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Page:The Vicar of Wakefield (Volume 2) - Goldsmith (1766, 1st edition).djvu/148

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146
The Vicar of Wakefield.

lived to see this day. To see my chil­dren all untimely falling about me, while I continue a wretched survivor in the midst of ruin! May all the curses that ever sunk a soul fall heavy upon the murderer of my children. May he live, like me, to see—"

"Hold, Sir," replied my son, "or I shall blush for thee. How, Sir, forget­ful of your age, your holy calling, thus to arrogate the justice of heaven, and fling those curses upward that must soon descend to crush thy own grey head with destruction! No, Sir, let it be your care now to fit me for that vile death I must shortly suffer, to arm me with hope and resolution, to give me courage to drink of that bitterness which must short­ly be my portion."

"My child, you must not die: I am sure no offence of thine can deserve so"vile