misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写3)-第11章
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never was and never will be seen in any part of the world。
In 1773 Goldsmith tried his chance at Covent Garden with a second
play； 〃She Stoops to Conquer。〃 The manager was not without great
difficulty induced to bring this piece out。 The sentimental comedy still
reigned； and Goldsmith's comedies were not sentimental。 The
〃Goodnatured Man〃 had been too funny to succeed； yet the mirth of the
〃Goodnatured Man〃 was sober when compared with the rich drollery of
〃She Stoops to Conquer；〃 which is； in truth； an incomparable farce in five
acts。 On this occasion； however； genius triumphed。 Pit； boxes； and
galleries； were in a constant roar of laughter。 If any bigoted admirer of
Kelly and Cumberland ventured to hiss or groan； he was speedily silenced
by a general cry of 〃turn him out；〃 or 〃throw him over。〃 Two generations
have since confirmed the verdict which was pronounced on that night。
While Goldsmith was writing the 〃Deserted Village；〃 and 〃She Stoops
to Conquer；〃 he was employed on works of a very different kind； works
from which he derived little reputation but much profit。 He compiled for
the use of schools a 〃History of Rome；〃 by which he made 300 pounds； a
〃History of England；〃 by which he made 600 pounds； a 〃History of
Greece；〃 for which he received 250 pounds； a 〃Natural History；〃 for which
the booksellers covenanted to pay him 800 guineas。 These works he
produced without any elaborate research； by merely selecting； abridging；
and translating into his own clear； pure； and flowing language what he
found in books well…known to the world； but too bulky or too dry for boys
and girls。 He committed some strange blunders； for he knew nothing with
accuracy。 Thus in his 〃History of England；〃 he tells us that Naseby is in
Yorkshire； nor did he correct this mistake when the book was reprinted。
He was very nearly hoaxed into putting into the 〃History of Greece〃 an
account of the battle between Alexander the Great and Montezuma。 In his
〃Animated Nature〃 he relates； with faith and with perfect gravity； all the
most absurd lies which he could find in books of travels about gigantic
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
Patagonians； monkeys that preach sermons； nightingales that repeat long
conversations。 〃If he can tell a horse from a cow；〃 said Johnson； 〃that is
the extent of his knowledge of zoology。〃 How little Goldsmith was
qualified to write about the physical sciences is sufficiently proved by two
anecdotes。 He on one occasion denied that the sun is longer in the northern
than in the southern signs。 It was vain to cite the authority of Maupertuis。
〃Maupertuis！〃 he cried； 〃I understand those matters better than
Maupertuis。〃 On another occasion he； in defiance of the evidence of his
own senses； maintained obstinately； and even angrily； that he chewed his
dinner by moving his upper jaw。
Yet； ignorant as Goldsmith was； few writers have done more to make
the first steps in the laborious road to knowledge easy and pleasant。 His
compilations are widely distinguished from the compilations of ordinary
book…makers。 He was a great； perhaps an unequalled； master of the arts of
selection and condensation。 In these respects his histories of Rome and of
England； and still more his own abridgements of these histories； well
deserve to be studied。 In general nothing is less attractive than an epitome：
but the epitomes of Goldsmith； even when most concise； are always
amusing； and to read them is considered by intelligent children； not as a
task； but as a pleasure。
Goldsmith might now be considered as a prosperous man。 He had the
means of living in comfort； and even in what to one who had so often slept
in barns and on bulks must have been luxury。 His fame was great and was
constantly rising。 He lived in what was intellectually far the best society of
the kingdom； in a society in which no talent or accomplishment was
wanting； and in which the art of conversation was cultivated with splendid
success。 There probably were never four talkers more admirable in four
different ways than Johnson； Burke； Beauclerk； and Garrick； and
Goldsmith was on terms of intimacy with all the four。 He aspired to share
in their colloquial renown； but never was ambition more unfortunate。 It
may seem strange that a man who wrote with so much perspicuity；
vivacity； and grace； should have been； whenever he took a part in
conversation； an empty； noisy； blundering rattle。 But on this point the
evidence is overwhelming。 So extraordinary was the contrast between
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
Goldsmith's published works and the silly things which he said； that
Horace Walpole described him as an inspired idiot。 〃Noll；〃 said Garrick；
〃wrote like an angel； and talked like poor Poll。〃 Chamier declared that it
was a hard exercise of faith to believe that so foolish a chatterer could
have really written the 〃Traveller。〃 Even Boswell could say； with
contemptuous compassion； that he liked very well to hear honest
Goldsmith run on。 〃Yes； sir；〃 said Johnson； 〃but he should not like to hear
himself。〃 Minds differ as rivers differ。 There are transparent and sparkling
rivers from which it is delightful to drink as they flow； to such rivers the
minds of such men as Burke and Johnson may be compared。 But there are
rivers of which the water when first drawn is turbid and noisome； but
becomes pellucid as crystal； and delicious to the taste； if it be suffered to
stand till it has deposited a sediment； and such a river is a type of the mind
of Goldsmith。 His first thoughts on every subject were confused even to
absurdity； but they required only a little time to work themselves clear。
When he wrote they had that time； and therefore his readers pronounced
him a man of genius： but when he talked he talked nonsense； and made
himself the laughing…stock of his hearers。 He was painfully sensible of his
inferiority in conversation； he felt every failure keenly； yet he had not
sufficient judgment and self…command to hold his tongue。 His animal
spirits and vanity were always impelling him to try to do the one thing
which he could not do。 After every attempt he felt that he had exposed
himself； and writhed with shame and vexation； yet the next moment he
began again。
His associates seem to have regarded him with kindness； which； in
spite of their admiration of his writings； was not unmixed with contempt。
In truth； there was in his character much to love； but very little to respect。
His heart was soft even to weakness： he was so generous that he quite
forgot to be just： he forgave injuries so readily that he might be said to
invite them； and was so liberal to beggars that he had nothing left for his
tailor and his butcher。 He was vain； sensual； frivolous； profuse；
improvident。 One vice of a darker shade was imputed to him； envy。 But
there is not the least reason to believe that this bad passion； though it
sometimes made him wince and utter fretful exclamations； ever impelled
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
him to injure by wicked arts the reputation of any of his rivals。 The truth
probably is； that he was not more envious； but merely less prudent； than
his neighbours。 His heart was on his lips。 All those small jealousies； which
are but too common among men of letters； but which a man of letters who
is also a man of the world does his best to conceal； Goldsmith avowed
with the simplicity of a child。 When he was envious； instead of affecting
indifference； instead of damning with faint praise； instead of doing injuries
slily and in the dark； he told everybody that he was envious。 〃Do not； pray；
do not talk of Johnson in such terms；〃 he said to Boswell； 〃you harrow up
my very soul。〃 George Steevens and Cumberland were men far too
cunning to say such a thing。 They would have echoed the praises of the
man whom they envied； and then have sent to the newspapers anonymous
libels upon him。 Both what was good and what was bad in Goldsmith's
character was to his associates a perfect security that he would never
commit such villany。 He was neither ill natured enough； nor long headed
enough； to be guilty of any malicious act which required contrivance and
disguise。
Goldsmith has sometimes been represented as a man of genius； cruelly
treated by the world； and doomed to struggle with difficulties which at last
broke his heart。 But no representation can be more remote from the truth。
He did； indeed； go through much sharp misery before he had done
anything considerable in literature。 But； after his name had appeared on
the title…page of the 〃Traveller；〃 he had none but himself to blame for his
distresses。 His average income； during the last seven years of his life；
certainly exceeded 400 pounds a year； and 400 pounds a year ranked；
among the incomes of that day； at least as high as 800 pounds a year
would rank at present。 A single man living in the Temple with 400 pounds
a year might then be called opulent。 Not one in ten of the young gentlemen
of good families who were studying the law there had so much。 But all the
wealth which Lord Clive had brought from Bengal； and Sir Lawrence
Dundas from Germany； joined together； would not have sufficed for
Goldsmith。 He spent twice as much as he had。 He wore fine clothes； gave
dinners of several courses；
