Scarce half alive, oppress'd with many a year, THE LOGICIANS REFUTED. In imitation of Dean Swift.* Logicians have but ill defin'd As rational the human mind; [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. Reason, they say, belongs to man, But let them prove it if they can. By ratiocinations specious, Have strove to prove with great precision, Homo est ratione preditum; But for my soul I cannot credit 'em; Than reason, boasting mortals' pride; Deus est anima brutorum. Who ever knew an honest brute At law his neighbor 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 undertake a dirty job, Nor draw the quill to write for Bob:* * [Sir Robert Walpole, the object of so much vituperation by Swift.] Fraught with invective they ne'er go, No judges, fiddlers, dancing masters, At court, the porters, lacqueys, waiters, EPIGRAM ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH, STRUCK BLIND BY LIGHTNING.* Sure 'twas by Providence design'd, Rather in pity, than in hate, That he should be, like Cupid, blind, To save him from Narcissus' fate.† STANZAS ON THE TAKING OF QUEBEC, AND DEATH OF GENERAL WOLFE.† Amidst the clamor of exulting joys, Which triumph forces from the patriot heart, Grief dares to mingle her soul-piercing voice, And quells the raptures which from pleasure start. O, Wolfe! to thee a streaming flood of woe, Whilst thy sad fate extorts the heart-wrung tear. * [First printed in "The Bee," 1759. See vol. i. p. 18.] + ["The Princess of Eboli, the mistress of Phillip II. of Spain, and Maugiron, the minion of Henry III. of France, had each of them lost an eye; and the famous Latin epigram, which Goldsmith has either translated or imitated, was written on them."-LORD BYRON, Works, vol. vi p. 390.] [First printed in the "Busy Body," 1759. The alleged relationship of the Poet with this distinguished officer, produced very naturally an effort to elebrate him, after a death so honorable.] Alive, thee foe thy dreadful vigor fled, And saw thee fall with joy-pronouncing eyes; STANZAS.* Weeping, murmuring, complaining, Fears th' approaching bridal night. Yet why impair thy bright perfection? THE GIFT. TO IRIS, IN BOW-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN. Imitated from the French Say, cruel Iris, pretty rake, * [First printed in "The Bee," 1759] [First printed in tom. iv. p. 200 :— The Bee," 1759. The original is in Ménagiana, ETRENNE A IRIS. Pour témoignage de ma flamme, Iris, du meilleur de mon âme, Je vous donne à ce nouvel an Non pas dentelle, ni ruban, |