The bard of Ferney, plac’d on high Amid the tuneful quire, With flying fingers touch’d the wooden lyre: The notes, tho’ lame, ascend as high As civic joys require. The song began from G――K’s toil, Who left his Litchfield’s native soil, (Such were his hopes of golden spoil) King Richard’s crooked form bely’d the man: Sublime on high-heel’d shoes he trod, When first he courted Lady Anne In Goodman’s Fields, till then an unfrequented road. As Hastings next round Pritchard’s waist he curl’d, Or shew’d, in Drugger’s rags, an idiot to the world. The list’ning crowd admire the lofty sound, A present Shakespeare, loud they shout around: A present Shakespeare, loud the rafter’d halls rebound. With prick’d up ears His May’rship hears; Assumed the play’r, Affects to stare, And shakes the room about his ears. III. The praise of ven’son, then, the rapt enthusiast sung; Of ven’son, whether old or young: The jolly haunch in triumph comes; Sound the trumpets, beat the drums; Flush’d with a purple grace, It shews its currant-jelly face: Now give each feeder breath: it comes, it comes; Ven’son, ever fair and young, Drinking joys can best reveal; Fat of ven’son is a treasure, Eating is the glutton’s pleasure: Rich the treasure, Sweet the pleasure, Sweet as stuffing is with veal. * * * * * From _The Court Miscellany_. 1769. ―――― The following Parody will be found in a scarce little volume entitled “_Pranceriana Poetica_, or Prancer’s Garland. Being a Collection of Fugitive Poems written since the publication of Pranceriana and the Appendix. Dublin: Printed in the year M.DCC.LXXIX.” This volume opens with a very satirical dedication to the Right Honourable Sir J――n B――q――re, Knight of the Bath, Alnager of all IRELAND, and Bailiff of Phœnix Park; in this he is taken to task for “placing the most improper man in the Kingdom at the head of our College.” The College alluded to was Trinity College, Dublin, and the individual who had been appointed at its head was nicknamed the “Prancer,” as “more fit to be a dancing master than a Provost.” PRANCER’S FEAST, _or, the Power of_ ORATORIAL FLATTERY. I. ’Twas at Election Feast for College, won By Bregah’s wond’rous son, Aloft in awful state The prancing Hero sate, On academic throne; His supple Voters plac’d around, Who on Election Day were faithful found (Minions only by self Interest bound,) The grim Ben Saddi by his side (Not like a blooming Eastern Bride) With awkward stiffness, awkward pride. Happy, happy, happy pair! None but Ben Sad, None but Ben Sad, None but Ben Sad deserves a Prancer’s care. II.