Retaliation |  |
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Back in the 18th century the most popular
meeting place far creative people was on the corner of London's St James
Street, called the St James Coffee House and, hardly surprisingly, Oliver
Goldsmith was a regular visitor and would meet up with a number of his friends
so that they could swap ideas, boast about their exploits, and generally try
to send each other up! Hardly surprisingly again, the discussions sometimes
became quite animated and competition was fierce to find out who could take
the wind out of the sails of the others in the most effective way. Goldsmith
considers himself to be the best man amongst them so they lay down a challenge
to him; the others would write short epithets and Goldsmith would produce his
retaliation. David Garrick was first, and wrote: Here lies Nolly Goldsmith, for shortness called Noll, Who wrote like an angel, but talked like poor Poll! There were others from the rest of the assembled wits, but unfortunately none of them were recorded for posterity. Goldsmith was singularly unamused as this caused gales of laughter; but rather than rush out instant answers he decided to take his time over it, and they came out in dribs and drabs over the coming weeks, in fact he was right in them right up to his death which sadly was not far off. | Introduction Dean Edmund William Richard Cumberland Douglas David Garrick Hickey Reynolds Whitefoord |
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