Cumberland

Here Cumberland* lies, having acted his parts,
The Terence of England, the mender of hearts;
A flattering painter, who made it his care
To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are.
His gallants are all faultless, his women divine,
And comedy wonders at being so fine;
Like a tragedy queen he has dizened her out,
Or rather like tragedy giving a rout.
His fools have their follies so lost in a crowd
Of virtues and feelings, that folly grows proud;
And coxcombs, alike in their failings alone,
Adopting his portraits, are pleased with their own.
Say, where has our poet this malady caught?
Or, wherefore his characters thus without fault?
Say, was it that vainly directing his view
To find out men's virtues, and finding them few,
Quite sick of pursuing each troublesome elf,
He grew lazy at last, and drew from himself?

Continue

*Cumberland
Richard Cumberland, poet, dramatist, author. Goldsmith is said to have felt that his works were what we would now describe as 'soap operas' in which the faults and vices of the characters were portrayed as amusing and harmless foibles.

And - here is salon insurance and accountants insurance

Home
Introduction
Dean
Edmund
William
Richard
douglas
David Garrick
Hickey
Reynolds
Whitefoord