Poems on Several Occasions By J. Robertson |
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EPILOGUE.
Spoken by Master Billy Powell, a Child in his fifth Year.
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 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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EPILOGUE. Spoken by Master Billy Powell, a Child in his fifth Year.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the other day
My Aunty question'd me, if I cou'd play;
Not like the little-Boys of my own age,
But like a Man—act parts upon this Stage:
Lord, Aunty, said I, I can act or sing,
Can play a Hero, Lover, or a King;
With plume of feathers on my head, I'd strut,
And look as fierce as King of Lilliput:
Both W---n and F---m I'd excell,
At least, I think, I cou'd do full as well:—
Your Heroes are not always six foot high,
Garrick's a little Man, and so am I:
In Richard I cou'd cry, with thund'ring force—
A Horse—a Horse—my Kingdom for a Horse;
In Romeo dash against the flinty stones;—
Careful, however, that I break no bones;
Rave like Othello in my Jealous Fit,
Nay—on a pinch, I cou'd a Rape commit:—
And in your Comic Parts, you soon shou'd see
O---m and R---n both yield to me;
I'd try in Justice Woodcock, that old Cat,
To make Rosetta do—You all know what:
And then in Scrub!— [Laughs]
—Oh, Lord! I'd make you split—
About my Lady's Water—and the Jesuit.
My Aunty question'd me, if I cou'd play;
Not like the little-Boys of my own age,
But like a Man—act parts upon this Stage:
Lord, Aunty, said I, I can act or sing,
Can play a Hero, Lover, or a King;
With plume of feathers on my head, I'd strut,
And look as fierce as King of Lilliput:
Both W---n and F---m I'd excell,
At least, I think, I cou'd do full as well:—
Your Heroes are not always six foot high,
Garrick's a little Man, and so am I:
In Richard I cou'd cry, with thund'ring force—
A Horse—a Horse—my Kingdom for a Horse;
In Romeo dash against the flinty stones;—
Careful, however, that I break no bones;
Rave like Othello in my Jealous Fit,
Nay—on a pinch, I cou'd a Rape commit:—
And in your Comic Parts, you soon shou'd see
O---m and R---n both yield to me;
I'd try in Justice Woodcock, that old Cat,
To make Rosetta do—You all know what:
And then in Scrub!— [Laughs]
—Oh, Lord! I'd make you split—
About my Lady's Water—and the Jesuit.
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Now Gentlemen and Ladies—That's ill bred;—
Ladies and Gentlemen, I shou'd have said—
If you encourage my fine growing Spirit,
You'll soon find out that I'm a Lad of Merit;
And if you'd make my little Heart rejoice,
You'll all unite in one applauding Voice.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I shou'd have said—
If you encourage my fine growing Spirit,
You'll soon find out that I'm a Lad of Merit;
And if you'd make my little Heart rejoice,
You'll all unite in one applauding Voice.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |