ΤΟ THE HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE BATH CLUB, THESE LINES ARE DEDICATED In Memory of past, AND IN ANTICIPATION OF FUTURE GAIETIES. OR, THE Ghost of Beau Nash. Parve, nec invideo, sine me, Liber, ibis in Urbem: AIR" TO ANACREON IN HEAVEN." I. To Momus, at Bath, where he holds his high Court, A few sous of Fashion, to chace Melancholy, Prefer'd a Petition for aid and support; When this answer arriv'd from the Patron of Folly: "Ye Mask-militant Beaux, "In my smiles who repose, "I'll teach you to baffle the plots of your foes; "To triumph o'er Prudery, Puff, and Parade; "And hail the New Year with a grand Masquerade." II. These tidings to Tartarus speedily flew ! Where old Pluto began for to strut and to crow : And says he, "Lest Temptation my subjects subdue, "We must licence a Methodist Chapel below. "Hark! already they cry, "To the Club let us fly," [the bye : "Where they've set up a new sort of Hell by "This curst Opposition will ruin my trade; "For what are our tricks, to a Bath Masquerade?" III. "A Methodist Chapel !" cries Proserpine; "Fye!" 1 1 « Contrasted with these certain places are blamelels "Well enough for these mortals, for mortals must die ; "But with ns, 'twould immortalize what shall be nameless "Besides, let me ask "Where's the harm in a Mask, "While Mirth to each heart sets an innocent task? "But Vice in Hypocrisy's visor array'd "Tarus Religion itself into mere Masquerade." |