 | Outlines of Edinburgh, and Other Poems |  |
61
AN ADDRESS,
Spoken by Mr. Bartley before the Tragedy of Adelighita, at Mrs. Bartley's benefit, to introduce a young Lady in the character of Imma.
(Mr. B. just shows his head at the stage door.)
Stop, Mr. Leader—can't you stop a minute?
I've got a speech to speak, and must begin it;
Imma's quite dress'd—and Michael Ducas partly,
Lothair is talking stuff to Mrs. Bartley;
Pray cease—and lay aside your violin—
The Manager declares I must begin:
(Enters.)
I've got a speech to speak, and must begin it;
Imma's quite dress'd—and Michael Ducas partly,
Lothair is talking stuff to Mrs. Bartley;
Pray cease—and lay aside your violin—
The Manager declares I must begin:
Ladies! before yon curtain shall arise
To cause your sobs, your sympathies, and sighs;
Before poor Mrs. Adelghita's griefs
Call forth your extra pockethandkerchiefs,
And Lewis shows you in his Tale of Terrors,
How single belles, should shrink from single errors,—
I come—a kind reception to implore,
For one, who never ventur'd here before;
Who unaccustom'd to fictitious tears,
Now shrinks with real doubts, and real fears.
To cause your sobs, your sympathies, and sighs;
62
Call forth your extra pockethandkerchiefs,
And Lewis shows you in his Tale of Terrors,
How single belles, should shrink from single errors,—
I come—a kind reception to implore,
For one, who never ventur'd here before;
Who unaccustom'd to fictitious tears,
Now shrinks with real doubts, and real fears.
She is no stranger here; in former days
The young Musician oft receiv'd your praise,
And now she throws aside her harp to choose
The nobler pleasures of the sister muse:
Her touch was sweet, nor has she lost her skill,
I hope you'll find the minstrel touching still,
And though in new and untried paths she's straying,
Perhaps without her harp, you'll praise her playing.
The young Musician oft receiv'd your praise,
And now she throws aside her harp to choose
The nobler pleasures of the sister muse:
Her touch was sweet, nor has she lost her skill,
I hope you'll find the minstrel touching still,
And though in new and untried paths she's straying,
Perhaps without her harp, you'll praise her playing.
63
Then ladies! pray be kind, but hold! I know
That prayer is needless,—you are always so;
And gentlemen!—pray let us hope to find
That you're to-night less critical than kind:
I beg—but no! I'll beg applause from no man,
You must be kind—the novice is a woman.
That prayer is needless,—you are always so;
And gentlemen!—pray let us hope to find
That you're to-night less critical than kind:
I beg—but no! I'll beg applause from no man,
You must be kind—the novice is a woman.
Ask not a mien from error quite exempt,
Seek not perfection in a first attempt;
The voice will lose its strength and firmness too,
When inexperienc'd youth first faces you:
The heart will palpitate, the cheek will burn,
'Till your applause bids confidence return.
Seek not perfection in a first attempt;
The voice will lose its strength and firmness too,
When inexperienc'd youth first faces you:
The heart will palpitate, the cheek will burn,
'Till your applause bids confidence return.
The noble ship first launch'd upon the tide
Tosses with every breeze from side to side;
Turns to and fro, with undirected motion,
A useless mass upon the foaming ocean;
But ably manag'd every storm she braves,
She sails to glory, and she rules the waves!
Tosses with every breeze from side to side;
Turns to and fro, with undirected motion,
A useless mass upon the foaming ocean;
64
She sails to glory, and she rules the waves!
We have a launch to-night; with sails unfurl'd,
She comes upon a new, a dangerous world;
Be you her pilots, give her welcome here,
Let sunshine gild the dawn of her career,
Hereafter on your present smiles relying,
Perhaps she'll sail away with colours flying.
She comes upon a new, a dangerous world;
Be you her pilots, give her welcome here,
Let sunshine gild the dawn of her career,
Hereafter on your present smiles relying,
Perhaps she'll sail away with colours flying.
And now my task is done; yet can I see
Yon crowded circles look so kind on me,
And yet of Imma's feelings speak alone?
Ah no! let gratitude pour forth my own,
And hers, who well remembers, when she came
Like this young candidate for future fame,
As young—as fearful—'till your smiles remov'd
All fears—and rais'd her in the course she lov'd.
Yon crowded circles look so kind on me,
And yet of Imma's feelings speak alone?
Ah no! let gratitude pour forth my own,
And hers, who well remembers, when she came
Like this young candidate for future fame,
As young—as fearful—'till your smiles remov'd
All fears—and rais'd her in the course she lov'd.
65
This is the place where by your favor first
Her hopes were kindled, and her talents nurs'd;
And oh may every wanderer, who strays
Far from the patrons of his early days,
Should fate conduct him homeward, proudly find,
His former friends thus eloquently kind;
May beauty, smiles, and worth surround him thus,
And give him all the joy—you give to us.
Her hopes were kindled, and her talents nurs'd;
And oh may every wanderer, who strays
Far from the patrons of his early days,
Should fate conduct him homeward, proudly find,
His former friends thus eloquently kind;
May beauty, smiles, and worth surround him thus,
And give him all the joy—you give to us.
| Outlines of Edinburgh, and Other Poems | |