 | Poetical amusements at a villa near Bath |  |
82
SUBJECT. DANCING.
Mrs. M---ll---r.
The Muses are Ladies so bashful and shy,
When I ask'd their assistance, they all cry'd—O fie!
Tho' Helicon rings with our music and prattle,
To a ball we prefer the din of a battle;
So making my curt'sey, I soon took my leave
From a circle so prudish—you all may believe.
Thus left in the lurch, I implore your compassion,
If I fail in relating the different fashion,
The rise and the progress of Jigging, and Prancing,
From times most remote, to French Opera Dancing.
When I ask'd their assistance, they all cry'd—O fie!
Tho' Helicon rings with our music and prattle,
To a ball we prefer the din of a battle;
So making my curt'sey, I soon took my leave
From a circle so prudish—you all may believe.
Thus left in the lurch, I implore your compassion,
If I fail in relating the different fashion,
The rise and the progress of Jigging, and Prancing,
From times most remote, to French Opera Dancing.
From Castor and Pollux, those twins of renown,
Arose the great dance taught at Lacedæmon;
Then a son of Achilles, with a barbarous name
,
Taught his soldiers to dance—those Cretans of fame.
Wise Philosopher Socrates also would know,
From Aspasia the Fair, how to well point a toe.
Pompous nuptials and feasts—e'en the grave Funeral
Was danc'd at by princes, priests, people, and all.
In these later days, an old king of France ,
To augment the Carousal, caus'd horses to dance;
What bounding, curveting, what neighing, and kicking!
Sure this sight far surpass'd a Newmarket meeting.
At this horse-ball don't wonder—for, without any trope,
Grave Pliny says, elephants danc'd on a rope .
But 'twould take too much time was I to rehearse
The dances of brutes and of trees in my verse :
And I'm sure I should tire you if I was to tell
Of Francis, of Harry, up to Philip the Bel ,
What great monarchs have strove in the dance to excel.
Now suffice it to all, that one Thoinot Arbeau,
To the great joy of France a system did shew,
Where all movements and steps for the dance are wrote down,
'Tis not many years since, as the Opera will own,—
That Opera, whose grandeur exceeds all compare!
There Olympus descends with the Pleasures in rear .
See what heroes and heroines in triumph advance,
Nodding plumes, brilliant diadems, join in the dance;
See the arts of Armida, combin'd in Guimard,
In the Athletic games behold vig'rous Allard;
For Gardel and Vestris whole armies divide,
But I can't on their merits pretend to decide.
So adieu, my dear friends, for I've led you a dance—
If you want to know more, I shall wish you in France.
Arose the great dance taught at Lacedæmon;
83
Taught his soldiers to dance—those Cretans of fame.
Wise Philosopher Socrates also would know,
From Aspasia the Fair, how to well point a toe.
Pompous nuptials and feasts—e'en the grave Funeral
Was danc'd at by princes, priests, people, and all.
In these later days, an old king of France ,
To augment the Carousal, caus'd horses to dance;
What bounding, curveting, what neighing, and kicking!
Sure this sight far surpass'd a Newmarket meeting.
At this horse-ball don't wonder—for, without any trope,
Grave Pliny says, elephants danc'd on a rope .
84
The dances of brutes and of trees in my verse :
And I'm sure I should tire you if I was to tell
Of Francis, of Harry, up to Philip the Bel ,
What great monarchs have strove in the dance to excel.
Now suffice it to all, that one Thoinot Arbeau,
To the great joy of France a system did shew,
Where all movements and steps for the dance are wrote down,
'Tis not many years since, as the Opera will own,—
That Opera, whose grandeur exceeds all compare!
There Olympus descends with the Pleasures in rear .
85
Nodding plumes, brilliant diadems, join in the dance;
See the arts of Armida, combin'd in Guimard,
In the Athletic games behold vig'rous Allard;
For Gardel and Vestris whole armies divide,
But I can't on their merits pretend to decide.
So adieu, my dear friends, for I've led you a dance—
If you want to know more, I shall wish you in France.
In the Opera of Castor and Pollux (as represented on the Theatre in the Palais Royale at Paris) the whole Court of Olympus descends with the Pleasures, (represented by beautiful young girls,) who form a ballette.—Madamoiselle Guimard is famous in a ballette, called Armida; as is Madamoiselle Allard in another, called Athletic Sports.— The two dancers, called Gardel and Vestris, are the most esteemed in Europe, and are rivals in the art.
| Poetical amusements at a villa near Bath | |