Could now dumb Faustus, to reform the age,
Conjure up Shakespear's or Ben Johnson's ghost,
They'd blush for shame, to see the English stage
Debauch'd by fool'ries, at so great a cost.
What would their manes say? Should they behold
Monsters and masquerades, where useful plays
Adorn'd the fruitfull theatre of old,
And rival wits contended for the bays.
Price 1 shilling 1724.
To the second impression of it:
O how refin'd, how elegant we're grown!
What noble Entertainments charm the town!
Whether to hear the Dragon's roar we go,
Or gaze surpriz'd on Fawks's matchless show,
Or to the Operas, or to the Masques,
To eat up ortelans, and t' empty flasques,
And rifle pies from Shakespear's clinging page,
Good gods! how great's the gusto of the age.
In this print our artist has imitated the engraving of Callot.
To the third impression, i. e. the copy:
Long has the stage productive been
Of offsprings it could brag on,
But never till this age was seen
A Windmill and a Dragon.
O Congreve, lay thy pen aside,
Shakespear, thy works disown,
Since monsters grim, and nought beside,
Can please this senseless town.
I should have observed, that the idea of the foregoing plate was stolen from an anonymous one on the same subject. It represents Hercules chaining follies and destroying monsters. He is beating Heidegger, till the money he had amassed falls out of his pocket. The situation of the buildings, &c. on the sides, &c. has been followed by our artist. Mercury aloft sustains a scroll, on which is written "The Mascarade destroy'd." The inscription under this print is "Hei Degeror. O! I am undone." Price One Shilling.
[1] She is rather drawing the money towards her with a rake.
[2] This collection, consisting of 241 prints, in three portfeuilles, was sold at Christie's, April 7, 1781, for 59 guineas, to Mr. Ingham Foster, a wealthy ironmonger, since dead. A set, containing only 100 prints, had been sold some time before, at the same place, for 47 guineas. The Hon. Topham Beauclerk's set, of only 99 prints, was sold in 1781 (while this note was printing off for the first edition) for 34l. 10s.