob: () No judges, fiddlers, dancing-masters, (1) [Sir Robert Walpole, the object of so much vituperation by Swift.] |