310

INVENTORY OF THEATRICAL PROPERTY.

to the polite assembly I have already mentioned, pre cisely as follows; except that he pronounced it in a way so remote from its orthography, that I could not but wonder by what singular artifice he had contrived to falsify all the terminating syllables of the language.Imprimis-Hamlet's inky cloak—quite 'new, nevěr in

deed worn.N.B. None of the sable professions need apply; as the said inky cloak is green lined with red, the same having been bought of a slopseller at Elsineur, upon

Hamlet's being shipwrecked coming from England. Item--Cardinal Wolsey's handkerchief --curiously

laced in the old English custome. Item-Othello's do. for Cassio to wipe his beard with.

All the strawberries as much raised from the ground as those Richard sends for from the Bishop of Ely's

garden in Holborn. ItemIago's do.-folded so snugly as to lie in the

smallest possible compass of the inexpressible Canary pantaloons-besides, I have given up the part to Cooke, who plays it like a villain-Now that's vil.

lainous ! Item-Six easy chairs for Q. Catherine in the restless

The cushions have always tumbled about so in the Queen's slumber, that the swimming

Jewess waked Her Majesty one night with laughing. Item“A royal cap and feathers—for Macbeth to strut

and fret his hour in--so tall-in short, as Hamlet says, a forest of feathers—that a mad fellow called

the thing a shuttlecock from Brobdignag. Item-My beard in King Lear--Curse that same goat's

beard ! -The first night the audience supposed half the curse stuck in my throat, because I could not get it out; I mean the beard. Thus I gave it!

That she may curse her crime too late, and feel
How sharper-cuk!-!-uk!

Item

ON A LATE EXHIBITION.

311 Item- A great bell of a ton weight, for Lady Mac

beth's dressing-room, for the Queen to ring two
upon. Singularly recommended by the following
passage

of the Poeti
Go, bid thy mistress, wben my drink is ready,

She strike upon the bell.
Item--A basket-hilted sword, to be used in the dagger

scene-adopted in pursuance of Shakspeare's plain
direction:-

I see thee yet (the dagger) in form as palpable

As this which now I draw,
Item-Twenty reports, or more, to throw at the

prompter's head, in the same character : hinted at
only by the

great Bring me no more reports, let them fly allthat is, as I understand it, not the Thanes, but the

inan

A FABLE.
(WRITTEN IN THE STYLE OF GAY.)"

[From the Morning Chronicle, Nov. 17.1 WHEN men, advanc'd to high estate, ,

With sudden dignity elate,
Forget the means by which they rose,
And other means would interpose;
These men are quickly hurled down,
The scoff and laughter of the town.

A statesman of experienc'd parts,
Possessid of all a statesman's arts,
While groaning at the point of death,
Thus spoke his friends, with gasping breath:
“ My friends (said he), whate'er you do,
Continue to each other true ;
Though ranks of opposition rail,
Let no internal jars prevail;
Supported by each other's aid,
Of nothing need you be afraid ;
But, from the moment you forget
This maxini, you are overset.
Discord 's the prelude to disgrace,
And (what is worse) to loss of place.
I charge you then, whate'er you do,
Continue to each oiher true,"?
He said-and, with prophetic sigh,
Dismiss'd them, and prepard to die.

Instructed thus, the little crew
Continud to each other true;
And, at his death, set up a plea
Of Vigour avd No Popery;
By which they were accordingly
Elected to the Ministry.
-Of place and power now possessid,
They put his counsel to the test;
Defended, with their utmost skill,
Abuses of notorious ill;
Bought certain seats, and others sold,
In bargains, with the Treas’ry gold;
And places of the Board of Trade
A medium of barter made.

THE RETORT COURTEOUS.

313

In cases of small enterprise
The Park and Tower ordnance flies;
But, though so ready with their gun,
In great ones, they could fire none.

In short, the public voice complain’d,
But still their places they retain'd;
For this, and more too, they might do,
So long as they continu'd true.
When, lo! in an unlucky hour,
Regardless of the means of pow'r,
A spark of enmity prevails,
And quick each Minister assails.
They wrangle now in constant strife;
They hanker for each other's life ;
And all, with one endeavour, strive
Each other from his post to drive:
(Although, with most consummate art,
Each plays a well-dissembled part,
And feigns a friendship for the man
Whose ruin he is known to plan :)
Till, stifled to the last degree,
The flame at length bursts openly;
And then this famous Ministry
Of vigour and No Popery,
Distracted by internal brawls,
A victim to its vigour falls.

THE RETORT COURTEOUS,

[From the same, Nov. 18.) TALL ALL as the steeple of the town,

From which his title's ta'en,
Lord Salisbury, of high renown,

Once enter'd Drury Lane.
At the box door stood young Wagstaffe,
A wit devoid of

grace;
He wanted but to gain a laugh,

And Sarüm's Peer a place.
The Earl mistook the graceless cur,

And cried, with looks askew,
“ Pray, friend, are you the Box-keeper?"

Says Wagstaffe-"No; are you?”. VOL. XIII.

P

FROM

( 314 )
FROM THE MORNING CHRONICLE.

[Nov. 18.]

« Quem virum aut heroa, lyrâ vel acri

Tibiâ sumes celebrare ?"-HOR.
Foi

OR whom shall Oxford's hallow'd quire

Inspire with life the dormant lyre,
And raise the venal song?
Shall Eldon, now, for once, control
The niggard genius of his soul,

And least Corruption's throng?
Shall he the sumptuous banquet raise,
And revel on the unbought praise

His liberal mind shall gain?
Loudly shall he his coriscience vaunt,
And spur, with many an impious taunt,

Dark Superstition's train?
Shall be each sordid, selfish mind
With interest's steady fetters bind,

The churchman's guiding star?
Shall deanery, prebendary stall,
Be offer'd us in lieu of all

We look for in our Chancellor?
Shall Beaufort, polish'd, generous, gay,
O'er Learning's bow’rs hold sovereign sway,

And boast his high descent:
These academic groves, of yore,
Would ne'er re-echo back the roar

Of sport and noisy merriment.
Enjoy, my Lord; we leave to you
The well-earn'd glory justly due

To all your sporting feats;
Let Learning, such as few can claim,
Unsullied honour, spotless fame,

Preside o'er Learning's seats.
And if to Oxford still was dear
That virtue which she must revere,

That patriot heart and hand-
If mild Religion's temper'd fires
Could plead-v'er Oxford's tow'ring spires

Would Grenville hold conimand.