LESSON 22
AN ELEGY ON MADAM BLAIZE

Oliver Goldsmith (b. 1728, d. 1774) was born at Pallas, or Pallasmore, in the parish of Forney, Ireland. He received his education at several schools, at Trinity College, Dublin, at Edinburgh, and at Leyden. He spent some time in wandering over continental Europe, often in poverty and want. In 1756 he became a resident of London, where he made the acquaintance of several celebrated men, among whom were Dr. Johnson and Sir Joshua Reynolds. His writings are noted for their purity, grace, and fluency. His fame as a poet is secured by “The Traveler, ” and “The Deserted Village; ” as a dramatist, by “She Stoops to Conquer; ” and as a novelist, by“The Vicar of Wakefield.” His reckless extravagance always kept him in financial difficulty, and he died heavily in debt. His monument is in Westminster Abbey.

1. Good people all, with one accord,

Lament for Madam Blaize,

Who never wanted a good word—

From those who spoke her praise.

2. The needy seldom passed her door,

And always found her kind;

She freely lent to all the poor—

Who left a pledge behind.

3. She strove the neighborhood to please,

With manner wondrous winning:

She never followed wicked ways—

Unless when she was sinning.

4. At church, in silks and satin new,

With hoop of monstrous size,

She never slumbered in her pew—

But when she shut her eyes.

5. Her love was sought, I do aver,

By twenty beaux and more;

The king himself has followed her—

When she has walked before.

6. But now, her wealth and finery fled,

Her hangers-on cut short all,

Her doctors found, when she was dead—

Her last disorder mortal.

7. Let us lament, in sorrow sore;

For Kent Street well may say,

That, had she lived a twelvemonth more—

She had not died to-day.

STUDY GUIDE

A. Word Definition

1.lament:passionate expression of grief.

2.monstrous:huge.

3.pew:long church bench with a back.

4.aver:affirm.

B. Comprehension Questions

1. Which one of these is an elegy?

a. a poem that mourns someone's death

b. a play

c. a novel

2. This poem was written about an English woman who died in the eighteenth century? How might she have died?

3. How did Madame Blaize dress for church?

4. Do you think she was genuinely religious? Why or why not?

5. Label these statements true or false.

a. Men thought Madame Blaize was attractive. _____

b. Kent Street was in Paris. _____

c. Madame Blaize was highly respected. _____

6. A satire ridicules a subject and makes it laughable. How does the author ridicule Madame Blaize?

7. Do you think Madame Blaize was wealthy? Why or why not?

8. Do you think the author knew Madame Blaize well? Explain.

C. Writing Work

Write an elegy for someone you know who has died.