Line 14.—And stammer’d out the FIRMAUN, &c.] When a language happens to be deficient in a word to express a particular idea, it has been ever customary to borrow one from some good-natured neighbour, who may happen to be more liberally furnished. Our Author, unfortunately, could find no nation nearer than TURKEY, that was able to supply him with an expression perfectly apposite to the sentiment intended to be here conveyed.
Line 25.—Not bare-breeche’d GRAHAM.] His Lordship some time since brought in a bill to relieve his countrymen from those habilliments which in ENGLAND are deemed a necessary appendage to decorum, but among our more northern brethren are considered as a degrading shackle upon natural liberty. Perhaps, as the noble Lord was then on the point of marriage, he might intend this offering of his opima spolia, as an elegant compliment to HYMEN.
Line 51.—But Reverend JENKY.] Our Author here, in some measure deviating from his usual perspicuity, has left us in doubt whether the term Reverend is applied to the years or to the profession of the gentleman intended to be complimented. His long experience in the secrets of the CRITICAL REVIEW, and BUCKINGHAM HOUSE, would well justify the former supposition; yet his early admission into DEACON’S ORDERS will equally support the latter: our readers therefore must decide, while we can only sincerely exult in his Majesty’s enjoyment of a man whose whole pious life has been spent in sustaining that beautiful and pathetic injunction of scripture, “SERVE GOD, AND HONOUR THE KING.”
Line 68.—And Bulls and Bears in mystic mazes dance.] The beautiful allusion here made to that glorious state of doubt and obscurity in which our youthful Minister’s measures have been invariably involved, with its consequent operation on the stockholders, is here most fortunately introduced.—What a striking contrast does Mr. PITT’s conduct, in this particular, form to that of the Duke of PORTLAND, Mr. Fox, and your other plain matter of fact men!
Line 83.—Sooner shall ROSE than PRETTYMAN lie faster.] This beautiful compliment to the happy art of embellishment, so wonderfully possessed by this par nobile fratrum, merits our warmest applause; and the skill of our author no where appears more conspicious than in this line, where, in refusing to give to either the pre-eminence, he bestows the ne plus ultra of excellence on both.
RONDEAU.
HUMBLY INSCRIBED
To the RIGHT HON. WILLIAM EDEN, ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY and MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY of Commercial Affairs at the Court of VERSAILLES.
Of EDEN lost, in ancient days,
If we believe what MOSES says,
A paltry pippin was the price,
One crab was bribe enough to entice
Frail human kind from Virtue’s ways.
But now, when PITT, the all-perfect, sways,
No such vain lures the tempter lays,
Too poor to be the purchase twice,
Of EDEN lost.