For twenty or thirty years past, it has been the fashion to consider luxury as one of the greatest national advantages; and all the wisdom of antiquity, in that particular, as erroneous. Still, however, I must remain a professed ancient on that head, and continue to think those luxuries prejudicial to states, by which so many vices are introduced, and so many kingdoms have been undone. Indeed, so much has been poured out of late on the other side of the question, that merely for the sake of novelty, and variety one would sometimes wish to be in the right. I am, DEAR SIR, Your sincere friend, and ardent admirer, OLIVER GOLDSMITH. F How often have I bless'd the coming day And all the village train, from labor free, Led up their sports beneath the spreading tree- And many a gambol frolick'd o'er the ground, Succeeding sports the mirthful band inspir❜d— By holding out to tire each other down, The swain mistrustless of his smutted face While secret laughter titter'd round the place, The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love, The matron's glance that would those looks reprove. These were thy charms, sweet village! sports like these, With sweet succession, taught even toil to please; These round thy bowers their cheerful influence shed; These were thy charms-but all these charms are fled. 36 |