  For the Private Theatre or the Drawing-room. Air—Not "Pull away, pull away, pull away, my hearties!"—Dibdin. Oh! this is the house for effects and for scenes,— What is Drury, Ducrow's, Covent Garden, the Queen's? Success at the one or the other will pause, But in this house the manager constantly draws.— Then let the Muse be at her Home, in this theatre; Gain here, and glory, go snacks in applause. The crowds that come here, made of Beauty and Ninny, Take—each takes a seat in the stall for a guinea; Our great managerial actor then bows, And, oh! with what pleasure he views the front rows! Then let, &c. At the Opera they boast of the band and the chori, Of Lindley,—of Balfe,—Dragonetti, and Mori; But here finished art, perfect touch, take their station, For who beats our hero in instrumentation? Then let, &c. There's Richard the Third is a favourite part, And he mouths it, like some of our players, by heart; But remember that Gloster, when first he drew breath, Was shaped like a screw—with a full set of teeth. Then let, &c. Macbeth may effectively fall to his lot, For where's such an artist for "Out, damned spot!" And we see, where those old annotators were blind,— For the issue of Duncan, why he filed his mind. Then let, &c. He does not play Lear (Forrest does—so does Booth), For he thinks the "How sharper!" is wrong on the tooth! His company's good, else why full stall and bench? But, though he likes Power, he won't hear of Wrench! Then let, &c. Through pieces—light farce—Fame our favorite then next tracks,— Single acts, single scenes, pungent touches, smart extracts! With Colman's Review, too, he's coupled by some, For he, like John Lump, gets a "guinea by Gum!" Then let, &c. Then, with riches at will, oh! how liberal the lord Of this mansion is found at the banquet and board! Still, though wealth comes from east and from west, north and south, Yet some will say he lives but from mere hand to mouth! Then let, &c. But cautious he should be,—though bright be the day,— For he knows, best of any, the works of decay; And he ne'er should forget, in this splendid—this top age, That when he won't draw, he inclines then to stoppage. Then let, &c. But long may he flourish—long, long here preside, To give "harmless pleasure" to thousands beside! Age is baffled by him,—we're still rich,—let it fret! Oh! if hundreds are lost, we can have a new set! Then let, &c. R. |
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