The Lion's Masquerade
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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;Enrag’d at this racket so much out of season,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.That the concert was exquisite, all were agreed,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,Has excited such rapture, and warm approbation,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 time now to due preparation,To decide on their character, dress, decoration.At length Phœbus dawn’d on the long wish’d-for dayWhich their beauty, their talents, and wit should display.What licking, and cleaning, what endless adorning,Not a creature stirr’d out the whole course of the morning;And some of their dresses were barely complete,At the time they were punctually order’d to meet,The Lioness, willing to sanction the rest,With a helmet, and spear, as Britannia was drest;But the Lion, as lord of the banquet, remain’dIn the same noble figure that Nature ordain’d;And crouching beside her, with dignified mien,Contributed much to the state of his Queen.The Jackal Lord Chamberlain waited upon her,And two little Lap-dogs as Pages of Honour:While twelve Orang-Outangs were station’d without,To usher the company in, and about.At the hour which his King had thought proper to name,The Horse, as the Hounyhm of Gulliver came;Unaccustomed to “utter the thing that is not,”1He reach’d, at the moment he promis’d, the spot.The Fox then appear’d on a different scent,On foul depredation, and villainy bent;And the dress of a country attorney he chose,To his purpose best suited, as all the world knows!With looks as impatient, and teeming with sin,The Wolf in Sheep’s-clothing was next usher’d in.The guests now came thronging in numbers untold,The furious, the gentle, the young and the old.In dominos some, but in characters most,And now a brave warrior, and then a fair toast.The Baboon, as a Counsellor; Alderman, Glutton;A Lamb, Miss in her teens, with her aunt, an old mutton.It was easy to see, as this couple past by,The Wolf, very knowingly, cast a Sheep’s eye.And now at the door was a terrible clatter,The beasts all about wonder’d what was the matter.A poor Cat in pattens came running so fast,Her ticket was almost forgot as the past;But there was, it appear’d, quite enough to alarm her,For close at her heels came a great Hog in armour.Then follow’d his friend in a very large wigAs a deep read professor– the fam’d learned Pig—A Bear came as Caliban, loaded with wood,His bones full of aches from Prospero’s rod.The Greyhound as Vanity holding a glass,The Stag, as Actæon; King Midas, the Ass.And next them a sullen, and obstinate Mule,As a Dunce, who had just been expell’d from his school.The Mastiff a brave English sailor appear’d,No friend he betray’d, and no enemy fear’d:Britannia receiv’d him with mark’d condescension,And paid him all night, most distinguished attention.Now skipping along on the tip of his toe,Came a chattering Monkey, a Frenchifi’d beau:And reeling behind, in an officer’s dress,Was his pert younger brother, just come from the mess;With manners as forward, and strut as complete,As other young Ensigns you see in the street.The Bull came as Taurus, all studded with stars;Capricornus, the Goat; a Bull-dog, as Mars.Now refreshments by order were handed about,And the dancing commenc’d with a terrible rout;When suddenly silence pervaded the throng,Some Eastern grandees were conducted along.Attendants preceded with all due decorum,And Spaniels, as courtiers, came fawning before ’em.No longer in servitude bending the knee,And destin’d, the first of his kind, to be free,The Camel approach’d, with magnificence drestAs a Nabob, who lately arriv’d from the East.From the Island of Ceylon an Elephant came,In costume complete, as the King of Siam:Thence follow’d a Native of snowy white race,Respect and affection, were mark’d in his face,An appendage of grandeur, with chowries hung round,And tissu’d embroidery that trail’d on the ground;Round his tusks precious stones, gold, and diamonds were set,He was one splendid mass from his head to his feet.The Tiger, a fierce Indian Chief, in the rear,Many foreigners too of distinction were there.This magnificent group so astonish’d the crowd,That some, in their rapture, applauded aloud.Supper now was announc’d; with a terrible crush,To the door did the ravenous visitants rush:For some time none could pass, but the first that were able,Found, Glutton the Alderman, seated at table.At the banquet the guests in amazement were lost,And the King of Siam took the right of his host.Beside him, a vase fill’d with water was plac’d,Of chrystal, and gold, very skilfully chac’d:With flow’rs of the orange the handles were bound,And Otto of Roses was sprinkled around —Before him were cocoa nuts, figs, wheat, and rice,The wood of acacia, banana, and spice:With arrack, and every delicate wine,That each nation can press from the clustering vine.To proceed were but tedious; for every beast,As well as the Elephant, found a rich feast.And now their great Monarch, who quitted his seat,With an air of true majesty said, “I entreat,As he fears my displeasure, that every creature,Will to-night lay aside all that’s bad in his nature.You have heard with what harmony Birds can retire,And their conduct in this respect all must admire.In the feather’d race here an example we find,Far better than that which is set by Mankind.How oft have their galas a tragical end,One loses a mistress, another a friend —The wife of a third has elop’d from a ball,A fourth the next day in a duel must fall.Yes! such are the fatal effects of excess,Which reason was given to man to repress.But now let us tell them, with pride, in their feasts,To copy the Insects, the Birds, and the Beasts.”The effect of his speech was immediately seen,They all roar’d “Rule Britannia” in praise of his Queen.And as soon as their Monarch had quitted the room,Without growl, grunt, or grumble, they all scrambled home.FINIS1
Vide Gulliver’s Travels.