_Number Xvii._

IRREGULAR ODE FOR MUSIC,

BY THE REV. DR. PRETTYMAN.

The Notes (except those wherein Latin is concerned) by JOHN ROBINSON, Esq.

RECITATIVE, by Double Voices. Hail to the LYAR! whose all-persuasive strain, Wak'd by the master-touch of art, And prompted by th' inventive brain, Winds its sly way into the easy heart.

SOLO. Hark! do I hear the golden tone?-- Responsive now! and now alone! Or does my fancy rove? Reason-born Conviction, hence! And phrenzy-rapt be ev'ry sense, With the Untruth I love. Propitious Fiction aid the song; Poet and Priest to thee belong.

SEMI-CHORUS. By thee inspir'd, ere yet the tongue was glib, The cradled infant lisp'd the nurs'ry fib; Thy vot'ry in maturer youth, Pleas'd, he renounc'd the name of truth; And often dar'd the specious to defy, Proud of th' expansive, bold, uncover'd lie.

AIR. Propitious FICTION, hear! And smile, as erst thy father smil'd Upon his first-born child, Thy sister dear; When the nether shades among, Sin from his forehead sprung.

FULL CHORUS. Grand deluder! arch impostor! Countervailing Orde and Foster! Renoun'd Divine! The palm is thine: Be thy name or sung or hist, Alone it stands--CONSPICUOUS FABULIST!

RECITATIVE for the celebrated Female Singer from Manchester. Symphony of Flutes--pianissimo.

Now in cotton robe array'd, Poor Manufacture, tax-lamenting maid, Thy story heard by her devoted wheel, Each busy-sounding spindle hush'd--

FUGUE. Now, dreading Irish rape, Quick shifting voice and shape--

DEEP BASS, from Birmingham. With visage hard, and furnace flush'd, And black-hair'd chest, and nerve of steel, The sex-chang'd listner stood In surly pensive mood.

AIR, accompanied with double Bassoons, &c. While the promise-maker spoke The anvil miss'd the wonted stroke; In air suspended hammers hung, While Pitt's own frauds came mended from that tongue.

PART OF CHORUS REPEATED. Renown'd Divine, &c.

AIR. Sooth'd with the sound the Priest grew vain, And all his tales told o'er again, And added hundreds more; By turns to this, or that, or both, He gave the sanction of an oath, And then the whole forswore. "Truth," he sung, "was toil and trouble, Honour but an empty bubble"-- Glo'ster's aged--London dying-- Poor, too poor, is simple lying! If the lawn be worth thy wearing, Win, oh! win it, by thy swearing!

FULL CHORUS REPEATED. Grand deluder! arch-impostor, &c.

PART II.

RECITATIVE accompanied. Enough the parents praise--see of Deceit The fairer progeny ascends! Evasion, nymph of agile feet, With half-veil'd face; Profession, whispering accents sweet And many a kindred Fraud attends; Mutely dealing courtly wiles, Fav'ring nods, and hope-fraught smiles, A fond, amusive, tutelary race, That guard the home-pledg'd faith of Kings-- Or flitting, light, on paper wings; Speed Eastern guile across this earthly ball, And waft it back from Windsor to Bengal. But chiefly thee I woo, of changeful eye, In courts y'clept Duplicity! Thy fond looks on mine imprinting, Vulgar mortals call it squinting-- Baby, of Art and Int'rest bred, } Whom, stealing to the back-stairs head } in fondling arms--with cautious tread, } Wrinkle-twinkle Jenky bore, To the baize-lin'd closet door.

AIR. Sweet nymph, that liv'st unseen Within that lov'd recess-- Save when the Closet Councils press, And junto's speak the thing they mean; Tell me, ever-busy power, Where shall I trace thee in that vacant hour? Art thou content, in the sequester'd grove, To play with hearts and vows of love! Or emulous of prouder sway, Dost thou to list'ning Senates take thy way? Thy presence let me still enjoy, With Rose, and the lie-loving boy.

AIR. No rogue that goes Is like that Rose, Or scatters such deceit: Come to my breast-- There ever rest Associate counterfeit!