Then kindly listen, while the prologue rambles

From wit, to beef-from Shakspeare, to the shambles!
Divided only by one flight of stairs,

The actor swaggers, and the butcher swears!
Quick the transition, when the curtain drops,
From meek Monimia's moans, to mutton chops!
While for Lothario's loss Lavinia cries,

Old women scold, and dealers d-n your eyes.
Here, Juliet listens to the gentle lark,
There, in harsh chorus, hungry bull-dogs bark;
Cleavers and scymitars give blow for blow,
And heroes bleed above, and sheep below.
While magic thunders shake the pit and box,
Rebellows to the roar the staggering ox.

Cow-horns and trumpets mix their martial tones;
Kidneys and Kings, mouthing and marrow bones;
Suet and sighs, blank verse and blood abound,
And form a tragic-comedy around.
With weeping lovers, dying calves complain;
Confusion reigns-Chaos is come again !
Hither, your steelyards, butchers, bring, to weigh
The pound of flesh Antonio's blood must pay !
Hither, your knives, ye Christians clad in blue,
Bring, to be whetted by the worthless Jew.

Hard is our lot, who, seldom doom'd to eat,
Cast a sheep's eye on this forbidden meat—
Gaze on sirloins, which, ah! we cannot carve;
And, in the midst of beef-and mutton-starve.
But would ye to our house in crowds repair,
Ye generous captains, and ye blooming fair,

The fate of Tantalus we should not fear,
Nor pine for a répast that is so near;
Monarchs no more would supperless remain,
Nor pregnant Queens for cutlets long in vain.”

GARRICK'S READING BEFORE ROYALTY.

2

In the year 1777, Garrick was desired to read a Play before the King and Queen, at Buckingham House, in the manner of Monsieur Le Texier, who had obtained great reputation by reading them sitting at a table, and acting there as he went on. Garrick fixed upon his own Farce of "Lethe," in which he introduced, for the occasion, the character of an ungrateful Jew. There were present the King, Queen, Princess Royal, Duchess of Argyle, and one or two more of the Ladies in waiting; but the coldness with which this select party heard him, so opposite to the applause he had always been used to on the stage, had such an effect upon him, as to prevent his exertions, or, to use Mr. G.'s own words in relating the circumstance, "it was (said he) as if they had thrown a wet blanket over me."

DIBDIN.

IN the dialogue part of one of Dibdin's entertainments, he observes something about fiddlers

retiring, occasionally, during the course of a concert, to supply the chords of their instruments with needful rosin: following their example, he likewise retires for a few minutes. It happened, on one of his nights, that Mrs. D. was observed, by a prying wag, through the crevice of the stage door, settling the composer's neckcloth, or chinbib; which done, the lady bestowed on her beloved a kiss. The same prying wight also observed Miss Dibdin, an amiable and beautiful young girl of about 17, through the Venetian blind of the opposite box, and said, on the performer taking his seat, unconscious, no doubt, of her being his daughter, "Dibdin, I say, Dibdin, why did not you take your rosin from t'other side ?"

MACKLIN, AS SHYLOCK."

MACKLIN was very particular in Shylock; so much so, that he requested Bobby Bates, who performed the part of Tubal, not to speak until he saw him standing on a certain spot; "nay," said Macklin, "not till you see me place my right foot on this nail," (pointing with his stick to the head of a large nail which was driven into the stage.) Bobby promised to remember the old

man's instruction; and, that he might have a better view of the nail, he marked it in a conspicuous manner with a piece of chalk. At night, Macklin had forgotten the nail; therefore, when Tubal entered, and remained, for some time, without speaking, Macklin exclaimed, in an under voice, "Why the d-1 don't you speak?"— "Sir," replied Bobby, "put your right foot upon the nail." This so disconcerted the veteran that it was with great difficulty he finished the part.

LOUIS XIV., AND MOLIERE.

LOUIS XIV. was informed, that the officers of his household had expressed, in a most offensive manner, how much they were mortified at being obliged to dine at the table du controleur de la bouche, with Moliere, valet de chambre to the King, because he performed as a comedian; and that celebrated genius had absented himself from their dinners. Louis, desirous of putting an end to the insults offered to one of the first men of the age, said, one morning, to Moliere, They tell me, that you make meagre fare here, and that the officers of my chamber do not think you fit to eat with them. Perhaps you are hungry; I wake, myself, with a good appetite; sit

Mo

down to table, and let us have breakfast." liere and his majesty took their seats; Louis helped his valet to the wing of a fowl, and himself to another, and ordered the entrées familières to be admitted. The most distinguished and favoured of the household made their appearance. “You see," said the king, "I am feeding Moliere, whom my valets-de-chambre do not think sufficiently good company for them." From that moment, Moliere had no occasion to present himself at the -table of persons on service, as all the court were pressing in their offers of service.

EPIGRAM ON THE LATE J. P. KEMBLE,

When he superintended the re-building of CoventGarden Theatre.

Actor, and Architect, he tries

To please the Critics one and all :
This bids the private tiers to rise,

And that the Public tears to fall.

GEORGE AND DAVID GARRICK.

GEORGE, the brother of the celebrated David Garrick, was particularly attentive to him, and, on coming behind the scenes, usually inquired," Has David wanted me?" On its being once asked, how George came to die so soon after the demise of