EPISTLE FROM TOM CRIB TO BIG BEN* CONCERNING SOME FOUL PLAY IN A LATE TRANSACTION.t "Ahi, mio BEN!"-METASTASIO.‡ WHAT! BEN, my old hero, is this your renown? By the fist of my father, I blush for thee, BEN! "Foul! foul!" all the lads of the Fancy exclaim CHARLEY SHOCK is electrified - BELCHER spits And MOLYNEUX-ay, even BLACKY§ cries "shame!" Time was, when JOHN BULL little difference spied 'Twixt the foe at his feet, and the friend at his side: When he found (such his humour in fighting and eating) His foe, like his beef-steak, the sweeter for beating. But this comes, Master BEN, of your curst foreign [lotions; notions, Your trinkets, wigs, thingumbobs, gold lace and Your Noyaus, Curaçoas, and the Devil knows what(One swig of Blue Ruin || is worth the whole lot!) * A nickname given, at this time, to the Prince Regent. † Written soon after Bonaparte's transportation to St. Helena. Tom, I suppose, was "assisted" to this Motto by Mr. Jackson, who, it is well known, keeps the most learned company going. § Names and nicknames of celebrated pugilists at that time. Gin. A cross-buttock from me would do some of them good!) Which have spoilt you, till hardly a drop, my old porpoise, Of pure English claret is left in your corpus ; And (as JIM says) the only one trick, good or bad, Of the Fancy you're up to, is fibbing, my lad. Hence it comes,-BOXIANA, disgrace to thy page!Having floor'd, by good luck, the first swell of the age, Having conquer'd the prime one, that mill'd us all round, You kick'd him, old BEN, as he gasp'd on the ground! Ay-just at the time to show spunk, if you'd got any Kick'd him, and jaw'd him, and lag'd him to Oh, shade of the Cheesemonger!† you, who, alas, * Transported. † A Life Guardsman, one of the Fancy, who distinguished himself, and was killed in the memorable set-to at Waterloo. THE FUDGE FAMILY IN PARIS. Le Leggi della Maschera richiedono che una persona mascherata non sia salutata per nome da uno che la conosce malgrado il suo travestimento. CASTIGLIONE. |