TO THE SHADE OF ELLISTON
ArtthousowingthyWILDOATSyet(theharvesttimewasstilltoewiththee)uponcasualsandsofAvernus?orartthouenactingRover(aswewouldgladlierthink)bywanderingElysianstreams?
Thismortalframe,whilethoudidstplaythybriefanticsamongstus,wasintruthanythingbutaprisontothee,asthevainPlatonistdreamsofthisbodytobenobetterthanacountygaol,forsooth,ofsomehouseofdurancevile,whereofthefivesensesarethefetters.Thouknewestbetterthantobeinahurrytocastoffthosegyves;andhadnoticetoquit,Ifear,beforethouwertquitereadytoabandonthisfleshlytenement.ItwasthyPleasureHouse,thyPalaceofDaintyDevices;thyLouvre,orthyWhiteHall.
Whatnewmysteriouslodgingsdostthoutenantnow?orwhenmayweexpectthyaerialhouse-warming?
Tartarusweknow,andwehavereadoftheBlessedShades;nowcannotIintelligiblyfancytheeineither.
Isittoomuchtohazardaconjecture,that(astheschoolmenadmittedareceptacleapartforPatriarchsandun-chrisomBabes)theremayexist——notfarperchancefromthatstorehouseofallvanities,whichMiltonsawinvisions——aLIMBOsomewhereforPLAYERS?andthat
Upthitherlikeaerialvapoursfly
BothallStagethings,andallthatinStagethings
Builttheirfondhopesofglory,orlastingfame?
AlltheunacplishdworksofAuthorshands,
Abortive,monstrous,orunkindlymixd,
Damnduponearth,fleetthither——
Play,Opera,Farce,withalltheirtrumpery——
There,bytheneighbouringmoon(bysomenotimproperlysupposedthyRegentPlanetuponearth)maystthounotstillbeactingthymanagerialpranks,greatdisembodiedLessee?butLesseestill,andstillaManager.
InGreenRooms,impervioustomortaleye,themusebeholdstheewieldingposthumousempire.
ThinghostsofFigurantes(neverplumponearth)circletheeinendlessly,andstilltheirsongisFyeonsinfulPhantasy.
Magnificentwerethycapricciosonthisglobeofearth,ROBERTWilliamElliston!forasyetweknownotthynewnameinheaven.
Itirksmetothink,that,striptofthyregalities,thoushouldstferryOver,apoorforkedshade,incrazyStygianwherry.MethinksIheartheoldboatman,paddlingbytheweedywharf,withraucidvoice,bawling"Sculls,Sculls:"towhich,withwavinghand,andmajesticaction,thoudeignestnoreply,otherthanintwocurtmonosyllables,"No:Oars."
ButthelawsofPlutoskingdomknowsmalldifferencebetweenking,andcobbler;manager,andcall-boy;and,ifhaplyyourdatesoflifewereconterminant,youarequietlytakingyourpassage,cheekbycheek(OignoblelevellingofDeath)withtheshadeofsomerecentlydepartedcandle-snuffer.
Butmercy!whatstrippings,whattearingoffofhistrionicrobes,andprivatevanities!whatdenudationstothebone,beforethesurlyFerrymanwilladmityoutosetafootwithinhisbatteredliner!
Crowns,sceptres;shield,sword,andtruncheon;thyowncoronationrobes(forthouhastbroughtthewholepropertymanswardrobewiththee,enoughtosinkanavy);thejudgesermine;thecoxbswig;thesnuff-boxalaFoppington——allmustoverboard,hepositivelyswears——andthatancientmarinerbrooksnodenial;for,sincethetiresomemonodrameoftheoldThracianHarper,Charon,itistobebelieved,hathshownsmalltastefortheatricals,
Aye,now`tisdone,Youarejustboatweight;puraetputaanima.
Butblessme,howlittleyoulook!
Soshallwealllook——kings,andkeysars——striptforthelastvoyage.
Butthemurkyroguepushesoff,Adieu,pleasant,andthricepleasantshade!withmypartingthanksformanyaheavyhouroflifelightenedbythyharmlessextravaganzas,publicordomestic,
Rhadamanthus,whotriesthelightercausesbelow,leavingtohistwobrethrentheheavycalendars——honestRhadamanth,alwayspartialtoplayers,weighingtheirparti-colouredexistencehereuponearth,——makingaccountofthefewfoibles,thatmayhaveshadedthyreallifeaswecallit,(though,substantially,scarcelylessavapourthanthyidlestvagariesupontheboardsofDrury,)asbutofsomanyechoes,naturalrepercussions,andresultstoheexpectedfromtheassumedextravaganciesofthysecondaryormocklife,nightlyuponastage——afteralenientcastigation,withrodslighterthanthoseMeduseanringlets,butjustenoughto"whiptheoffendingAdamoutofthee"——shallcourteouslydismisstheeattherighthandgate——theO.P.sideofHades——thatconductstomasques,andmerry-makings,intheTheatreRoyalofProserpine
PLAUDITO,ETVALETO.