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
_August 1, 1801._ _The Female Gambler's Prayer_ commences with an
invocation: 'Enchanting Pharaoh, thee I address with a heart teeming
with gratitude for all the favours showered on thy ardent worshipper.
Thy name, O mighty Pharaoh, is derived from the Hebrew, literally
to _make bare_, and well thou knowest I delight to make bare, even
to the last feather, the pigeon that flies to my midnight orgies.'
The petition concludes with an entreaty that the Right Honourable
Fraternity of Gamblers may be protected from the strictures of Lord
Kenyon (who had commenced a crusade against fashionable gamblers, and
had especially made attacks on those ladies of rank who encouraged
tables in their houses), and their persons preserved from all the dire
horrors of the stocks and pillory, with which this inflexible judge had
threatened the incorrigible, if any person could be found to bring them
within his jurisdiction.
_August 10, 1801._ _The Actress's Prayer._--'Hear me, Dramatic Sisters,
gay Thalia and sublime Melpomene; be guardians to your supplicant and
aid her in her profession.... I pray thee, should I ever reach the
boards of a London theatre, may my terms be as enormous as my abilities
are conspicuous, and finally my labours be crowned with the _coronet_
of honour, and that I may become a convert to domestic happiness.'
_August 10, 1801._ _The Jockey's Prayer_ is put up to Nimrod. The
aspirations of the hero of the turf tend to a wife--'a pretty well-bred
filly, one that would come easily to collar, prance to the Circus of
Hymen, and run with her owner the generous race of mutual affection.'
_September 5, 1801._ _The Cook's Prayer._--The fat mistress of the
spit has gone down on her knees before the roaring fire, beside which
are the preparations for dinner. Her prayer is addressed to all the
gods and goddesses whose celestial appetites are not too refined to
relish the good things of this world. She beseeches their influence to
continue her a twelvemonth longer in the service of Alderman Gobble,
and then, with the little perquisites she has hashed together, she may
be able to enter on a certain eating-house in Pye Corner, which she
has longed for these three years. She concludes by entreating that the
bosom of John the Coachman may be moved to become her partner in the
concern.
_September 12, 1801._ _The Sailor's Prayer._--'O mighty Neptune! hear
an honest British Tar; thou knowest I trouble not thy godship every
day, and I therefore pray thee to grant my prayer, for I love not long
palavering and that there, d'ye see ... Worthy Master Neptune! send us
a good prize, I beseech thee, and be not sparing in brandy and tobacco.
Give us also a few chests of the Don's dollars, for Mounseer hasn't got
none--no more than there is in your three-pronged boat-hook.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account