XIV. "These changes still worse Revolutions portend; "As the fight is preceded by Trumpet and Drum mer, "Beware the beginning: Who knows where 'twill end? "(13) Remember the battles of Brereton and Plomer, "When Bag and Bouquet "Fled in foul disarray, "And pate and peruque were divorc'd in the fray : "Till the combatants parted, of justice afraid, "In tatters more motley than this Masquerade. XV. "Two Monarchs then mounted on one vacant Throne, "Like Rome's mighty Consuls, when Kings were no more, "But Tribunes grow saucy; for order o'erthrown "In States or Assemblies, what art can restore ? 66 Autocracy found "In my death her death-wound, "But Anarchy ne'er was so signally crown'd, "Ne'er till now so triumphant her standard display'd · "In open revolt, and bare-fac'd Masquerade! XVI. "And now, to be brief-for methinks ye begin "To think this harangue grows a little long-winded; "Go home-say your prayers, and repent of this sin, "Or expect in your dreams to be nightly reminded: "Remember-but oh ! "Sure I heard the Cock crow" He look'd at the Ghost of his Watch! 'Twas e'en so! Thrice he bow'd- and while faint and more faint gre Seema to mutter in melting No more Masquerade !”’ XVII. Thus vanish'd the Phantom: but left such a chill * On his hearers, that each stood as mute as a post: Since which, all from Lansdown to Claverton hill, Looks as dull, as if Bath had been bit by this With a funeral phiz, As formal as his, Very moral, and yet very stupid, I wis, We declaim against Levity; sip Lemonade, And start and turn pale at the word Masquerade. (1) Quæ gratia Currûs NOTES. Armorumque fuit vivis, quæ cura nitentes Pascere equos, eadem sequitor tellure repostos.-— VIRGIL. (2) Βασκιθι ελε Ονειρε Θοας επί νηας Αχαιών. (3) Mr. Nash's pride discovered itself by no marks of exterior dignity. He was content with being distinguished only by a White Hat: a symbol of the candor of his mind-Vide Bath Guide. (4) The Corporation of the City, after his death, voted a fulllength Statue in Marble to the King of Bath; which has been since erected in the Pump-Room: and having been originally placed between the busts of Newton and Pope, gave rise to the following Epigram:— The Statue plac'd these Busts between, Gives Satire all it's strength: But Folly at full length. Ibid. (5) The Lower Assembly-Rooms which were hired by the Gentlemen of the Bath Club for the sumptuous Masquerade to which this Ballad alludes, are built upon the site and comprise the area of the first public ball-room erected at Bath, at which Mr. Nash himself presided. (6) He desired the Duchess of Queensbury, who appeared at a Dress Ball in a Lace Apron, worth Five hundred Guineas, to pull it off; which she instantly did, at the same time desiring his acceptance of it: and when the Princess Amelia requested to have one more dance after eleven o'clock, he replied that the Laws of Bath, like those of Lycurgus, were unalterable.-Vid. Bath Guide, (7) In three or four days after his decease, his corpse was conveyed to the Abbey Church with great solemnity: About five, the procession moved from his house, preceded by the Charity girls, next by the Charity boys, singing a solemn hymn; next a large band of music, sounding at proper intervals a dirge. Two Clergymen immediately preceded the Coffin, which was adorned with sable plumes, and the Pall supported by six senior Aldermen; the Masters of the Assembly Rooms following, as Chief Mourners, &c.—Ibid. (8) The Medallion worn by the Master of the Ceremonies of the Upper Rooms is of gold, enamelled and enriched with brilliants. The device on one side is a figure of Minerva, over which is the motto-Decus et Tutamen, and underneath-Dulce est desipere in loco: on the Reverse-Arbiter Elegantiarum. Oct. 1777. That worn by the M. C. of the Lower Rooms is also enamelled and set in jewels, and represents on one side-Venus holding a golden apple and a rudder: the motto-Venus decens the reverse-Arbiter Elegantiarum communi consensu. (9) Dulce ridentem.-Dulce loquentem. (10) Illi robur et æs triplex Circâ pectus erant. (11) Aetas Parentum pejor avis tulit Nos nequioros, mox daturos Progeniem vitiosiorem. (12) Respicere ignoto discas pendentia tergo.-HOR. (13) The contest between these two doughty Candidates for the vacant throne of Bath on one occasion broke out into the most outrageous acts of hostility, nor was the tumult appeased till the Riot Act had been thrice read in the Assembly Room! Vide Bath Guide. MEYLER AND SON, PRINTERS, |