قراءة كتاب The Lion's Masquerade A Sequel to The Peacock at Home
تنويه: تعرض هنا نبذة من اول ١٠ صفحات فقط من الكتاب الالكتروني، لقراءة الكتاب كاملا اضغط على الزر “اشتر الآن"
اللغة: English
The Lion's Masquerade A Sequel to The Peacock at Home
الصفحة رقم: 2
PEACOCK AT HOME.
WRITTEN
BY A LADY.
ILLUSTRATED WITH ELEGANT ENGRAVINGS.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J. HARRIS, SUCCESSOR TO E. NEWBERY, CORNER OF ST. PAUL’S CHURCH-YARD; AND B. TABART, OLD BOND-STREET.
1807.
[p2]
H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge-street, Blackfriars.
[p3]
THE
LION’s MASQUERADE.
As Aurora stept forth from the gates of the East,
With her garland of roses, and dew-spangled vest,
A clamour unusual assaulted her ear,
Instead of the Lark, and her friend Chanticleer,
At least though their voices she sometimes could trace,
They seem’d overpower’d by the whole feather’d race:
And such was the chirping, and fluttering then,
It rouz’d an old Lion asleep in his den;
He, roaring, sent out to ask what was the reason,
And the Jackal soon learnt from some stragglers about,
’Twas the company come from Sir Argus’s rout.
The gay feather’d people pursuing their flight,
Were soon out of hearing, and soon out of sight.
But the King of the Quadrupeds vainly sought rest,
For something like envy had poison’d his breast.
What then were his feelings the following day,
When every creature he met on his way,
Could talk about nothing, both early and late,
But the Peacock’s most sumptuous, and elegant fête.
His name, through the woods as he wander’d along,
Was still made the burthen of every song.
And so were the ball, and the supper indeed,
The company too of the very first rank,
And the wit that prevail’d, and the toasts that were drank:
He found to his infinite rage and vexation,
’Twas the favourite subject half over the nation;
And feeling no longer a relish to roam,
He return’d to his Lioness, sullenly, home.
“Fair consort of mine, ’tis our pleasure,” he said,
“To give very shortly, a grand Masquerade.
Tho’ the Butterfly’s ball, and the Grasshopper’s feasts,
Were too mean for my notice, as King of the beasts;
Now the Peacock has chosen to give a fine rout,
Which is heard of so much, is so blazon’d about,
As threatens the rank which we hold in creation.
Then with diligence, love, for my banquet prepare,
And mind all the beasts of the forest are there.”
’Twas the task of the Jackal the tickets to pen,
“The Lion sees masks, on the twentieth, at ten.”
It would take a whole volume distinctly to name,
The answer on answer that following came.
There were some that were sick from the changeable weather,
And some long engag’d in snug parties together.
But few, very few would refuse such a thing,
As a grand entertainment announc’d by their King.
All devoted the
