Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

RETALIATION.

A POEM.

FIRST PRINTED IN MDCCLXXIV. AFTER THE

AUTHOR'S DEATH.

Dr. Goldsmith and some of his friends occasionally dined at the St. James's Coffeehouse. One day it was proposed to write epitaphs on him. His country dialect and person furnished subjects of witticism. He was called on for RETALIATION, and at their next meeting produced the following poem.

See an account of the origin of this poem in Northcote's Life of Reynolds, p. 126. Garrick wrote, off hand, with a good deal of humour, an epitaph on Goldsmith. Dr. Bernard also gave him an epitaph. Sir Joshua sketched his bust in pen and ink. This prompted the poem of the Retaliation.

Hints for this poem might have been suggested by Pope's poem to Mr. Thomas Southern, on his Birthday (v. Warton, ii. p. 352); and by Motteux's Prologue to Farquhar's ' Inconstant,' see vol. ii. p. 10, ed. 1772. Ed.

RETALIATION.

Or old, when Scarron his companions invited, Each guest brought his dish, and the feast was

united;

If our 1 landlord supplies us with beef and with fish, Let each guest bring himself, and he brings the best dish:

plains ;

Our 2 dean shall be venison, just fresh from the
[brains;
Our 3 Burke shall be tongue, with the garnish of
Our Will shall be wildfowl, of excellent flavour,
And 5 Dick with his pepper shall heighten their

savour:

[tain, Our 6 Cumberland's sweetbread its place shall ob

The master of the St. James's coffeehouse, where the Doctor, and the friends he has characterised in this poem, occasionally dined.

? Doctor Bernard, Dean of Derry, in Ireland.

3 Mr. Edmund Burke.

4 Mr. William Burke, late secretary to General Conway, and member for Bedwin.

5 Mr. Richard Burke, collector of Grenada.

Mr. Richard Cumberland, author of the West Indian,' 'Fashionable Lover,' The Brothers,' and other dramatic pieces.

And 7 Douglas is pudding, substantial and plain:
Our Garrick's a salad; for in him we see
Oil, vinegar, sugar, and saltness agree:
To make out the dinner, full certain I am,
That 9 Ridge is anchovy, and 10 Reynolds is lamb;
That 11 Hickey's a capon, and, by the same rule,
Magnanimous Goldsmith a gooseberry fool.
At a dinner so various, at such a repast,

Who'd not be a glutton, and stick to the last?
Here, waiter, more wine, let me sit while I'm able,
Till all my companions sink under the table;
Then, with chaos and blunders encircling my head,
Let me ponder, and tell what I think of the dead.

12 Here lies the good dean,13 reunited to earth, Who mixt reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth:

7 Doctor Douglas, canon of Windsor, an ingenious Scotch gentleman, who has no less distinguished himself as a citizen of the world, than a sound critic, in detecting several literary mistakes (or rather forgeries) of his countrymen; particularly Lauder on Milton, and Bower's History of the Popes. • David Garrick, Esq.

9 Counsellor John Ridge, a gentleman belonging to the Irish Bar.

10 Sir Joshua Reynolds.

An eminent attorney, whose hospitality and good humour acquired him in his club the title of honest Tom Hickey.'

12 Here lies the good dean] See a poem by Dean Bernard to Sir J. Reynolds, in Northcote's Life of Reynolds, p. 130. ́ 13 Vide page 63.

If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt,
At least in six weeks I could not find 'em out;
Yet some have declar'd, and it can't be denied 'em,
That slyboots was cursedly cunning to hide 'em.

Here lies our good 14 Edmund, whose genius was

such,

We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much; Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind. Though fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat, [vote : To persuade 15 Tommy Townshend to lend him a Who, too deep for his hearers, still went on refining, And thought of convincing, while they thought of dining;

Though equal to all things, for all things unfit, Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit; For a patriot too cool; for a drudge disobedient; And too fond of the right to pursue the expedient. In short, 'twas his fate, unemploy'd, or in place, sir, To eat mutton cold, and cut blocks with a razor.

Here lies honest 16 William, whose heart was a

mint, [in't; While the owner ne'er knew half the good that was

14 Vide page 63.

15 Mr. T. Townshend, member for Whitchurch. See H. Walpole's Letter to Lord Hertford, p. 6.

16 Vide page 63.

F

« AnteriorContinuar »