Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 17]
[Handwritten]: 1785 Morning Herald
EPITHALAMIUM
By the Reverend George Prettyman, D.D. &c. &c. &c. &c.
The following lyric composition is the work of Mr. Pitt's private secretary; the same respectable divine whom his Majesty has lately been most graciously pleased to collate to the living of Sudburn, cun Capallo de Orford. It was written to celebrate the marriage of the Honourable Edward James Elliot, with Lady Hariett Pitt; and was performed on the night of the nuptials, at Mr, Pitt's house, at Putney (the newspaper having misinformed the public, which indeed is rather an uncommon thing for a ministerial print, that this happy couple were joined together in Downing street.)
Shakespeare, in exhibiting the heroism of Henry the Fifth, insinuates that his loftiest ambition would be to have " Princes to act, and Monarchs to behold the swelling scene" In the representation of this Epithalamium, its incomparable author has actually been gratified even to the tip top of Shakespeare's reveries. The audience, who heard bis Ode was the most illustrious this country boasts; the fingers who performed is, the noble personages of the nation; and the composers of the music (which by the way was superlative) the most renowned of all our honorable amateurs: the greater part indeed was contributed by the Duke of Queensbury, the Earl of Uxbridge, and Sir Richard Jebb. His -- -- --, in person, attended the celebration of this great event, accompanied by some of his most favoured courtiers, selected from the chosen few who stand distinguished for their capacity of softening the indispensable anxieties of royalty, and of exalting the fruitions of social life, by their superior wit, vivacity and humour. On the first of this lift, appeared the Dukes of Chandois and Montague, the Lords of Salisbury, Brudenel and Aylesbury. Of lesser constellations, were the Lords Denbigh, Onslow, Amherst, Galloway and Galway, a most splendid circle of nobility of both sexes, not immediately employed in the Court, besides Bishops and Bank Directors.
His _____, (who is greatly beloved even in his own neighbourhood, and whose popularity, as he has been graciously pleased lately to inform us in his own Royal Gazette, extends all the way to Oxford) arrived at Mr Pitt's house, in the most private manner, and came in the back-way, on purpose to escape a visit from "the heads of the houses" at Barnes, Putney, and the neighbouring towns ' a demonstation of loyalty and attachment, which a more public entrée had infallibly compelled him to endure. Upon some future occasion, perhaps, we may sketch the order in which the company sat down, as well as relate some of the numberless events which occurred during the evening, all of them curious and worthy being transmitted to posterity. Suffice it to say at present, that all matters were completely arranged by nine o'clock, and that this flow of foul, and feast of reason, commenced immediately after, in the following couple.
PART 1.
TRIO, sung by Lord Graham, Mr. Rose and Mr Aubrey.
Avaunt each grief! away each case!
Let no man wear a face of sorrow,
Let Treas'ry Clerks their gigs prepare,
Let Treas'ry Suitors call to-morrow.
Dr. Prettyman and Demy Chorus.
This day these pious hands, in nuptial bands have brae'd
The youth of nose erect ! the main of taper waist !
RECITATIVE accompanied: Lord Mulgrave
Thrice hath the year its course gone through,
Since love first caught them in his toil '
But fraught with prudence, each well knew,
"That love won't make the pot to boil,"
[Column 2]
Resign'd to wait,
The chance to fate,
This crafty son of Cornish Lord,
Put off his bliss,
Like a true Swiss,
Who, till he's paid, will ne'er unsheath his sword,
Thrice three years more had heedless pass'd away,
And shown their patient faith, their virgin truth,
Had (?) Harvey's death not mark'd the wedding day,
And in the Exchequer, fix'd the cautious youth.
CHORUS.
Matchless couple ! peerless pair !
The gelid swain ! the frigid fair !!
AIR. By the Lord Chancellor.
Not with such modish zest,
Stout Steel put forth his prayer,
When lovely Lindsay's cheek he press'd,
And clasp'd the clinging fair
By rugged rampant love, his suit he carried,
He lik'd the girl, he kiss'd her, and he married.
AIR By Lord Trentham.
But gentler Elliot scorns such clumsy aid,
More pleas'd his skill to show,
To not the head, and point the toe,
He smirk'd and toy'd, and trifled with the maid.
TRIO by Lord Trentham, Lord Graham, and Mr. Banks, with a Chorus of new-married Men.
Accomplish'd pair, whom no rude throbs impel,
Whom passions ne'er disturb, nor pulses swell ;
Whose thoughts obedient, rapture never fire,
Whose guarded wishes, never give desire ;
Whose souls subdu'd, no pantings discompose,
Whose fondness freezes, and whose longs dose ;
Oh, may no reb'l blood your quiet natures move,
From the sweet apathys of philosophic love :
Part II
DUETT by Colonel Barre and the Bridegroom
Bless'd times, when placemen to the shades descend,'
Their death's the life of many a stateman's friend.
TRIO by Three Maids of Honor.
The cunning prude, who, slily coy,
With pompous air one lover flies
Fast, but to feast on daintier joy,
And glute on fav'rite leacheries.
AIR, Mr Pitt,
The Minister who throws away
One lucky boon, which haps to fall;
Gives, but to get, another day;
And in good time to swallow all.
CHORUS by whole company, His ----------- beating time
with great exactness and animation.
Hail sacred fraud ! imposture holy !
May England's wits be steep'd in blear confusion,
And the land ne'er know respite from delusion !
TRIO by Lord Lonsdale, Lord Elliot, and the Duke of Northumberland.
From Boroughs, grand the things that grow,
From Mines, divine the streams that flow,
Hail Cornwall, richer than Potosi;
Hail Cumberland, a fairer quarter !
Hail Liskeard, Appelby, and Launceston;
Hail Cockermouth and hail [indecipherable]
May no rude hand invade our scared charter,
--- Titles to buy, and burgage rights to barter.
( ) It is hardly necessary to inform the reader, that this worthy couple, after a three years wooing were married on the very day that Mr Elliot was appointed to the office, which had been occupied by the unfortunate gentleman here alluded to.