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as it was degraded in relation to that of men。 It would matter
little indeed that Mrs。 Primrose 〃could read any English book
without much spelling〃 if her husband and son were as definitely
limited to journeyman's field…labour as she was to the pickling and
the gooseberry wine。 Any of those industries is a better and more
liberal business than unselect reading； for instance； or than
unselect writing。 Therefore let me not be misunderstood to complain
too indiscriminately of that century or of an unlettered state。
What is really unhandsome is the new； slovenly； and corrupt
inequality whereinto the century had fallen。
That the mother of daughters and sons should be fatuous； a village
worldling； suspicious； ambitious； ill…bred； ignorant； gross；
insolent； foul…mouthed； pushing； importunate； and a fool； seems
natural； almost innocently natural； in Goldsmith's story； the
squalid Mrs。 Primrose is all this。 He is still able； through his
Vicar； in the most charmingly humorous passage in the book； to
praise her for her 〃prudence； economy； and obedience。〃 Her other；
more disgusting； characteristics give her husband an occasion for
rebuking her as 〃Woman！〃 This is done； for example； when； despite
her obedience； she refuses to receive that unlucky schemer； her own
daughter； returned in ruins； without insulting her by the sallies of
a kitchen sarcasm。
She plots with her daughters the most disastrous fortune hunt。 She
has given them a teaching so effectual that the Vicar has no fear
lest the paltry Sophia should lose her heart to the good； the
sensible Burchell； who had saved her life； for he has no fortune。
Mrs。 Primrose begins grotesquely； with her tedious histories of the
dishes at dinner； and she ends upon the last page； anxious； amid the
general happiness； in regard to securing the head of the table。
Upon these feminine humours the author sheds his Vicar's indulgent
smile。 What a smile for a self…respecting husband to be pricked to
smile！ A householder would wince； one would think； at having
opportunity to bestow its tolerance upon his cook。
Between these two housewifely appearances； Mrs。 Primrose potters
through the book； plotsalways squalidly； talks the worst kinds of
folly； takes the lead； with a loud laugh； in insulting a former
friend； crushes her repentant daughter with reproaches that show
envy rather than indignation； and kisses that daughter with
congratulation upon hearing that she had； unconsciously and
unintentionally； contracted a valid marriage （with a rogue）； spoils
and makes common and unclean everything she touches； has but two
really gentle and tender moments all through the story； and sets；
once for all； the example in literature of the woman we find
thenceforth； in Thackeray； in Douglas Jerrold； in Dickens； and un
peu partout。
Hardly less unspiritual； in spite of their conventional romance of
youth and beauty； are the daughters of the squalid one。 The author；
in making them simple； has not abstained from making them cunning。
Their vanities are well enough； but these women are not only vain；
they are so envious as to refuse admiration to a sister…in…lawone
who is their rival in no way except in so much as she is a
contemporary beauty。 〃Miss Arabella Wilmot；〃 says the pious father
and vicar； 〃was allowed by all （except my two daughters） to be
completely pretty。〃
They have been left by their father in such brutal ignorance as to
be instantly deceived into laughing at bad manners in error for
humour。 They have no pretty or sensitive instincts。 〃The jests of
the rich；〃 says the Vicar； referring to his own young daughters as
audience； 〃are ever successful。〃 Olivia； when the squire played off
a dullish joke； 〃mistook it for humour。 She thought him； therefore；
a very fine gentleman。〃 The powders and patches for the country
church； the ride thither on Blackberry； in so strange a procession；
the face…wash； the dreams and omens； are all good gentle comedy； we
are completely convinced of the tedium of Mrs。 Primrose's dreams；
which she told every morning。 But there are other points of comedy
that ought not to precede an author's appeal to the kind of
sentiment about to be touched by the tragic scenes of The Vicar of
Wakefield。
In odd sidling ways Goldsmith bethinks himself to give his principal
heroine a shadow of the virtues he has not bestowed upon her。 When
the unhappy Williams； above…mentioned； has been used in vain by
Olivia； and the squire has not declared himself； and she is on the
point of keeping her word to Williams by marrying him； the Vicar
creates a situation out of it all that takes the reader roundly by
surprise： 〃I frequently applauded her resolution in preferring
happiness to ostentation。〃 The good Goldsmith！ Here is Olivia
perfectly frank with her father as to her exceedingly sincere
preference for ostentation； and as to her stratagem to try to obtain
it at the expense of honour and of neighbour Williams； her mind is
as well known to her father as her father's mind is known to Oliver
Goldsmith； and as Oliver Goldsmith's； Dr。 Primrose's； and Olivia's
minds are known to the reader。 And in spite of all； your Goldsmith
and your Vicar turn you this phrase to your very face。 You hardly
know which way to look； it is so disconcerting。
Seeing that Olivia （with her chance…recovered virtue） and Sophia may
both be expected to grow into the kind of matronhood represented by
their mother； it needs all the conditions of fiction to surround the
close of their love…affairs with the least semblance of dignity。
Nor； in fact； can it be said that the final winning of Sophia is an
incident that errs by too much dignity。 The scene is that in which
Burchell； revealed as Sir William Thornhill； feigns to offer her in
marriage to the good…natured rogue； Jenkinson； fellow prisoner with
her father； in order that； on her indignant and distressed refusal；
he may surprise her agreeably by crying； 〃What？ Not have him？ If
that be the case； I think I must have you myself。〃 Even for an
avowedly eccentric master of whims； this is playing with forbidden
ironies。 True； he catches her to his breast with ardour； and calls
her 〃sensible。〃 〃Such sense and such heavenly beauty；〃 finally
exclaims the happy man。 Let us make him a present of the heavenly
beauty。 It is the only thing not disproved； not dispraised； not
disgraced； by a candid study of the Ladies of the Idyll。
A DERIVATION
By what obscure cause； through what ill…directed industry； and under
the constraint of what disabling hands； had the language of English
poetry grown； for an age； so rigid that a natural writer at the end
of the eighteenth century had much ado to tell a simple story in
sufficient verse？ All the vital exercise of the seventeenth century
had left the language buoyant； it was as elastic as deep and mobile
waters； then followed the grip of that incapacitating later style。
Much lat