MISCELLANIES. VERSES IN REPLY TO AN INVITATION TO DINNER AT SIR GEORGE BAKER'S. (1) (1) [For the above verses, now first published, the reader is indebted to Major General Sir Henry Bunbury, Bart. They were written about the year 1769, in reply to an invitation to dinner at Sir George Baker's, to meet the Misses Horneck, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Miss Reynolds, Angelica Kauffman, and others.-See Life, ch. xvii.] (2) [Mary Horneck (Mrs. Gwyn).] (3) [Catherine Horneck, afterwards Mrs. Bunbury.] (4) [Ensign (afterwards General) Horneck.] Of use I insist, When he comes to enlist. Your worships must know An order went out, For the foot guards so stout To be frolick like him, But, alas! your good worships, how could they be wiser, When both have been spoil'd in to-day's Advertiser ? (1) OLIVER GOLDSMITH. (1) [The following is the compliment alluded to: "While fair Angelica, with matchless grace, EPITAPH ON DR. PARNELL.(1) This tomb, inscrib'd to gentle Parnell's name, More lasting rapture from his works shall rise, EPILOGUE ΤΟ THE GOOD NATURED MAN, Spoken by Mrs. Bulkley, (2) As puffing quacks some caitiff wretch procure It could not fail, would you but set about it. (1) [First printed by T. Davies, in "Miscellanies by the Author of the Rambler," and written about the year 1770.] (2) The author, in expectation of an Epilogue from a friend at Oxford, deferred writing one himself till the very last hour. What is here offered, owes all its success to the graceful manner of the actress who spoke it. Young man, cries one (a bard laid up in clover), While oft, with many a smile, and many a shrug, He nods, they nod; he cringes, they grimace; PROLOGUE TO ZOBEIDE: A TRAGEDY; WRITTEN BY JOSEPH CRADDOCK, ESQ. In these bold times, when Learning's sons explore (1) [Zobeide was first represented at Covent Garden on the 10th of December 1771, and was well received. Goldsmith appears to have first met When wise astronomers to India steer, And fits his little frigate for adventures. To make an observation on the shore. Where are we driven? our reckoning sure is lost! Yon ill-foreboding cloud seems big with thunder: [Upper Gallery. There mangroves spread, and larger than I've seen 'em [Pit. Here trees of stately size—and billing turtles in 'em— [Balconies. Here ill-conditioned oranges abound And apples, bitter apples, strew the ground. [Stage. [Tasting them. The inhabitants are cannibals, I fear: I heard a hissing-there are serpents here! O, there the people are best keep my distance; Mr. Craddock at the house of Mr. Yates, the actor. Being applied to for a prologue through the medium of the Yateses, the husband being to speak it (though Quick was afterwards deputed to this duty), and the wife to perform in the play, sent the above to the author, accompanied by the following note:-" Mr. Goldsmith presents his best respects to Mr. Craddock; has sent him the prologue, such as it is. He cannot take time to make it better. He begs he will give Mr. Yates the proper instructions; and so, even so, he commits him to fortune and the public.”—See Life, ch. xxi.] (1) [In allusion to Captain Cook's voyage for the purpose of observing the transit of Venus.] (2) [Alluding to Sir Joseph Banks's participation in the same voyage.] |