municated to Townsend, the knowing trap acutely observed, "Vy, my jolly master, didn't you look under Glumdalca's petticoats? The treasury have incurred their share in the obloquy; for which unjust accusation, Messrs. Hughes, J. Bradon, and Tull, have determined to give their accusers a cheek. Mr. Ware, the leader of the fiddlers, the giant among pigmies, the one-eyed monarch of the blind, is much hurt at the disgrace put upon the sons of Rosin. He asserted, in the green-room, that the orchestra was not to be considered as secondary; to which an actor, of approved an estimable celebrity, aptly retorted-"No, sir, fourth or fifth." Thus remains the case: but we are concerned to inform the hungry fiddlers, that from certain information, we can state in black letter" The cake is eaten."

+

THE RAPE OF THE CAKE.

A COVENT-GARDEN ECLOGUE.

Inscribed to the Musical Band of Covent-garden theatre, on account of the recent theft of their Twelfth cake.

"Quid Rapuisti?"

The night was dark! fast clos'd the plunderer's hand!
And idle Jehu's slept upon the stand!
The lone Piazza, erst the gay resort

Of flash and fun, and meritricious sport,.
Then only echo'd to th' unvarying sound
Of drowsy watchmen, pacing their dull round,
Kiddies no more at Glue or Brilliant sup,
And e'en the far fam'd Finish was done up.
All rest in sleep! save those who were awake -
The wicked wags who stole the fiddlers' cake.
Not in more silence did Ulysses tread,
When he relentless struck king Rhesus dead;
Not with more caution did the invading Gaul
Attempt to storm the Capitolian wall;
Not with more care did valorous Smith advance
To burn the navy of insulting France;
Not with more ease did Belcher beat poor Burke,
Then those vile plunderers did the dreadful work!!!

..........

...............

Fragment of a Covent-garden Pastoral.

But say, my muse, what prodigies appear'd?
The rain fast pour'd, and horrid screams were heard !
Loud thunder shook the gay theatric pile,
And Kemble first relax'd into a smile!
The theft announc'd, the band were in dismay,
And nought were heard, but 'Oh!' and Well-a-day!'
The leader Ware, with anger in his soul,

While his limbs tremble, and his eye-balls roll,
"D-n!" cried, "this insult's too imposing,
Shall we bear this, ye scraping sons of Rosin?"
The puffy Parke, who never was a starter,
Said, "In this cause I wish to die a Martyr?"
Hawtin, with face inflated like a crumpet,
"Lord bless us," said, and droopp'd his brazen trumpet.
And smirking Davy, with his powder'd pate,
Plump'd snug upon his seat, and grinn'd in state.
While feeble Woodcock let his anger loose,
And fix'd the theft on harmless Mother Goose!!!

But say, my muse, and then I'll cry farewell!
Who stole the cake? -" Indeed I cannot tell!
And this I swear, in accents strong and slow,
I cannot tell!-because I do not know!"

FRAGMENT OF A COVENT GARDEN PASTORAL.

"Despairing beside a clear stream."-GAY.

Did you see a Twelfth-cake in your round;
A good one as ever was made?
'Tis sweet and weighs many a pound,
Alas! it is stolen or stray'd!

You may know the dear cake by this mark -
On the top is a gilt sugar lyre,
And the bust of Apollo, that spark
That sets every genius on fire.
To the fiddlers, that sweetly do play,
This cake was presented so fine,
And because it was on a Twelfth day,
Came grac'd with twelve bottles of wine !

....

Fragment of a Covent-garden Pastoral.

In a hair dresser's room was it stow'd,
And carefully lock'd was the door,
Where not a mouse, nor a rat had abode,
Yet the Twelfth cake was never seen more.
Long they search'd, all around,

Long they search'd, but, alas! it was in vain;
When they heard a deep base viol sound,
And a voice, sweetly sad, thus complain :-
"Ah! whither, Twelfth-cake, art thou gone?
Shall we ne'er see thy sweet face again?
Art thou curing John Kemble's sad moan,
And dispelling his aitches and pain?"

"O no! Johnny Kemble replies,
"By my suvran power I swear,
By my bird. and the conschince I prize.
That Twelfth cake did never come here!
O'er Baddeley's cake have I been

Full many times churful and gay:
But the fiddlers' cake ne'er have seen-
Then away, base complainer, away!"
He said, and he march'd through the room
With a monstrously dignified air;
And with him went all the sad gloom,
Dame Tragedy's stalk and her stare.
Then listen once more unto me,

In sorrow 'tis well to be brief;
And if the dear cake we can't see,

Let's find out the name of the thief:
The book-box they search'd all in vain,
Jem Brandon he lent them his aid;
But in the old Ledger, 'twas plain,
A sweet doubly entry was made!
"Oh! ho!" cried the fiddlers all round,
"We swear by our gut-scraping fame,
That though our Twelfth-cake be not found,
This Ledger conceals the rogue's name!"

Comic Songs.

............

VOCAL AND RHETORICAL IMITATIONS

OF

BEGGARS AND BALLAD-SINGERS.

There's a difference between a beggar and a queen,
And I'll tell you the reason why-

A queen cannot swagger. nor get drunk as a beggar,

Nor be half so happy as 1:

00

:

(Speakiny.) To be sure they are obliged to support a dignified character-now I can change my character as often as I please -though, I believe, I am generally a solicitor; for I practice at the court of requests; and as to honesty, why honesty is

Toll de roll loll de roll-(Once through for chorus.)

Like a sailor from the wars, surrounded with scars,
When I choose in that character to beg;
With knuckless held so flat, and t'other arm in the hat,
And this way I hold up my leg-(Imitates.)
(Speaking.) Look down with an eye of pity on a poor unfortu-

nate seamen

A

"My starboard arm I lost in action soon,

And my larboard leg on the glorious first of June.?) "Here my good man, here's money for you; you are an honour to your country." "Honour! to be sure I am; but then my honour, like many other honourable gentlemen's consists in-Toll deroll, &c.

With a hump on my back, people's charity I lack,

In that I'm at home to a peg;

With a snuffle in my nose, I their feelings discompose,
And thus I contract up my leg.- (Imitates snuffling.)

......

....................

Imitations of Beggars and Ballad-Singers.

My good worthy Christians, please to bestow your charity on an unfortunate young man. "Oh, what you're unfortunate, are you?" Yes, please your honour, I lost my mammy and daddy when I was very young, and now I am forc'd to beg for my bread. "I'll give you something to cure you; here's a horsewhip for you, you scoundrel." Oh, dear, your honour, consider me and my-Toll de roll loll, &c.

When I turn my eye to the folks passing by,
My conscience I leave behind;
Through the villages I jog, led by a little dog,

And a LASS I can see though I'm blind -(Imitates.) (Speaking.) Pity the sorrows of a poor old man-1 am sixtyfive, my good worthy Christians-may you never loose your precious eyesight. "Look, Dolly, the poor man's blind.' Blind! Lord bless you. it's all my eve and Toll de roll loll,

&c.

There's Dolly and I, when ballads we cry,

On a couple of stools see us stand;
The people all crowd, while she bawls aloud.

And I takes my fiddle in hand: -(Imitates.)

(Speaking in a squeaking tone of voice.) Come neighbours and friends, here's a new song, entitled and call'd, I am a wild and roving boy. - Come, play up.

(Speaking in a gruff tone.) Stop, let's rosin first

(Singing with a squeaking voice.) "I am a wild and roving

boy,"

(Singing in a gruff voice.) "And my lodging is in the island

of Cloy;"

(Squeaking.) "A rambling boy altho' I be,"
(Gruff.) "Ill forsake them all, and I'll follow the."
(Speaking.) There's a man wants to buy a ballad there
(Squeaking.) "Were I a blackbird or a thrush,

(Gruff.) "Hopping about from bush to bush,"

(Speaking.) Sing, Moll-(Squeaking)

might plainly see,"

ruff.)

V

Then all the world

(Speaking gru
(Singing.) "I love the girl that loves not me."

It's a bad halfpenny, Moll. - 2