PART II. RECITATIVE accompanied. Enough the parent's praise---see of Deceit Profession, whispering accents sweet, Fav'ring nods, and hope-fraught smiles, That guard the home-pledg'd faith of Kings--- Speed Eastern guile across this earthly ball, Thy fond looks on mine imprinting, Whom, stealing to the back-stairs' head, } *Wrinkle-twinkle, &c.] It must have been already observed by the sagacious reader, that our author can coin an epithet as well as a fable. Wrinkles are as frequently produced by the motion of the part as by the advance of age. The head of the distinguished personage here described, though in the prime of its faculties, has had more exercise in every sense than any head in the world. Whether he means any allusion to the war AIR. Sweet nymph, that liv'st unseen Within that lov'd recess Save when the Closet Councils press, Where shall I trace thee in that vacant hour} Dost thou to list'ning Senates take thy way? Thy presence let me still enjoy, With Rose, and the lie-loving boy, AIR. No rogue that goes Is like that Rose, Or scatters such deceit : Come to my breast There ever rest, Associate counterfeit ! ship of the rising sun, and imitates the Persian priests, whose grand ack of devotion is to turn round; or whether he merely thinks that the work, ing of the head in circles will give analogous effect to the species of argu ment in which he excels, we must remain in the dark; but certain it is, that whenever he reasons in public, the capital and wonderful part of the frame I am alluding to, is continually revolving upon its axis: and his eyes, as if dazzled with rays that dart on him exclusively, twinkle in their orbs at the rate of sixty twinks to one revolution. I trust I have given a rational account, and not far-fetched, both of the wrinkle and twinkle in this ingenious compound. * No rogue that goes, &c.] The candid reader will put no improper interpretation on the word Rogue. Pretty rogue, dear rogue, &c. are terms of endearment to one sex; pleasant rogue, witty rogue, apply as familiar compliments to the other: indeed facetious rogue is the common table appellation of this gentleman in Downing Street. PART III, LOUD SYMPHONY. But lo! what throngs of rival bards! Pattern and arbiter of wit! The laureate wreath hangs graceful from his wand: Parnassian Pegasus, away Grant me the more glorious steed I kneel, I kneel; And at his snowy heel, Pindaric homage vow ; He neighs; he bounds; I mount, I fly The air-drawn crosier in my eye, The visionary mitre on my brow. Spirit of hierarchy, exalt thy rhyme, AIR for a Bishop, + Hither, brethren, incense bring To the mitre-giving King; It will be observed by the attentive reader, that the thought of mounting the Hanoverian Horse, as a Pegasus, has been employed by Mr. Dundas, in his Ode preserved in this collection. It is true, the Doctor has taken the reins out of his hands, as it was time somebody should do. But I hereby forewarm the vulgar Critic, from the poor joke of making the Doctor a horse-stealer. + Hither, brethren, &c.) When this Ode is performed in Westminster Abbey (as doubtless it will be), this Air is designed for the Reverend, or r Praise him for his first donations; By the powers of a crown, Praise him in his height! The mighty, mighty height of his prerogative! RECITATIVE by an Archbishop. Orchestras, of thousands strong, With Zadoc's zeal each note prolong Prepare! Bates gives the animating nod— Vibrate to the best of Kings Eunuchs, Stentors, double basses, Lab'ring lungs, inflated faces, Bellows working, Elbows jerking, Scraping, beating, Roaring, sweating. rather the Right Reverend Author. The numerous bench (for there will hardly be more than three absentees) who will begin to chant the subsequent chorus from their box at the right hand of his most sacred Majesty, will have a fine effect both on the ear and eye. Through the old Gothic roofs be the chorus rebounded, Bishops and Lords of the Bedchamber*, George submissive Britain sways; Lords of the Bedchamber, &c.] Candour obliges us to confess, that this designation of the performers, and in truth the following stanza, did not stand in the original copy, delivered in to the Lord Chamberlain's Office. Indeed, Signor Delpini had his doubts as to the legality of admitting it, notwithstanding Mr. Rose's testimony, that it was actually and bonâ fide composed with the rest of the Ode, and had only accidentally fallen into the same drawer of Mr. Pitt's bureau in which he had lately mislaid Mr. Gibbins's nute. Mr. Banks's testimony was also solicited to the same effect; but he had left off vouching for the present session. Mr. Pepper Arden, indeed, with the most intrepid liberality, engaged to find authority for it in the statutes at large; on which Signor Delpini, with his usual terseness of repartee, instantly exclaimed, Ha! ha! ha! However, the difficulty was at length obviated by an observation of the noble Lord who presided, that in the case of the King versus Atkinson, the House of Lords had established the right of judges to amend a record, as Mr. Quarme had informed his Lordship immediately after hia having voted for that decision. Here end Mr. Robinson's notes. "A present God, Abject Commons," &c. The imitation will be obvious to the classical reader: All the editors of Horace have hitherto read adjectis Britannis. Our author, as sound a critic as a divine, suo periculo, makes the alteration of a single letter, and thereby gives a new and peculiar force to the applica 2 |