[69] This is a palpable hit at Handel. In a caricatured portrait, entitled "The Charming Brute," this great composer is delineated sitting on a hogshead with the profile of a boar, a bill of fare, and other emblems of voluptuousness scattered round him. Published March 21, 1754. Motto on a scroll, "I am myself alone," and under the print these lines:—
"The figure's odd, yet who would think,
Within this tomb of meat and drink
There dwells the soul of soft desires,
And all that harmony inspires?
Can contrast such as this be found
Upon the globe's extensive round?
There can! yon hogshead is his seat,
His sole diversion is to eat."
When Handel had once a large party to dinner, the cloth being removed, he introduced plain port. Having drank four or five glasses with his guests, he suddenly started up—exclaimed—"I have a thought!" and stalked out of the room, to which after a short absence he returned. Having drank a few more glasses he uttered the same sentence—again retreated, and again returned. It was naturally supposed that he wished to commit to paper some idea that struck him at the moment, and passed over; but, when in less than an hour he a third time started—growled out—"I have a thought!" and a third time left the company, one of the gentlemen privately followed, and traced him into another apartment, where, on looking through the keyhole, he saw this great master of music kneel down to a hamper of champagne, that he might more conveniently reach out a flask, which having nearly finished, he returned to his friends!