LEFT IN FARQUHAR'S PARLOUR
THURSDAY AUGUST II ND, MDCCLXXXVII.
THRICE favour'd LITCHFIELD! fair, illuftrious town!
High in fame's brightest page ftands thy renown.
From thee, whatever fage or poet knew
Of wisdom's endless volume, JOHNSON drew;
In thy rich glebe, pendent with golden fruit,
Production rare! did GARRICK's laurels fhoot;
But what fhould flatter as it honours moft,
A SEWARD's genius is thy living boaft:
Whether in virtue's cause her bosom glow,
Or the fad strain to friendship sacred flow,
Or meditating yet a nobler song,
With wonted aid the muses round her throng,
In wit a phoenix, and in heart a dove,
Her fex's pride, our wonder and our love.
Hither, elate with hope, I came from far
To view infphered the famed poetic ftar,
Which oft in fong, tho' a reflected blaze,
Had rapt my fancy and outshone my praise;
But from this feat of excellence depart
With lingering ftep and disappointed heart;
For ftill to me, with deep regret I own,
She shines unfeen and captivates unknown.
ON SEEING MRS. BARRY IN THE CHARACTER OF ZENOBIA.
To crown the fame of this dramatic age,
Three heroines lately have adorn'd the ftage;
First, great and glorious, with confummate pow'r
The fock and buskin graceful PRITCHARD Wore;
Next plaintive CIBBER topp'd the tender part,
Drew tears from brutes, and cleft the flinty heart :—
To full perfection none durft e'er afpire,
With CIBBER'S softness tempering PRITCHARD's fire;
What then could nature for her BARRY do?
"To make a third, she join'd the former two.”
ON SEEING A VERY YOUNG PERFORMER IN THAT DIFFICULT AND TRYING PART,
THE GRECIAN DAUGHTER,
MONIMIA'S rifing talents, heaven-acquir'd,
I have oft remark'd, applauded and admir'd :
Prov'd in a complicated round of parts,
She gains all hands and captivates all hearts.
Her youth, her beauty, modefty and sense
O'er all she does a nameless charm dispense;
Yet for EUPHRASIA when her name I read,
Her skill I fear, her inexperience dread-
'How fhould a perfect novice hope to draw,
'With taste and judgment what she never faw?"
Thus clofely queftion'd, not untruth to fay,
On fpecious grounds, I went to fee the play;
When, lo!-the fex how fertile in device !—
Copying her faithful glass, and in a trice
Collecting all her powers, the cunning elf
Gives us a ftriking portrait of herself.
Her tones, looks, actions, suited to the word,
Like ftrings in perfect unison accord,
And filial virtue with enchanting grace
Pervades her form and brightens in her face.
Others from stage fineffe applaufes feek,
What nature dictates her exertions speak,
And up to each incitement of her part,
Atteft the genuine feelings of her heart;
We fee, allowing for dramatic strife,
The very character fhe acts in life;
And not a movement of her lovely frame,
But gives an earnest of her future fame.
Envy may fnarl and jealoufy repine,
'Tis hers with honour unimpeach'd to fhine;
New to the stage, unpatroniz'd, unknown,
Her merit's glorious and 'tis all her own.
IMITATED FROM THE LATIN OF
THREE inches of a party wall,
'Twixt BOURKE, and LISLE, had kindled hate; Angry and long the ftrife—the hall
At laft muft fettle the debate.
Pleadings on pleadings rise, a mountain ! (In course of law the ufual way 'tis)
And words-beyond the power of counting
Yet not one word, or tittle, gratis.—
Month follows month; term, term; and each,
(O law! ingenious in delay,
Thy myfteries deep what thought can reach ?)
Each party ftill has costs to pay.
Complainant BoVRKE; Defendant LISLE
Such are they, while the fuit depends ;-
" Aye' (cries old Bramble, with a smile)
* But both Complainants, when it ends,'
Thus, of a turtle once, rare dish!
A cafe adjudg'd, reporters tell-
Court, agents, lawyers, ate the fish :
The parties fupp'd upon the shell,
ON TWO SISTERS UNHAPPILY DROWNED AS THEY WILL
BATHING IN THE SEA. FROM THE LATIN,
WHAT to the faithlefs ocean now is due?
She gave one VENUS, and has taken two.
ANOTHER, BY A SCHOOL BOY.
AH! tell me now, ungenerous wave!
What thanks to thee are due?
One VENUS, it is true, you gave ;
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