As Goldsmith wrote for the book-sellers, he was looked on by many of
them as a literary drudge equal to the task of compiling and
translating, but little capable of original, and still less of poetical
composition: he nevertheless wrote one of the finest poems of the lyric
kind that our language has to boast of; the ballad, “Turn gentle Hermit
of the Dale;” and surprised his friends with “The Traveller,” a poem
that contains some particulars of his own history. Johnson was supposed
to have assisted him; but he contributed to the perfection of it only
four lines; his opinion of it was, that it was the best written poem
since the time of Pope. The favourable reception which the essay of his
poetical talent met with, soon after tempted Goldsmith to the
publication of his “Deserted Village,” the merits whereof, consist in
beautiful descriptions of rural manners; are sufficiently known.
His poems are replete with fine moral sentiments, and bespeak a great
dignity of mind; yet he had no sense of the shame, nor dread of the
evils of poverty.
He was buried in the Poet’s Corner, in Westminster Abbey, and the
inscription on his monument was written by Johnson.
The Doctor used to say he could play on the German flute as well as most
men; at other times, as well as any man living: but, in truth, he
understood not the character in which music is written, and played on
that instrument, as many of the vulgar do, merely by air. Roubiliac, the
sculptor, a merry fellow, once heard him play; and minding to put a
trick on him, pretended to be charmed with his performance; as, also,
that himself was skilled in the art, and entreated him to repeat the
air, that he might write it down. Goldsmith readily consenting,
Roubiliac called for paper, and scored thereon a few five-lined staves,
which having done, Goldsmith proceeded to play, and Roubiliac to write;
but his writing was only such random notes on the lines and spaces, as
any one might set down who had ever inspected a page of music. When they
had both done, Roubiliac shewed the paper to Goldsmith, who looking it
over with great seeming attention, said it was very correct, and that if
he had not seen him do it, he never could have believed his friend
capable of writing music after him.
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_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._
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