Near to the wardrobe stairs, one story high,

Where ermined robes and jewels caught the eye;

Dull is that dressing-room—by Quin inspir’d,

Where, once, choice wits after the play retir’d;

When play-house statesmen talk’d, with looks profound,

And apt quotations—meant for wit—went round;

Imagination fondly stoops to trace,

The tinsell’d splendours of the motley place;

The warlike truncheon, prone upon the floor,

The herald’s coat, that hung behind the door: