The Poetical Works of Laman Blanchard With a Memoir by Blanchard Jerrold |
 | I. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| II. |
CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS TO MADAME VESTRIS ON HER RECENT JOURNEY TO BRIGHTON.
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
 | The Poetical Works of Laman Blanchard |  |
293
CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS TO MADAME VESTRIS ON HER RECENT JOURNEY TO BRIGHTON.
Of all the gay and graceful themes
The Muses may alight on,
The one that most with fancy teems
Is—your exploit at Brighton.
The Muses may alight on,
The one that most with fancy teems
Is—your exploit at Brighton.
In you all beauties ever blent,
Your eyes would flash and lighten,
Your voice worked spells—before you went
Three weeks ago to Brighton.
Your eyes would flash and lighten,
Your voice worked spells—before you went
Three weeks ago to Brighton.
From childhood up to—(what's your age?)
You've been a female Crichton,
And charmed the silly and the sage
In many towns like Brighton.
You've been a female Crichton,
And charmed the silly and the sage
In many towns like Brighton.
But each of all your triumphs past
A minnow to a Triton
Appears, compared with this your last
Triumphal trip to Brighton.
A minnow to a Triton
Appears, compared with this your last
Triumphal trip to Brighton.
294
'Twould puzzle Bidder's self to count
The rivals you affrighten;
But where's the rival that can mount
Your hill of fame at Brighton?
The rivals you affrighten;
But where's the rival that can mount
Your hill of fame at Brighton?
They claim and fascinate, when they
On Subjects fix their sight on;
But you have taught a King to say
‘I can't refuse’—at Brighton.
On Subjects fix their sight on;
But you have taught a King to say
‘I can't refuse’—at Brighton.
You had but to denounce the laws,
Unduly framed to tighten
The art you love, to win your cause,
And crown your hopes at Brighton.
Unduly framed to tighten
The art you love, to win your cause,
And crown your hopes at Brighton.
In vain might actors, authors, plead,
And editors might write on;
Ay, write and read, but not succeed
Though all should rush to Brighton.
And editors might write on;
Ay, write and read, but not succeed
Though all should rush to Brighton.
Another voice had lost its tone,
Another lip would whiten,
Another heart had timid grown,
When not half-way to Brighton.
Another lip would whiten,
Another heart had timid grown,
When not half-way to Brighton.
Let meaner spirits shrink, but you
Are formed to travel right on;
Your eye and voice more splendid grew,
When called to plead at Brighton.
Are formed to travel right on;
Your eye and voice more splendid grew,
When called to plead at Brighton.
295
I wish you'd seek another stage
Than that you sing at night on
In politics you'd fill a page
With victories won at Brighton.
Than that you sing at night on
In politics you'd fill a page
With victories won at Brighton.
A great physician you must prove,
A state Sir William Knighton;
And heal all wounds, all strife remove,
By taking trips to Brighton.
A state Sir William Knighton;
And heal all wounds, all strife remove,
By taking trips to Brighton.
You ask and have, you kneel and win,
Misfortune throws no blight on
The fruits you grasp at—'tis a sin
To stay away from Brighton.
Misfortune throws no blight on
The fruits you grasp at—'tis a sin
To stay away from Brighton.
Why plot, project, resist?—and why
Should parties storm and fight on,
When you may make air, voice, and eye,
Petitioners at Brighton.
Should parties storm and fight on,
When you may make air, voice, and eye,
Petitioners at Brighton.
1837.
| The Poetical Works of Laman Blanchard | |