A collection of poems on various subjects including the theatre, a didactic essay; in the course of which are pointed out, the rocks and shoals to which deluded adventurers are inevitably exposed. Ornamented with cuts and illustrated with notes, original letters and curious incidental anecdotes [by Samuel Whyte] |
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| PRELUDE TO THE SAILOR METAMORPHOSED; OR, THE ANIMATION OF HARLEQUIN;
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 | A collection of poems on various subjects |  |
79
PRELUDE TO THE SAILOR METAMORPHOSED; OR, THE ANIMATION OF HARLEQUIN;
In which his mystic Presentation is now first elucidated. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY VI, MDCCXC.
[Scene I.]
Scene, a desert Coast; in the Back Ground a troubled Sea; clouded Moon, &c.—Thunder and Lightning—Screech Owl—Enter Witches severally, flying down on different sides—Hecate from above, over a skirt of the Sea.1st Witch.
Hecate!
2d Witch.
Hecate!
3d Witch.
Hecate!
Hecate.
Who calls for me?
I come, I come, I come—prepar'd you see— [Showing her wand.
What is't now, Beldames! you would have me do?
Bind up the Welkin, or a Tempest brew?
Or shrouded in the dusky cloak of night,
With mystic visionry I'll glad your sight,
And show the poor dull-thoughted sons of care,
With true adepts how bootless to compare.
Say but the word.—
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—Sister! we don't refuse
Your proffer'd aid; yet tempests we'd excuse;
Disposed to night amusing scenes to raise,
And praise deserve from those deserving praise.
Hecate.
Suppose we wake the music of the spheres,
And with melodious sounds enchant their ears—
2d Witch.
Why, sister! that were well; but nothing new;
For skill is theirs; celestial voices too;
And I divine, ere setting of the moon,
To more effect we may prefer the boon.
Hecate.
Then let's invoke the fairies for a dance—
3d Witch.
Hum!—there again we stand but little chance;
The tiny elves that deftly foot the ground
Within our limits now are rarely found.
Hecate.
I have hit it, crones!—as hitherward I bow'd,
Horsed on the summit of a murky cloud,
I mark'd a shipman o'er the ocean skim
In his tight vessel, rigg'd in gallant trim,
Plying off Howth, as conscious of her freight,
A Prince of mighty trust to bless Ierne's state.—
To prove his courage, and his mind prepare
For rubs, which men in place are doom'd to bear,
I'll loose the winds, and on the rugged rock
Dash her proud keel—at the resistless shock,
Masts, timbers, decks shall shiver to your view;
This, aye! and more, I'll do! I'll do! I'll do!
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Good, sister! good; we all to that agree:
1st Witch.
And thanks receive from me!
2d Witch.
From me!
3d Witch.
From me!
[Waves her wand, and exeunt omnes.
SCENE II.
Storm.—Ship in distress.—Wrecked.—Mariner cast ashore.—Re-enter Witches, who examine the body lying on the beach.1st. Witch.
Gone!
2d Witch.
Gone!
3d Witch.
Quite gone!
Hecate.
—Then here our pastime ends!—
But let's unite our power, and stand his friends.
In life, esteem'd and lov'd, he bore a name,
And his revival will exalt our fame;
For know, tho' little dreamt, this trunk within
A genius lives—no less than Harlequin!
Him I'll call forth, and with full powers invest,
To play his gambols o'er at your behest;
But speedier to effect a deed so rare,
Call we our spirits hovering in the air,
Their choicest lore and sovereign spells to bring,
While round, and round, and round, we dance the ring. [Grotesque dance. The wood rises, and discovers a flaming cauldron.
Behold the cauldron! there, my sisters three!
Immerse the body; stir the pot with glee;
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To give him pulse and vivifying heat.—
The charm's wound up—enough—our labour's done,—
And now, my sisters! recognize our son.
Obey my summons, child of whim and mirth!
And from this potent wand receive new birth; [Thunder and lightning.
Rise, like another Phœnix, from the flame,
And by good conduct my protection claim— [Harlequin rises.
But heedless youth as perils oft invade,
Arm him, kind sisters! with your present aid;
And that he better thro' the world may shift,
Let each contribute some peculiar gift.
1st Witch.
First, I this Sword, for use not show, supply,
And tho' unmeet to catch a lady's eye,
Blade worthier thrift ne'er garnish'd coxcomb's thigh:
'Tis Perseverance hight—of temper such,
Force can't resist, nor fraud elude its touch;
By which empowered to ward impending ill,
All things shall change obedient to thy will:
[Clap of thunder and lightning.
2d Witch.
This Hat I give thee—mean and poor in size,
To those broad brims which fashion's slaves disguise;
This—clep'd above Intelligence—a fence
With which vain mortals easily dispense—
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Confound thy foes, and shield thee from their spite—
But, safe in covert, keep from baseness free:
No rule are knaves and hypocrites to thee.
[Thunder, &c.
3d Witch.
And by our art instructed in my task,
I from a statesman borrow'd him the Mask.
They, who the phantoms of ambition chase,
Have often need, I wot, to hide their face,
And lest at some short turn our vagrant fall,
Why not, as great folks wont, the time forestall?
Hecate.
Prudence, deceit apart, I don't condemn;
That dole be his, the other leave to them;
And in his tripping step and motley vest,
They'll find anon their idol's freaks express'd.—
That dole be his, the other leave to them;
And in his tripping step and motley vest,
They'll find anon their idol's freaks express'd.—
Go now, accomplished cap-a-pee, appear,
And run secure thy frolicsome career:
A beauteous Columbine at hand remains,
The pledge of peace, to recompence thy pains.—
In scrapes or 'scapes, pursuing or pursu'd,
'Tis all a type of life's vicissitude:
Then cheerly on and play your mimic parts;
Justice and candour dwell in worthy hearts;
To them appeal, make their applause your aim;
On Wisdom's basis rests the throne of fame;
And in life's real scenes, as yet unknown,
Be goodness still and bliss unchang'd your own.—
And run secure thy frolicsome career:
A beauteous Columbine at hand remains,
The pledge of peace, to recompence thy pains.—
In scrapes or 'scapes, pursuing or pursu'd,
'Tis all a type of life's vicissitude:
Then cheerly on and play your mimic parts;
Justice and candour dwell in worthy hearts;
To them appeal, make their applause your aim;
On Wisdom's basis rests the throne of fame;
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Be goodness still and bliss unchang'd your own.—
Auspicious spirits! your assent declare,
And charm with dulcet notes the vocal air.
And charm with dulcet notes the vocal air.
[Witches vanish.
| A collection of poems on various subjects | |