re flew,
And with it every grace and muse withdrew.
But far, or long, the wanderer could not roam,
For wit and taste soon brought the truant home!
One tuneful sonnet at her feet it sung,
Then to her breast, its snowy mansion, sprung;
Thither it went, the virtues in its train,
To hail the panting blessing back again.
On its fair throne it now appears as Queen,
And sheds its lustre o'er this humble scene;
Its radiant sceptre deigns o'er me to spread
The genial beams which fancy feign'd were fled.
Ah, no! her gentle heart this night is here;
Where'er 'tis wanted-you will find it there:
In vain the Muse shall fix it on the floor,
It knocks this ev'ning at the Lecturer's door,
And smiles, with him, that riot is no more.
LECTURE ON HEADS.
PART I.
{1}Every single speaker, who, like me, attempts to entertain an
audience, has not only the censure of that assembly to dread, but also
every part of his own behaviour to fear. The smallest error of voice,
judgment, or delivery, will be noted: "All that can be presumed upon in
his favour is, _a hope_ that he may meet with that indulgence which
an English audience are so remarkable _for_, and that every exhibition
stands so much in need _of_."
This method of lecturing is a very ancient custom; Juno, the wife of
Jupiter, being the first who gave her husband a lecture, and, from the
place wherein that oration was supposed to have been delivered, they
have always, since that time, been called _curtain lectures_.
{2}But, before I pretend to make free with other people's heads, it may
be proper to say something upon my own, if upon my own any thing could
be said to the purpose; but, after many experiments, finding I could not
make any thing of my own, I have taken the liberty to try what I could
do by exhibiting a Collection of Heads belonging to other people. But
here is a head [shews Stevens''s head] I confess I have more than once
wished on my own shoulders: but I fear my poor abilities will bring
a blush into its cheeks. In this head Genius erected a temple to
Originality, where Fancy and Observation resided; and from their union
sprang this numerous and whimsical progeny. This is the head of George
Alexander Stevens, long known and long respected; a man universally
acknowledged of infinite wit and most excellent fancy; one who gave
peculiar grace to the jest, and could set the tab
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