But，beforethe"VicarofWakefield"appearedinprint，camethegreatcrisisofGoldsmith’sliterarylife。InChristmasweek，1764，hepublishedapoem，entitledthe"Traveller。"Itwasthefirstworktowhichhehadputhisname;anditatonceraisedhimtotherankofalegitimateEnglishclassic。Theopinionofthemostskilfulcriticswas，thatnothingfinerhadappearedinversesincethefourthbookofthe"Dunciad。"Inonerespectthe"Traveller"differsfromallGoldsmith’sotherwritings。Ingeneralhisdesignswerebad，andhisexecutiongood。Inthe"Traveller，"theexecution，thoughdeservingofmuchpraise，isfarinferiortothedesign。Nophilosophicalpoem，ancientormodern，hasaplansonoble，andatthesametimesosimple。AnEnglishwanderer，seatedonacragamongtheAlps，nearthepointwherethreegreatcountriesmeet，looksdownontheboundlessprospect，reviewshislongpilgrimage，recallsthevarietiesofscenery，ofclimate，ofgovernment，ofreligion，ofnationalcharacter，whichhehasobserved，andcomestotheconclusionjustorunjust，thatourhappinessdependslittleonpoliticalinstitutions，andmuchonthetemperandregulationofourownminds。
Whilethefourtheditionofthe"Traveller"wasonthecountersofthebooksellers，the"VicarofWakefield"appeared，andrapidlyobtainedapopularitywhichhaslasteddowntoourowntime，andwhichislikelytolastaslongasourlanguage。Thefableisindeedoneoftheworstthateverwasconstructed。Itwants，notmerelythatprobabilitywhichoughttobefoundinataleofcommonEnglishlife，butthatconsistencywhichoughttobefoundeveninthewildestfictionaboutwitches，giants，andfairies。Buttheearlierchaptershaveallthesweetnessofpastoralpoetry，togetherwithallthevivacityofcomedy。Mosesandhisspectacles，thevicarandhismonogamy，thesharperandhiscosmogony，thesquireprovingfromAristotlethatrelativesarerelated，OliviapreparingherselfforthearduoustaskofconvertingarakishloverbystudyingthecontroversybetweenRobinsonCrusoeandFriday，thegreatladieswiththeirscandalaboutSirTomkyn’samoursandDrBurdock’sverses，andMrBurchellwithhis"Fudge，"havecausedasmuchharmlessmirthashaseverbeencausedbymatterpackedintososmallanumberofpages。Thelatterpartofthetaleisunworthyofthebeginning。
Asweapproachthecatastrophe，theabsurditiesliethickerandthicker;andthegleamsofpleasantrybecomerarerandrarer。
ThesuccesswhichhadattendedGoldsmithasanovelistemboldenedhimtotryhisfortuneasadramatist。Hewrotethe"GoodnaturedMan，"apiecewhichhadaworsefatethanitdeserved。GarrickrefusedtoproduceitatDruryLane。ItwasactedatCoventGardenin1768，butwascoldlyreceived。Theauthor，however，clearedbyhisbenefitnights，andbythesaleofthecopyright，nolessthan500pounds，fivetimesasmuchashehadmadebythe"Traveller"andthe"VicarofWakefield"together。Theplotofthe"GoodnaturedMan"is，likealmostallGoldsmith’splots，veryillconstructed。Butsomepassagesareexquisitelyludicrous;
muchmoreludicrous，indeed，thansuitedthetasteofthetownatthattime。Acanting，mawkishplay，entitled"FalseDelicacy，"
hadjusthadanimmenserun。Sentimentalitywasallthemode。
Duringsomeyears，moretearswereshedatcomediesthanattragedies;andapleasantrywhichmovedtheaudiencetoanythingmorethanagravesmilewasreprobatedaslow。Itisnotstrange，therefore，thattheverybestsceneinthe"GoodnaturedMan，"thatinwhichMissRichlandfindsherloverattendedbythebailiffandthebailiff’sfollowerinfullcourtdresses，shouldhavebeenmercilesslyhissed，andshouldhavebeenomittedafterthefirstnight。
In1770appearedthe"DesertedVillage。"Inmeredictionandversificationthiscelebratedpoemisfullyequal，perhapssuperior，tothe"Traveller;"anditisgenerallypreferredtothe"Traveller"bythatlargeclassofreaderswhothink，withBayesinthe"Rehearsal，"thattheonlyuseofaplanistobringinfinethings。Morediscerningjudges，however，whiletheyadmirethebeautyofthedetails，areshockedbyoneunpardonablefaultwhichpervadesthewhole。Thefaultwemeanisnotthattheoryaboutwealthandluxurywhichhassooftenbeencensuredbypoliticaleconomists。Thetheoryisindeedfalse:butthepoem，consideredmerelyasapoem，isnotnecessarilytheworseonthataccount。ThefinestpoemintheLatinlanguage，indeedthefinestdidacticpoeminanylanguage，waswrittenindefenceofthesilliestandmeanestofallsystemsofnaturalandmoralphilosophy。Apoetmayeasilybepardonedforreasoningill;buthecannotbepardonedfordescribingill，forobservingtheworldinwhichhelivessocarelesslythathisportraitsbearnoresemblancetotheoriginals，forexhibitingascopiesfromreallifemonstrouscombinationsofthingswhichneverwereandnevercouldbefoundtogether。WhatwouldbethoughtofapainterwhoshouldmixAugustandJanuaryinonelandscape，whoshouldintroduceafrozenriverintoaharvestscene？Woulditbeasufficientdefenceofsuchapicturetosaythateverypartwasexquisitelycoloured，thatthegreenhedges，theapple—treesloadedwithfruit，thewaggonsreelingundertheyellowsheaves，andthesun—burnedreaperswipingtheirforeheads，wereveryfine，andthattheiceandtheboysslidingwerealsoveryfine？
Tosuchapicturethe"DesertedVillage"bearsagreatresemblance。Itismadeupofincongruousparts。ThevillageinitshappydaysisatrueEnglishvillage。ThevillageinitsdecayisanIrishvillage。ThefelicityandthemiserywhichGoldsmithhasbroughtclosetogetherbelongtotwodifferentcountries;andtotwodifferentstagesintheprogressofsociety。Hehadassuredlyneverseeninhisnativeislandsucharuralparadise，suchaseatofplenty，content，andtranquillity，ashis"Auburn。"HehadassuredlyneverseeninEnglandalltheinhabitantsofsuchaparadiseturnedoutoftheirhomesinonedayandforcedtoemigrateinabodytoAmerica。ThehamlethehadprobablyseeninKent;theejectmenthehadprobablyseeninMunster:but，byjoiningthetwo，hehasproducedsomethingwhichneverwasandneverwillbeseeninanypartoftheworld。
In1773GoldsmithtriedhischanceatCoventGardenwithasecondplay，"SheStoopstoConquer。"Themanagerwasnotwithoutgreatdifficultyinducedtobringthispieceout。Thesentimentalcomedystillreigned;andGoldsmith’scomedieswerenotsentimental。The"GoodnaturedMan"hadbeentoofunnytosucceed;yetthemirthofthe"GoodnaturedMan"wassoberwhencomparedwiththerichdrolleryof"SheStoopstoConquer，"whichis，intruth，anincomparablefarceinfiveacts。Onthisoccasion，however，geniustriumphed。Pit，boxes，andgalleries，wereinaconstantroaroflaughter。IfanybigotedadmirerofKellyandCumberlandventuredtohissorgroan，hewasspeedilysilencedbyageneralcryof"turnhimout，"or"throwhimover。"
Twogenerationshavesinceconfirmedtheverdictwhichwaspronouncedonthatnight。
WhileGoldsmithwaswritingthe"DesertedVillage，"and"SheStoopstoConquer，"hewasemployedonworksofaverydifferentkind，worksfromwhichhederivedlittlereputationbutmuchprofit。Hecompiledfortheuseofschoolsa"HistoryofRome，"
bywhichhemade300pounds，a"HistoryofEngland，"bywhichhemade600pounds，a"HistoryofGreece，"forwhichhereceived250
pounds，a"NaturalHistory，"forwhichthebooksellerscovenantedtopayhim800guineas。Theseworksheproducedwithoutanyelaborateresearch，bymerelyselecting，abridging，andtranslatingintohisownclear，pure，andflowinglanguagewhathefoundinbookswell—knowntotheworld，buttoobulkyortoodryforboysandgirls。Hecommittedsomestrangeblunders;forheknewnothingwithaccuracy。Thusinhis"HistoryofEngland，"
hetellsusthatNasebyisinYorkshire;nordidhecorrectthismistakewhenthebookwasreprinted。Hewasverynearlyhoaxedintoputtingintothe"HistoryofGreece"anaccountofthebattlebetweenAlexandertheGreatandMontezuma。Inhis"AnimatedNature"herelates，withfaithandwithperfectgravity，allthemostabsurdlieswhichhecouldfindinbooksoftravelsaboutgiganticPatagonians，monkeysthatpreachsermons，nightingalesthatrepeatlongconversations。"Ifhecantellahorsefromacow，"saidJohnson，"thatistheextentofhisknowledgeofzoology。"HowlittleGoldsmithwasqualifiedtowriteaboutthephysicalsciencesissufficientlyprovedbytwoanecdotes。Heononeoccasiondeniedthatthesunislongerinthenorthernthaninthesouthernsigns。ItwasvaintocitetheauthorityofMaupertuis。"Maupertuis！"hecried，"IunderstandthosemattersbetterthanMaupertuis。"Onanotheroccasionhe，indefianceoftheevidenceofhisownsenses，maintainedobstinately，andevenangrily，thathechewedhisdinnerbymovinghisupperjaw。
Yet，ignorantasGoldsmithwas，fewwritershavedonemoretomakethefirststepsinthelaboriousroadtoknowledgeeasyandpleasant。Hiscompilationsarewidelydistinguishedfromthecompilationsofordinarybook—makers。Hewasagreat，perhapsanunequalled，masteroftheartsofselectionandcondensation。IntheserespectshishistoriesofRomeandofEngland，andstillmorehisownabridgementsofthesehistories，welldeservetobestudied。Ingeneralnothingislessattractivethananepitome:
buttheepitomesofGoldsmith，evenwhenmostconcise，arealwaysamusing;andtoreadthemisconsideredbyintelligentchildren，notasatask，butasapleasure。
Goldsmithmightnowbeconsideredasaprosperousman。Hehadthemeansoflivingincomfort，andeveninwhattoonewhohadsooftensleptinbarnsandonbulksmusthavebeenluxury。Hisfamewasgreatandwasconstantlyrising。Helivedinwhatwasintellectuallyfarthebestsocietyofthekingdom，inasocietyinwhichnotalentoraccomplishmentwaswanting，andinwhichtheartofconversationwascultivatedwithsplendidsuccess。
ThereprobablywereneverfourtalkersmoreadmirableinfourdifferentwaysthanJohnson，Burke，Beauclerk，andGarrick;andGoldsmithwasontermsofintimacywithallthefour。Heaspiredtoshareintheircolloquialrenown;butneverwasambitionmoreunfortunate。Itmayseemstrangethatamanwhowrotewithsomuchperspicuity，vivacity，andgrace，shouldhavebeen，wheneverhetookapartinconversation，anempty，noisy，blunderingrattle。Butonthispointtheevidenceisoverwhelming。SoextraordinarywasthecontrastbetweenGoldsmith’spublishedworksandthesillythingswhichhesaid，thatHoraceWalpoledescribedhimasaninspiredidiot。"Noll，"saidGarrick，"wrotelikeanangel，andtalkedlikepoorPoll。"Chamierdeclaredthatitwasahardexerciseoffaithtobelievethatsofoolishachatterercouldhavereallywrittenthe"Traveller。"EvenBoswellcouldsay，withcontemptuouscompassion，thathelikedverywelltohearhonestGoldsmithrunon。"Yes，sir，"saidJohnson，"butheshouldnotliketohearhimself。"Mindsdifferasriversdiffer。Therearetransparentandsparklingriversfromwhichitisdelightfultodrinkastheyflow;tosuchriversthemindsofsuchmenasBurkeandJohnsonmaybecompared。Butthereareriversofwhichthewaterwhenfirstdrawnisturbidandnoisome，butbecomespellucidascrystal，anddelicioustothetaste，ifitbesufferedtostandtillithasdepositedasediment;andsuchariverisatypeofthemindofGoldsmith。
Hisfirstthoughtsoneverysubjectwereconfusedeventoabsurdity;buttheyrequiredonlyalittletimetoworkthemselvesclear。Whenhewrotetheyhadthattime;andthereforehisreaderspronouncedhimamanofgenius:butwhenhetalkedhetalkednonsense，andmadehimselfthelaughing—stockofhishearers。Hewaspainfullysensibleofhisinferiorityinconversation;hefelteveryfailurekeenly;yethehadnotsufficientjudgmentandself—commandtoholdhistongue。Hisanimalspiritsandvanitywerealwaysimpellinghimtotrytodotheonethingwhichhecouldnotdo。Aftereveryattempthefeltthathehadexposedhimself，andwrithedwithshameandvexation;
yetthenextmomenthebeganagain。
Hisassociatesseemtohaveregardedhimwithkindness，which，inspiteoftheiradmirationofhiswritings，wasnotunmixedwithcontempt。Intruth，therewasinhischaractermuchtolove，butverylittletorespect。Hisheartwassofteventoweakness:hewassogenerousthathequiteforgottobejust:heforgaveinjuriessoreadilythathemightbesaidtoinvitethem;andwassoliberaltobeggarsthathehadnothingleftforhistailorandhisbutcher。Hewasvain，sensual，frivolous，profuse，improvident。Oneviceofadarkershadewasimputedtohim，envy。Butthereisnottheleastreasontobelievethatthisbadpassion，thoughitsometimesmadehimwinceandutterfretfulexclamations，everimpelledhimtoinjurebywickedartsthereputationofanyofhisrivals。Thetruthprobablyis，thathewasnotmoreenvious，butmerelylessprudent，thanhisneighbours。Hisheartwasonhislips。Allthosesmalljealousies，whicharebuttoocommonamongmenofletters，butwhichamanofletterswhoisalsoamanoftheworlddoeshisbesttoconceal，Goldsmithavowedwiththesimplicityofachild。
Whenhewasenvious，insteadofaffectingindifference，insteadofdamningwithfaintpraise，insteadofdoinginjuriesslilyandinthedark，hetoldeverybodythathewasenvious。"Donot，pray，donottalkofJohnsoninsuchterms，"hesaidtoBoswell;
"youharrowupmyverysoul。"GeorgeSteevensandCumberlandweremenfartoocunningtosaysuchathing。Theywouldhaveechoedthepraisesofthemanwhomtheyenvied，andthenhavesenttothenewspapersanonymouslibelsuponhim。BothwhatwasgoodandwhatwasbadinGoldsmith’scharacterwastohisassociatesaperfectsecuritythathewouldnevercommitsuchvillany。Hewasneitherillnaturedenough，norlongheadedenough，tobeguiltyofanymaliciousactwhichrequiredcontrivanceanddisguise。
Goldsmithhassometimesbeenrepresentedasamanofgenius，cruellytreatedbytheworld，anddoomedtostrugglewithdifficultieswhichatlastbrokehisheart。Butnorepresentationcanbemoreremotefromthetruth。Hedid，indeed，gothroughmuchsharpmiserybeforehehaddoneanythingconsiderableinliterature。But，afterhisnamehadappearedonthetitle—pageofthe"Traveller，"hehadnonebuthimselftoblameforhisdistresses。Hisaverageincome，duringthelastsevenyearsofhislife，certainlyexceeded400poundsayear;
and400poundsayearranked，amongtheincomesofthatday，atleastashighas800poundsayearwouldrankatpresent。A
singlemanlivingintheTemplewith400poundsayearmightthenbecalledopulent。Notoneintenoftheyounggentlemenofgoodfamilieswhowerestudyingthelawtherehadsomuch。ButallthewealthwhichLordClivehadbroughtfromBengal，andSirLawrenceDundasfromGermany，joinedtogether，wouldnothavesufficedforGoldsmith。Hespenttwiceasmuchashehad。Heworefineclothes，gavedinnersofseveralcourses，paidcourttovenalbeauties。Hehadalso，itshouldberemembered，tothehonourofhisheart，thoughnotofhishead，aguinea，orfiveorten，accordingtothestateofhispurse，readyforanytaleofdistress，trueorfalse。Butitwasnotindressorfeasting，inpromiscuousamoursorpromiscuouscharities，thathischiefexpenselay。Hehadbeenfromboyhoodagambler，andatoncethemostsanguineandthemostunskilfulofgamblers。Foratimeheputoffthedayofinevitableruinbytemporaryexpedients。Heobtainedadvancesfrombooksellers，bypromisingtoexecuteworkswhichheneverbegan。Butatlengththissourceofsupplyfailed。Heowedmorethan2000pounds;andhesawnohopeofextricationfromhisembarrassments。Hisspiritsandhealthgaveway。Hewasattackedbyanervousfever，whichhethoughthimselfcompetenttotreat。Itwouldhavebeenhappyforhimifhismedicalskillhadbeenappreciatedasjustlybyhimselfasbyothers。NotwithstandingthedegreewhichhepretendedtohavereceivedatPadua，hecouldprocurenopatients。"Idonotpractise，"heoncesaid;"Imakeitaruletoprescribeonlyformyfriends。""Pray，dearDoctor，"saidBeauclerk，"alteryourrule;andprescribeonlyforyourenemies。"Goldsmithnow，inspiteofthisexcellentadvice，prescribedforhimself。Theremedyaggravatedthemalady。Thesickmanwasinducedtocallinrealphysicians;andtheyatonetimeimaginedthattheyhadcuredthedisease。Stillhisweaknessandrestlessnesscontinued。Hecouldgetnosleep。Hecouldtakenofood。"Youareworse，"saidoneofhismedicalattendants，"thanyoushouldbefromthedegreeoffever...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：