V.—­Poet, Dramatist, and Spendthrift

Goldsmith had long been a constant frequenter of the theatres, and one of the most sagacious critics of the actors of his day; and it was natural that, having succeeded as an essayist, a poet, and a novelist, he should try his fortune with the drama.  In 1767 a comedy was in Garrick’s hands, wherein, following the method of Farquhar, he attempted by the help of nature, humour, and character, to invoke the spirit of laughter, happy, unrestrained, and cordial.  After long, and not very friendly, temporising by the great actor, Goldsmith withdrew the play from Drury Lane and committed it to Colman at Covent Garden; but it was not till January 29, 1768, that “The Good-Natur’d Man” was acted.  It proved a reasonably fair success.  Johnson, who wrote the prologue, went to see the comedy rehearsed, and showed unwavering kindness to his friend at this trying time.

While the play was under discussion and preparation, Goldsmith was engaged in writing for Tom Davies an easy, popular, “History of Rome,” in the style of his anonymous “Letters from a Nobleman to His Son,” proceeding with it at leisure in his cottage at Edgeware.  The success of “The Good-Natured Man,” though far from equal to its claims of character, wit, and humour, very sensibly affected its author’s ways of life.  It put L500 in his pocket, which he at once proceeded to squander on fine chambers in the Temple, and new suits of gay clothing followed in quick succession.

During the next year, 1769, the “Roman History” was published, and the first month’s sale established its success so firmly that Goldsmith received an offer of L500 for a “History of England,” in four volumes, to be “written and compiled in two years.”  At the same time he was under agreement for his “Natural History,” or, as it was finally termed, his “History of Animated Nature.”

These years of heavy work were among the happiest of Goldsmith’s life, for he had made the acquaintance of the Misses Horneck, girls of nineteen and seventeen.  The elder, Catherine, or “Little Comedy,” was already engaged; the younger, Mary, who had the loving nickname of the “Jessamy Bride,” exercised over him a strong fascination.  Their social as well as personal charms are uniformly spoken of by all.  Mary, who did not marry till after Goldsmith’s death, lived long enough to be admired by Hazlitt, to whom she talked of the poet with affection unabated by age, till he “could almost fancy the shade of Goldsmith in the room, looking round with complacency.”

It was during these years of busy bookmaking, too, that the poet was perfecting his “Deserted Village.”  On May 26, 1770, it appeared, published at two shillings.  Its success was instant and decisive.  By August 16, a fifth edition had appeared.  When Gray heard the poem read, he exclaimed, “This man is a poet!” The judgment has since been affirmed by hundreds of thousands of readers, and any adverse