Essays and Poems Author:Oliver Goldsmith Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: E S S A Y I. J. HERE is not, perhaps, a more whimsical figure in nature than a man of real modesty who assumes an air of impudence 5 who, while his heart beat... more »s with anxiety, studies ease, and affects good humour. Li this situation, however, every inexperienced writer, as I am, finds himself. Impressed with the terrors of the tribunal before which he is going to appear, his natural humour turns to pertness, and for real wit he is obliged to substitute vivacity. For my part, as I was never distinguished for address, aud have often blundered in making my bow, I am at a loss whether to be merry or sad on this solemn occasion. Should I modestly decline all merit, it is too probable the hasty reader may take me at my word. If, on the other hand, like labourers in the magazine trade, I humbly presume to promise an epitome of all thr good things that were ever said or written, those readers I most desire to please may forsake me. My bookseller, in this dilemma, perceiving my embarrassment, instantly offered his assistance and advice : " You must know, Sir," says he, " that the republic of letters is at present divided into several classes. One writer excels at a plan, or the title-page ; another works away at the body of the book; and the third is a dab at an index. Thus a magazine is not the result of any single man's industry, but goes through as many hands as a new pin, before it is fit for the public. I fancy, Sir," continues he, " I can provide an eminent hand, and upon moderate terms, to draw up a promising plan to smooth up our readers a little, and pay them, as Colonel Charter! paid his seraglio, at the rate of three halfpence in hand, and three shillings more in promises.1' He was proceeding in his advice, which, however, I thought proper to decline, by assur...« less