 | Songs, comic and satyrical |  |
THE RAREE SHEW.
The town's a raree-shew, some say,
A rare shew for projectors:
What pity 'tis, we spoil the play
For want of better actors.
But sometimes in, and sometimes out,
'Tis so upon all stages;
Folks will not mind what they're about,
But only mind the wages.
A rare shew for projectors:
What pity 'tis, we spoil the play
For want of better actors.
But sometimes in, and sometimes out,
'Tis so upon all stages;
Folks will not mind what they're about,
But only mind the wages.
57
Among the imitative arts,
Chief is an actor's science;
Expressive heads, and feeling hearts,
With nature form alliance.
Behind the scenes, tho' Party rage,
Caprice, and Adulation,
With Slander—but we know the Stage
Shou'd represent the nation.
Chief is an actor's science;
Expressive heads, and feeling hearts,
With nature form alliance.
Behind the scenes, tho' Party rage,
Caprice, and Adulation,
With Slander—but we know the Stage
Shou'd represent the nation.
A representative indeed!—
As players make believe, Sir,
In this world's drama, to succeed,
'Tis as you can deceive, Sir.
You may be caught, by face or dress,
Before you come to know folks;
But then the counterfeits confess,
They're all—but only shew-folks.
As players make believe, Sir,
In this world's drama, to succeed,
'Tis as you can deceive, Sir.
You may be caught, by face or dress,
Before you come to know folks;
But then the counterfeits confess,
They're all—but only shew-folks.
Most aim great characters to hit,
Pride spouts as public spirit,
Pert Dullness is mistook for Wit,
And Silence want of Merit.
Some study the Informer's arts,
Then Power their side espouses;
Some play the pimps, and flatterers parts,
In hopes to have full houses.
Pride spouts as public spirit,
Pert Dullness is mistook for Wit,
And Silence want of Merit.
Some study the Informer's arts,
Then Power their side espouses;
Some play the pimps, and flatterers parts,
In hopes to have full houses.
We title this same droll we shew,
The Humours of the Nation—
Extremely high, extremely low,
Endemic Dissipation.
The World!—What by that word we mean,
Is self and self's disguises;
A busy, lazy, lottery scene,
Where Folly fills up prizes.
The Humours of the Nation—
Extremely high, extremely low,
Endemic Dissipation.
The World!—What by that word we mean,
Is self and self's disguises;
A busy, lazy, lottery scene,
Where Folly fills up prizes.
Whate'er we think, whate'er we say,
Whate'er we are pursuing,
Is o'er and o'er the self-same play
Of doing and undoing.
Life's vegetation ripes and rots,
'Till dust to dust returning;
So let us sprinkle well our spots
And drink from night to morning.
Whate'er we are pursuing,
Is o'er and o'er the self-same play
Of doing and undoing.
Life's vegetation ripes and rots,
'Till dust to dust returning;
So let us sprinkle well our spots
And drink from night to morning.
| Songs, comic and satyrical | |