Sperate miseri, cavete felices
There are an hundred faults in this Thing, and an hundred things might be saidto prove them beauties. But it is needless. A book may be amusing with numerouserrors, or it may be very dull without a single absurdity. The hero of thispiece unites in himself the three greatest characters upon earth; he is apriest, an husbandman, and the father of a family. He is drawn as ready toteach, and ready to obey, as simple in affluence, and majestic in adversity. Inthis age of opulence and refinement whom can such a character please? Such asare fond of high life, will turn with disdain from the simplicity of hiscountry fire-side. Such as mistake ribaldry for humour, will find no wit in hisharmless conversation; and such as have been taught to deride religion, willlaugh at one whose chief stores of comfort are drawn from futurity.
OLIVER GOLDSMITH.