 | The poetical writings of Fitz-Greene Halleck, with extracts from those of Joseph Rodman Drake |  |
319
TO E. SIMPSON, ESQ.,
MANAGER OF THE PARK THEATRE.
“Lines to Mr. Simpson.”—A twofold knowledge,
that of the then acted plays, and of the personal peculiarities of the political
gentlemen named, is requisite for the understanding and enjoying of these
verses. For many of the names, and for the existing Council of Appointment,
see previous notes. Among them, Peter R. Livingston was distinguished
for persuasive and genial oratory, Charles Christian and James
Warner were police justices, Pierre C. Van Wyck was City Recorder, and
Hugh Maxwell City Attorney. Barent Gardenier was a member of Congress.
He was renowned for a time as an eloquent speaker, and is noticed
for all time in that matchless specimen of the pleasantry of genius, the
“Knickerbocker” of Washington Irving.
The “Steamboat Bill.”—The members who had voted a tax on passengers
on board the North-River boats.
“Lines to Mr. Simpson.”—A twofold knowledge, that of the then acted plays, and of the personal peculiarities of the political gentlemen named, is requisite for the understanding and enjoying of these verses. For many of the names, and for the existing Council of Appointment, see previous notes. Among them, Peter R. Livingston was distinguished for persuasive and genial oratory, Charles Christian and James Warner were police justices, Pierre C. Van Wyck was City Recorder, and Hugh Maxwell City Attorney. Barent Gardenier was a member of Congress. He was renowned for a time as an eloquent speaker, and is noticed for all time in that matchless specimen of the pleasantry of genius, the “Knickerbocker” of Washington Irving.
The “Steamboat Bill.”—The members who had voted a tax on passengers on board the North-River boats.
Dear Simpson, since the day is near
Destined to close your late campaign,
'Tis well to greet the coming year,
And learn how best you may appear
Before the public eye again.
One thing, at least, whate'er you do,
For Heaven's sake give us something new!
For though your actors have not lost
One lightning-flash of Thespian fire,
Yet beauties that delight us most,
The wearied eye, in time, will tire.
'Tis thus the sated gaze of taste
Holland's drop-curtain heedless passes;
And thus the schoolboy loathes at last
His sugar-candy and molasses.
Destined to close your late campaign,
'Tis well to greet the coming year,
And learn how best you may appear
Before the public eye again.
One thing, at least, whate'er you do,
For Heaven's sake give us something new!
For though your actors have not lost
One lightning-flash of Thespian fire,
Yet beauties that delight us most,
The wearied eye, in time, will tire.
'Tis thus the sated gaze of taste
Holland's drop-curtain heedless passes;
And thus the schoolboy loathes at last
His sugar-candy and molasses.
Now, if you will but take advice,
Bank-notes shall fall like summer rain,
And next year you and Mr. Price
May cut your cider for champagne.
Just hand your present corps down-stairs,
Disband them all, and then create
Another army from the Players
That figure on the stage of State.
Bank-notes shall fall like summer rain,
And next year you and Mr. Price
May cut your cider for champagne.
Just hand your present corps down-stairs,
Disband them all, and then create
320
That figure on the stage of State.
A better set there cannot be
For clap-trap and stage trickery,
And they'll be well content to quit
Their present posts for higher pay;
For if they but good salaries get,
It matters not what parts they play.
You'll have no quarelling about
The characters you deal them out;
Their public acts too well have shown
They care but little for their own.
For clap-trap and stage trickery,
And they'll be well content to quit
Their present posts for higher pay;
For if they but good salaries get,
It matters not what parts they play.
You'll have no quarelling about
The characters you deal them out;
Their public acts too well have shown
They care but little for their own.
How nicely would Judge Spencer fit
For “Overreach” and “Bajazet;”
Van Buren, nimble, sly, and thin,
Would make a noble “Harlequin;”
Clinton would play “King Dick the Surly,”
The learned “Pangloss” and grave “Lord Burleigh;”
Woodworth (whose name the Muse shall hallow)
Is quite at home in “Justice Shallow;”
And slippery, smooth-faced Tallmadge stands
A “Joseph Surface” at your hands.
For “Overreach” and “Bajazet;”
Van Buren, nimble, sly, and thin,
Would make a noble “Harlequin;”
Clinton would play “King Dick the Surly,”
The learned “Pangloss” and grave “Lord Burleigh;”
Woodworth (whose name the Muse shall hallow)
Is quite at home in “Justice Shallow;”
And slippery, smooth-faced Tallmadge stands
A “Joseph Surface” at your hands.
Lo! where the acting Council sits,
A grand triumvirate of wits,
Cut out express by Nature's chisel
For “Noodle, Doodle, and Lord Grizzle;”
The Members who contrived to fill
The State purse from the steamboat-till,
Dressed out in turbans and white sleeves,
Would figure in the “Forty Thieves.”
A grand triumvirate of wits,
Cut out express by Nature's chisel
For “Noodle, Doodle, and Lord Grizzle;”
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The State purse from the steamboat-till,
Dressed out in turbans and white sleeves,
Would figure in the “Forty Thieves.”
We'll linger with delighted grin
To see old Root in “Nipperkin,”
And gaze with reverential wonder
On Skinner's sapient face in “Ponder!”
While Peter R---, the jovial soul,
Will toss off Jobson's “brimming bowl,”
Fit for a Senator to swim in;
And bravos rung from half the town,
Would tell the fame of Walter Bowne,
In “Cacafogo” and old women.
To see old Root in “Nipperkin,”
And gaze with reverential wonder
On Skinner's sapient face in “Ponder!”
While Peter R---, the jovial soul,
Will toss off Jobson's “brimming bowl,”
Fit for a Senator to swim in;
And bravos rung from half the town,
Would tell the fame of Walter Bowne,
In “Cacafogo” and old women.
Our City Aldermen, you know,
Are conjurors, ex officio;
And, with the Mayor in his silk breeches,
Would do for “Hecate and the witches.”
Christian and Warner, long the scourges
Of Bucks and other “vagrom men,”
Would find in “Dogberry and Verges”
Their very selves restored again.
Are conjurors, ex officio;
And, with the Mayor in his silk breeches,
Would do for “Hecate and the witches.”
Christian and Warner, long the scourges
Of Bucks and other “vagrom men,”
Would find in “Dogberry and Verges”
Their very selves restored again.
Buckmaster, fat, and full of glee,
Might rival Cooke in “Jack Falstaff;”
“Pistol” and “Bobadil” would be
Revived once more in Captain Haff.
To classic Meigs, who soon, thank Heaven!
In Congress, will illume the age,
The brightest wages should be given,
To trim the lamps and light the stage.
Van Wyck will play the “Giant Wife,”
And “Death” in “Blue Beard” to the life;
And surly German do, at least,
For “Bear” in “Beauty and the Beast.”
Might rival Cooke in “Jack Falstaff;”
“Pistol” and “Bobadil” would be
Revived once more in Captain Haff.
322
In Congress, will illume the age,
The brightest wages should be given,
To trim the lamps and light the stage.
Van Wyck will play the “Giant Wife,”
And “Death” in “Blue Beard” to the life;
And surly German do, at least,
For “Bear” in “Beauty and the Beast.”
Maxwell and Gardenier, you'll fix
With strong indentures, by all means;
They're used to shifting politics,
And soon would learn to shift the scenes.
Bacon might bustle on in “Meddler,”
Gilbert play new tricks in “Diddler,”
Good honest Peter H. Wendover
In “Vortex” read his one speech over,
While Pell would strike the critics dumb,
A perfect miniature “Tom Thumb;”
And Mitchill, as in all the past,
Talk Science, and cut corns in “Last.”
With strong indentures, by all means;
They're used to shifting politics,
And soon would learn to shift the scenes.
Bacon might bustle on in “Meddler,”
Gilbert play new tricks in “Diddler,”
Good honest Peter H. Wendover
In “Vortex” read his one speech over,
While Pell would strike the critics dumb,
A perfect miniature “Tom Thumb;”
And Mitchill, as in all the past,
Talk Science, and cut corns in “Last.”
H. and D.
| The poetical writings of Fitz-Greene Halleck, with extracts from those of Joseph Rodman Drake | |