The Works of Oliver Goldsmith, Vol. 4 of 4

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Excerpt from The Works of Oliver Goldsmith, Vol. 4 of 4: Biographies, Reviews, Animated Nature, Cock Lane Ghost, Vida's Game of Chess, LettersWhen he had passed the usual time at college, his father was resolved to remove him home, by which means he might at once have an opportunity of seeing the world, and finishing his education. The world was too dangerous a scene for a youth of passions as strong as his imagination, in love with pleasure, and as yet seeing human nature only on the pleasing side. But his father, either not considering, or regardless of these precau tions, gave him an apartment in his own house, and indulged him, though but a boy of fifteen, in a degree of liberty which others are not allowed till a more advanced age. The truth is, the old man mistook his son's know ledge for prudence, and imagined that a lad so very wise in conversation would be equally so in action. In this he was deceived: Voltaire was a youth of exquisite sensibility, and men of such dispositions generally feel pleasure with a double relish: he had a constitution though not strong, yet delicately pliant, and sucha disposition as inclined him to society. His visage, which was thin, might, at first view, have passed for indifi'erent, but when he spoke it caught inefi'able graces, and his soul seemed beaming through his eyes. His stature was about middle size, and his person, upon the whole, not at all disagreeable. Thus furnished, our young poet launched out into all the excesses of refined debauchery. There are in every great city a set of battered beaus, who, too old for pleasure themselves, introduce every young fellow of spirit into what they call polite company. A kept mistress, an actress, or an opera dancer, generally compose the society. These are all perfectly skilled in the arts of coquetting, teach the young beginner how to make love, set his features, adjust his bow, and - pick his pocket. Into such company as this Voltaire was quickly introduced, and they failed not, awarding to custom, to ¿atter him into a high opinion of his parts, and to praise his wit, though incapable of relishing its delicacy. Imagine a youth pleased with himself and everything about him, taking the lead in all conversation, giving a loose to every folly that happened to occur, uttering things which, when spoken, seemed to please, but which, upon re¿ection, appeared false or trivial - such was the gay, thoughtless, good natured Voltaire, in a circle of close, designing beings, who approved his sallies from ¿attery and not from their feelings, who despised his efforts to please, or enjoyed his folly with tacit malignity. His father saw with concern the company into which he was fallen: he knew by experience that to be a wit was the surest means of banishing friends and fortune, and saw that his son, by striving after the character of an amusing member of society, was giving up all pretensions of being an useful one. Admonition he thought might be serviceable, and accordingly he remonstrated very freely upon Voltaire's behaviour. No youth could receive advice with a better grace than he, or make more faithful promises of amendment. But he was now fallen in love with Mademoiselle G - n, the actress, and lost upon her bosom every domestic concern.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com