THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. A Tale. SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. Sperate miseri, cavete felices. Salisbury: For F. Newbery, in Pater-Noster-Row, London. MDCCLXVI. 2 vols. 12mo. "The Vicar of Wakefield" was published on the 27th of March, 1766, in two volumes, 12mo; price, five shillings. A second edition appeared on the 5th of June; a third on the 25th of August of the same year; a fifth in 1773; and it reached a sixth edition in the year of its writer's death. All that Goldsmith received for this admirable story was sixty guineas (see Forster's "Life of Goldsmith," vol. ii. pp. 1-20). The text of this reprint is that of the fifth edition, 1773-the last which Gold smith lived to see published. ADVERTISEMENT. THERE are an hundred faults in this thing, and an hundred things might be said to prove them beauties. But it is needless. A book may be amusing with numerous errors, or it may be very dull without a single absurdity. The hero of this piece unites in himself the three greatest characters upon earth: he is a priest, an husbandman, and the father of a family. He is drawn as ready to teach, and ready to obey; as simple in affluence, and majestic in adversity. In this age of opulence and refinement, whom can such a character please? Such as are fond of high life will turn with disdain from the simplicity of his country fireside. Such as mistake ribaldry for humor will find no wit in his harmless conversation; and such as have been taught to deride religion will laugh at one whose chief stores of comfort are drawn from futurity. OLIVER GOLDSMITH. |