Quotes from work
The Deserted Village

Oliver Goldsmith

The Deserted Village is a poem by Oliver Goldsmith published in 1770. It is a work of social commentary, and condemns rural depopulation and the pursuit of excessive wealth.

“Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates, and men decay;
Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade;
A breath can make them, as a breath has made;
But a bold peasantry, their country's pride,
When once destroyed, can never be supplied.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 51.

“Even children followed with endearing wile,
And plucked his gown, to share the good man's smile.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 183.

“The watchdog's voice that bayed the whispering wind,
And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 121.

“Thou source of all my bliss, and all my woe,
That found'st me poor at first, and keep'st me so.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 413.

“Through torrid tracts with fainting steps they go,
Where wild Altama murmurs to their woe.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 344.

“Wept o'er his wounds, or tales of sorrow done,
Shoulder'd his crutch, and shew'd how fields were won.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 157.

“And, as a bird each fond endearment tries
To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies,
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 167.

“As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form,
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm,—
Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its head.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 189.

“O Luxury! thou curst by Heaven's decree!”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 385.

“Where village statesmen talked with looks profound,
And news much older than their ale went round.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 223.

“A man he was to all the country dear,
And passing rich with forty pounds a year.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 141.

“His best companions, innocence and health;
And his best riches, ignorance of wealth.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 61.

“The hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade,
For talking age and whispering lovers made.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 13.

“In all the silent manliness of grief.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 384.

“The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love,
The matron's glance that would those looks reprove.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 29.

“Careless their merits or their faults to scan,
His pity gave ere charity began.
Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride,
And e'en his failings leaned to Virtue's side.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 161.

“Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 1.

“Well had the boding tremblers learn'd to trace
The day's disasters in his morning face;
Full well they laugh'd with counterfeited glee
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he;
Full well the busy whisper circling round
Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd.
Yet was he kind, or if severe in aught,
The love he bore to learning was in fault;
The village all declar'd how much he knew,
'T was certain he could write and cipher too.”

Oliver Goldsmith The Deserted Village

Variant: A man severe he was, and stern to view;
I knew him well, and every truant knew:
Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace
The day's disasters in his morning face;
Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee,
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he;
Full well the bust whisper, circling round,
Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned;
Yet he was kind; or if severe in aught,
The love he bore to learning was in fault;
The village all declared how much he knew;
'Twas certain he could write, and cipher too.
Source: The Deserted Village (1770), Line 199.