Rowlandson the Caricaturist; a Selection from His Works. Vol. 2Grego, Joseph
History
Rowlandson the Caricaturist; a Selection from His Works. Vol. 2
Grego, Joseph
English wit and humor, Pictorial; Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827
_April 12, 1815._ _Scene in a New Pantomime, to be performed at the
Theatre Royal, Paris. With entire new music, dances, dresses, scenery,
machinery, &c., &c. The principal characters to be supported by most of
the great potentates in Europe. Harlequin by Monsieur Napoleon; Clown
by King of Wirtemberg; Pantaloon, Emperor of Austria. To conclude with
a comic song, to be sung by the Pope, and a grand chorus by the Crowned
Heads. Vivant Rex et Regina._ Published by R. Ackermann.--The wonderful
exhibition is taking place in the state rooms of the Tuileries. The
great throne is empty, and the sceptre and crown are temporarily laid
on the steps waiting for their owner. _Presto!_ and in flies Harlequin
Bonaparte, pursued at once by all the Powers of Europe, tumbling over
one another in confusion, but all armed and aiming at the nimble
sprite, who had given them so much trouble to capture and secure, and
who is once more to be chased, caught, and bound down again. Clown
Wirtemberg is letting off a brace of pistols; Dutch Mynheer and a
Prussian grenadier are discharging their blunderbusses; Austria, as
Pantaloon, is too startled to be effective; the Cossack is giving
the fugitive a prod with his long lance; the King of Spain has drawn
the sword and aimed such a blow that it has capsized the swordsman
and shaken off his crown; the Pope is armed with an axe; and all the
other potentates are crowding in, an irregular mob. The portrait of
the Empress, as Columbine, is being taken off the walls. As to the
Harlequin, his eye looks dangerous; a dagger is held in either hand-he
evidently means mischief; one tiger-like spring, and he has eluded
all his pursuers, and the blows they are intending for him recoil on
themselves. The portrait of Louis the Eighteenth is in the pathway
for which he is making, and the nimble Corsican, in his character of
Harlequin, is jumping clean through the huge paunch of the tranquil
Bourbon and regaining the security of his old strongholds.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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