Hudibras Redivivus or, a Burlesque poem on the times. The Second Edition. To which is added, An Apology, and some other Improvements throughout the Whole [by Edward Ward] |
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 | Hudibras Redivivus |  |
3
No sooner had I pass'd the Curtain,
Which from the Rabble skreen'd their Sporting,
But all things nobly did appear,
As in the Royal Theatre.
The Booth with Tapstry hung all round,
Down from the Cornish, to the Ground;
Which did, to please the Sight, contain
Stories, both Sacred and Profane.
Each Figure with such Art was wove,
They look'd as if they'd Pow'r to move;
And that they'd stole away together,
From some illustrious Pallace, thither,
To grace the Revels of the Fair
With something marvellously rare.
Candles in order shone on high,
Like Constellations in the Sky,
Whilst gazing Mortals, with Delight,
Sate wond'ring at the glorious Sight.
Which from the Rabble skreen'd their Sporting,
But all things nobly did appear,
As in the Royal Theatre.
The Booth with Tapstry hung all round,
Down from the Cornish, to the Ground;
Which did, to please the Sight, contain
Stories, both Sacred and Profane.
Each Figure with such Art was wove,
They look'd as if they'd Pow'r to move;
And that they'd stole away together,
From some illustrious Pallace, thither,
4
With something marvellously rare.
Candles in order shone on high,
Like Constellations in the Sky,
Whilst gazing Mortals, with Delight,
Sate wond'ring at the glorious Sight.
The Musick was so well perform'd,
That every Tune the Fancy warm'd,
And so engag'd the list'ning Crowd,
That not a Word was heard aloud;
But by their Silence, I could see
The whole were charm'd with Harmony.
That every Tune the Fancy warm'd,
And so engag'd the list'ning Crowd,
That not a Word was heard aloud;
But by their Silence, I could see
The whole were charm'd with Harmony.
Thus pleas'd, the Hustings did I mount,
Where Persons of the best Account,
In Crowds were seated, with Design
To feast with Musick and with Wine.
As soon as I my self had plac'd
Commodiously amongst the rest,
For noble Red I gave the Word,
Which soon was brought me to the Board;
Good Measure, and delightful Wine,
That needed neither Bush nor Sign;
So brisk and fine, that better Claret
Is no where sold, I do aver it.
By th' time I'ad liquor'd down my Gullet,
And with two Glasses pleas'd my Palate,
A Brood of Swans came hopping in,
With Indians, to improve the Scene,
In order, and due Time performing
A Dance s' amuzing, and so charming,
That all th' wond'ring Crowd seem'd frighted,
And at the self-same time delighted.
Where Persons of the best Account,
In Crowds were seated, with Design
To feast with Musick and with Wine.
As soon as I my self had plac'd
Commodiously amongst the rest,
For noble Red I gave the Word,
Which soon was brought me to the Board;
5
That needed neither Bush nor Sign;
So brisk and fine, that better Claret
Is no where sold, I do aver it.
By th' time I'ad liquor'd down my Gullet,
And with two Glasses pleas'd my Palate,
A Brood of Swans came hopping in,
With Indians, to improve the Scene,
In order, and due Time performing
A Dance s' amuzing, and so charming,
That all th' wond'ring Crowd seem'd frighted,
And at the self-same time delighted.
Next came a Set of Clowns or Slouches,
Dress'd up in Black, like Scaramouches,
Attended with three moving Chairs,
That danc'd like Ladies, not like Bears;
Why not? for Ladies have but two Legs,
Yet they can caper with so few Legs:
No Wonder, therefore, Chairs with more Legs,
Should dance as finely upon four Legs.
Besides these many wond'rous Feats
Of Men transform'd to Birds and Seats,
We'ad Scaramouch and Harliquin,
As well perform'd as e'er was seen;
A Dance that does the Diff'rence show
Betwixt the High Fly'rs, and the Low;
Concluding with a zealous Speaker,
That out-cants Francis B---g, the Quaker.
Dress'd up in Black, like Scaramouches,
Attended with three moving Chairs,
That danc'd like Ladies, not like Bears;
Why not? for Ladies have but two Legs,
Yet they can caper with so few Legs:
No Wonder, therefore, Chairs with more Legs,
Should dance as finely upon four Legs.
6
Of Men transform'd to Birds and Seats,
We'ad Scaramouch and Harliquin,
As well perform'd as e'er was seen;
A Dance that does the Diff'rence show
Betwixt the High Fly'rs, and the Low;
Concluding with a zealous Speaker,
That out-cants Francis B---g, the Quaker.
A nimble pretty Maid, that capers
With a whole Magazine of Rapiers,
Enough to arm a Troop of Soldiers;
With which, to th' Wonder of Beholders,
She does a thousand pretty Fancies,
And picks her Teeth the while she dances,
From any Rags of Meat or Crumbs,
And never pricks or hurts her Gums;
Turning her Body on the Ground
With all her Swords, as swiftly round,
Nay, and much faster, I may swear,
Than Spinning-Wheel in full Career;
But who can view her, and not smile,
To think what's finely fann'd the while.
With a whole Magazine of Rapiers,
Enough to arm a Troop of Soldiers;
With which, to th' Wonder of Beholders,
She does a thousand pretty Fancies,
And picks her Teeth the while she dances,
From any Rags of Meat or Crumbs,
And never pricks or hurts her Gums;
Turning her Body on the Ground
With all her Swords, as swiftly round,
Nay, and much faster, I may swear,
Than Spinning-Wheel in full Career;
7
To think what's finely fann'd the while.
A Dance perform'd by Granadiers,
Where their whole Exercise appears;
Done with such Spirit, one would think
The Knaves had rather fight, than drink.
Where their whole Exercise appears;
Done with such Spirit, one would think
The Knaves had rather fight, than drink.
Amongst the rest, a spritely Youth
Danc'd with such Comliness and Truth,
That sure no Pupil of his Age,
Like him could e'er adorn the Stage;
For Shadow-like, himself he threw
From Place to Place, as if he flew:
In every various Pass and Bound,
Such strange Variety we found,
That each new Step fore-run Desire,
And gave us something to admire.
But if such Praises we allot him,
Pray what must he deserve, that taught him.
Danc'd with such Comliness and Truth,
That sure no Pupil of his Age,
Like him could e'er adorn the Stage;
For Shadow-like, himself he threw
From Place to Place, as if he flew:
In every various Pass and Bound,
Such strange Variety we found,
That each new Step fore-run Desire,
And gave us something to admire.
But if such Praises we allot him,
Pray what must he deserve, that taught him.
Rope-Dancing to a great Perfection,
Tumbling so fine, beyond Correction;
With more delightful Shews of Art,
Than I have Leisure to insert:
From Noise, and all Disorder free,
Perform'd with so much Modesty,
That even Quakers ventur'd in,
And thought the harmless Sport no Sin;
But ev'ry Person, when they went
Away, express'd so much Content,
That no Man grutch'd the Coin he spent.
Tumbling so fine, beyond Correction;
8
Than I have Leisure to insert:
From Noise, and all Disorder free,
Perform'd with so much Modesty,
That even Quakers ventur'd in,
And thought the harmless Sport no Sin;
But ev'ry Person, when they went
Away, express'd so much Content,
That no Man grutch'd the Coin he spent.
| Hudibras Redivivus | |