Arithmetic, a rule or praxis, of great use and extent in the art of numbers; whereby we find a fourth proportional to three quantities given.

The golden rule is also called the Rule of Three, and Rule of Proportion. See its nature and use under the article Arithmetic, No 13.

Goldengen, a town of Poland in the duchy of Courland, with a handsome castle, seated on the river Weia, in E. Long. 21. 44. N. Lat. 56. 48.

Goldoni, Charles, a comic writer of considerable eminence, was born at Venice in the year 1707, in which city his father acted in the capacity of physician. His attachment to the drama became conspicuous even in childhood, which his father was fond of countenancing, erecting a theatre in his own house, where young Goldoni and some of his companions were the actors. It is said that he even drew the outlines of a comedy of his own invention when he was no more than eight years of age—a most extraordinary indication of his future eminence. He studied rhetoric at Perugia, in the college of the Jesuits, and prosecuted his philosophical studies at Rimini. The stage, however, had too many charms to allow him to pay much attention to Aristotle or Quintilian, and he eloped from Rimini with a company of comedians when they removed to Chioggia. In vain did his father attempt to make him fall in love with physic, or the study of the law; yet his ardent imagination was so forcibly struck with a particular church-ceremony, that he formed the resolution of commencing capoeira, but the dissipation of Venice soon destroyed this resolution. After the demise of his father, he was prevailed upon by his surviving parent to take up the profession of the law for immediate support, but some unknown reasons induced him to quit the bar after which he went to Milan, where he was appointed secretary to the Venetian resident.

At Milan he brought out his first performance, under the title of Il Gondoliere Veneziano. He removed afterwards to Verona, where he joined himself to a company of players; and here too he entered into a state of wedlock. He composed a number of pieces for the players to whom he attached himself. While at Venice, he formed the laudable resolution of reforming the Italian stage, which at that time was disgraced by contemptible farce and low buffoonery. He made himself acquainted with the true nature of comedy, and kept within the limits of nature and decorum. Such was the fertility of his genius, and such his indefatigable industry, that he produced no fewer than sixteen comedies and 42 other theatrical pieces in the course of Goldeni, twelve months! And what is most astonishing, some of Goldoni's hasty performances are deemed his masterpieces.

His works in 10 vols. 8vo. were first printed in 1753, and in 1761 his new pieces amounted to 59. About this time he was invited to Paris by the manager of the Italian theatre in that city, to compose pieces for the stage, of which invitation he accepted. His first attempt was unsuccessful, because he had to contend with the pantomime drollery, which was most agreeable to the depraved taste of the times. When about to leave Paris on the expiration of his engagement, he was introduced to the court, and appointed teacher of the Italian languages to the princesses. He had lodgings in Versailles, but his pension was not sufficient to keep him from writing for the stage. When 62 years old, he ventured to compose in a foreign language, his La Bourru Bicoquissant, which was received in the court theatre with extraordinary applause. He was deprived of his pension in consequence of the revolution, and reduced to indigence. It ought to be confessed, however, that this versatile nation was just about to make him amends when he expired in 1792, and in the 85th year of his age. If the rapidity with which Goldoni composed was such as to prevent him from ranking with authors of the first class, it cannot be denied that his talent for comedy was very great. Some have given him the appellation of the Molière of Italy, but this perhaps is too flattering a title. His whole works were printed at Leghorn about the years 1788 and 1791, in 31 volumes 8vo.