ΕΡΙΤΑΡΗ ON EDWARD PURDON 1 HERE lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed, te EPILOGUE FOR MR. LEE LEWES HOLD! Prompter, hold! a word before your nonsense; (Takes off his mask.) Whence, and what art thou, visionary birth ? [1 First printed as Goldsmith's in Poems and Plays, 1777, p. 79. Purdon had been at Trinity College, Dublin, with Goldsmith. Swift wrote a somewhat similar epigram; but Goldsmith's model was probably La Mort du Sieur Etienne. (Forster's Life, 1871, ii. 39.)] [Charles Lee Lewes (1740-1803) was the original "Young Marlow" of She Stoops to Conquer. He had previously been Harlequin of the theatre, but he thoroughly succeeded in his new part, and the grateful author wrote him this Epilogue for his Benetit, May 7, 1773.] No-I will act, I'll vindicate the stage: "Give me another horse! bind up my wounds !-soft 'twas but a dream." Ay, 'twas but a dream, for now there's no retreating: Twas thus that Aesop's stag, a creature blameless, "The deuce confound," he cries, "these drumstick shanks, They never have my gratitude nor thanks; (Taking a jump through the stage door.) EPILOGUE INTENDED TO HAVE BEEN SPOKEN FOR "SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER "1 Enter MRS. BULKLEY, who curtsies very low as beginning to speak. Then enter MISS CATLEY, who stands full before her, and curtsies to the audience. MRS. BULKLEY HOLD, Ma'am, your pardon. What's your business here? MISS CATLEY The Epilogue. MRS. BULKLEY The Epilogue? MISS CATLEY Yes, the Epilogue, my dear. MRS. BULKLEY Sure you mistake, Ma'am. The Epilogue, I bring it. MISS CATLEY Excuse me, Ma'am. The Author bid me sing it. Recitative Ye beaux and belles, that form this splendid ring, MRS. BULKLEY Why, sure the girl's beside herself: an Epilogue of singing, A hopeful end indeed to such a blest beginning. Excuse me, Ma'am, I know the etiquette. [1 This Epilogue, given to Bishop Percy by Goldsmith, was first printed at p. 82, vol. ii. of the Miscellaneous Works of 1801. It was written with intent to conciliate the rival claims of Mrs. Bulkley and Miss Catley, the former of whom wished to speak, the latter to sing, the Epilogue. (See Cradock's Memoirs, 1826, i. 225.)] MISS CATLEY What if we leave it to the House? MRS. BULKLEY The House!-Agreed. MISS CATLEY Agreed. MRS. BULKLEY And she, whose party's largest, shall proceed. And first, I hope you'll readily agree They, I am sure, will answer my commands; That modern judges seldom enter here. MISS CATLEY I'm for a different set. -Old men, whose trade is Recitative Who mump their passion, and who, grimly smiling, Air-Cotillon Turn, my fairest, turn, if ever Strephon caught thy ravish'd eye; Pity take on your swain so clever, Who without your aid must die. Yes, I shall die, hu, hu, hu, hu 1 MRS. BULKLEY Let all the old pay homage to your merit; (Da capo.) A name derived from the Italian dish first patronized by the "Macaroni Club," and afterwards extended to "the younger and gayer part of our nobility and gentry, who, at the same time they gave in to the luxuries of eating, went equally into the extravagancies of dress." (Macaroni and Theatrical Magazine, October, 1770.) See note to the Dullissimo Macaroni in She Stoops to Conquer.] Of French friseurs, and nosegays, justly vain, Their hands are only lent to the Heinel.1 MISS CATLEY Ay, take your travellers, travellers indeed ! Air-A bonny young lad is my Jockey I'll sing to amuse you by night and by day, With Sandy, and Sawney, and Jockey. MRS. BULKLEY Ye gamesters, who, so eager in pursuit, Make but of all your fortune one va toute: Ye jockey tribe, whose stock of words are few, "I hold the odds.-Done, done, with you, with you." Ye barristers, so fluent with grimace, "My Lord,-your Lordship misconceives the case." Doctors, who cough and answer every misfortuner, "I wish I'd been call'd in a little sooner," Assist my cause with hands and voices hearty, Come end the contest here, and aid my party. MISS CATLEY Air-Ballinamony Ye brave Irish lads, hark away to the crack, [1 Mlle. Anna-Frederica Heinel, a beautiful Prussian danseuse at this time in London, afterwards the wife of the elder Vestris. "1771. June 22nd. Mr. William Hanger bets Mr. Lee Twenty Guineas to 25 that Mlle. Heinel does not dance in England at the Opera House next Month." (Extract from the Betting Book at Brooks's Club, printed by Mr. G. S. Street in the North American Review for July 15, 1901.) |