Produced by Charles J. Griep
THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD
A TALE
Supposed to be written by Himself
By Oliver Goldsmith
Sperate miseri, cavete faelices
ADVERTISEMENT
There are an hundred faults in this Thing, and an hundred things might be said to prove them beauties. But it is needless. A book may be amusing with numerous errors, or it may be very dull without a single absurdity. The hero of this piece unites in himself the three greatest characters upon earth; he is a priest, an husbandman, and the father of a family. He is drawn as ready to teach, and ready to obey, as simple in affluence, and majestic in adversity. In this age of opulence and refinement whom can such a character please? Such as are fond of high life, will turn with disdain from the simplicity of his country fire-side. Such as mistake ribaldry for humour, will find no wit in his harmless conversation; and such as have been taught to deride religion, will laugh at one whose chief stores of comfort are drawn from futurity.
OLIVER GOLDSMITH
CONTENTS 1. The description of the family of Wakefield; in which a kindred likeness prevails as well of minds as of persons
2. Family misfortunes. The loss of fortune only serves to increase the pride of the worthy
3. A migration. The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found at last to be of our own procuring
4. A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution 5. A new and great acquaintance introduced. What we place most hopes upon generally proves most fatal
6. The happiness of a country fire-side
7. A town wit described. The dullest fellows may learn to be comical for a night or two
8. An amour, which promises little good fortune, yet may be productive of much
9. Two ladies of great distinction introduced. Superior finery ever seems to confer superior breeding
10. The family endeavours to cope with their betters. The miseries of the poor when they attempt to appear above their circumstances
11. The family still resolve to hold up their heads
12. Fortune seems resolved to humble the family of Wakefield. Mortifications are often more painful than real calamities
13. Mr Burchell is found to be an enemy; for he has the confidence to give disagreeable advice
14. Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration that seeming calamities may be real blessings
15. All Mr Burchell's villainy at once detected. The folly of being-over-wise
16. The Family use art, which is opposed with still greater
17. Scarce any virtue found to resist the power of long and pleasing temptation 18. The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost child to virtue
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith
- 2: In visiting our rich neighbours
- 3: I intended to call after her aunt Grissel
- 4: I was careless of temporalities
- 5: Miss Arabella Wilmot was allowed by all
- 6: For premature consolation is but the remembrancer of sorrow
- 7: As what he drank would encrease the bill next morning
- 8: Mr Burchell and I bringing up the rear
- 9: As it was kept with the utmost neatness
- 10: For finery is very unbecoming in us
- 11: Upon which he let us know that his name was Thornhill
- 12: Poor Mr Burchell entered the house
- 13: 'will give Mr Burchell my part
- 14: And I have heard my pappa himself say
- 15: Naturally produce a problematical dialogism
- 16: 'what Olivia may be able to do
- 17: While Mr Burchell gave cheerfulness to the feast
- 18: His rising cares the hermit spy'd
- 19: 'And there forlorn despairing hid
- 20: ' Mr Burchell returned her a compliment for her intentions
- 21: Mr Thornhill and my eldest daughter led up the ball
- 22: Has the fortune teller given thee a pennyworth
- 23: We ought to appear there as decently as possible
- 24: Next the straps of my wife's pillion broke down
- 25: Lady Blarney and Miss Carolina Wilelmina Amelia Skeggs
- 26: 'your Ladyships will pardon my present presumption
- 27: Miss Carolina Wilelmina Anielia Skeggs has my warm heart
- 28: The next that came was Mr Burchell
- 29: ' 'A groce of green spectacles
- 30: 'a Giant and a Dwarf were friends
- 31: Put my horse through all his paces
- 32: Respectfully said something softly to the old stranger
- 33: Who lived about the time of Nebuchadon Asser
- 34: It was quickly known to belong to Mr Burchell
- 35: That ounce of jokes is so very good a conceit
- 36: Guilt gave shame frequent uneasiness
- 37: That she thought him and Olivia extremely of a size
- 38: That Mr Thornhill came to see us
- 39: My approbation of such a choice
- 40: Mr Thornhill appeared quite dejected at this preference
- 41: 'An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog
- 42: O what will my poor pappa do when he knows I am undone
- 43: For she has vilely deceived us
- 44: I could only guess to be Mr Burchell
- 45: 'the public think nothing about dialect
- 46: And being shewn into the common room
- 47: Because he is a cunninger animal than they
- 48: Each orb with a vortex of its own
- 49: ' However unexpected our company might be to them
- 50: He perceived Miss Wilmot and me
- 51: Have you been bred apprentice to the business
- 52: Like the porcupine I sate self collected
- 53: 'is Mr Thornhill so near a neighbour of yours
- 54: Being shewn into a grand apartment
- 55: Expecting the arrival of Mr Cripse
- 56: Every day lessened the burthen of my moveables
- 57: He enquired into the nature of my journey to Paris
- 58: His presence served only to encrease the general good humour
- 59: To talk of young 'Squire Thornhill
- 60: ' I instantly knew the voice of my poor ruined child Olivia
- 61: 'it was Mr Thornhill who seduced me
- 62: For mine are mixed with guilt and infamy
- 63: I now stood a calm spectator of the flames
- 64: Is much more pleased to view a repentant sinner
- 65: Which hung over the river Volturna
- 66: That Mr Thornhill was going to be married to Miss Wilmot
- 67: It was in this place my poor Olivia first met her seducer
- 68: Previous to my intended marriage
- 69: While I leaned upon my youngest girl
- 70: Upon hearing me address the poor deluded people
- 71: And is not your name Ephraim Jenkinson
- 72: And the cloaths given me by my fellow prisoner
- 73: Runs to the thieftakers for protection
- 74: While I still continued tricksy and cunning
- 75: Yet it will assuredly mend myself
- 76: But a compact that is false between two men
- 77: Instead a contriving new laws to punish vice
- 78: 'though you refuse to submit to the nephew
- 79: Mr Jenkinson interupted their harmless prattle
- 80: 'that my last letter to him has miscarried
- 81: Wounded and fettered with the heaviest irons
- 82: And then addressed them with the following exhortation
- 83: The consolations of philosophy are very amusing
- 84: When crowned with endless felicity hereafter
- 85: When the gaoler came with looks of haste and pleasure
- 86: Yet my honest brave Burchell should be my dearest choice
- 87: A table was lent us by the gaoler
- 88: 'I know Sir William Thornhill well
- 89: And desired Mr Thornhill to be introduced
- 90: 'The moment Mr Thornhill perceived the prisoner
- 91: ' interrupted young Mr Thornhill
- 92: She set his duel with Mr Thornhill in a proper light
- 93: He made Miss Wilmot a modest and distant bow
- 94: He could bear his being a rascal
- 95: He put the licence into the Baronet's hands
- 96: 'of the obligations we both owe Mr Jenkinson
- 97: The question was whether my eldest daughter