- Museum number
- 1861,0518.1238
- Title
- Object: Bonaparte. Written by Mr Lawler; introduced by Mr Elliston, and sung by him, with unbounded applause, in the character of Sylvester Daggerwood, at the Surry Theatre
- Description
-
Heading to (printed) verses 'Written by Mr. Lawler; introduced by Mr. Elliston, and Sung by him, with unbounded Applause, in the Character of Sylvester Daggerwood, at the Surry Theatre'. The corner of a small stage, seen diagonally from the pit, part of the first row of which, with the heads of the musicians, forms the foreground; on the left is a crowded stage-box. On the stage Elliston sings, grinning broadly. He wears the ragged, makeshift, but quasi-Spanish dress of the unsuccessful provincial actor, typified by 'Sylvester Daggerwood'. The spectators in the pit register absorbed and delighted amusement, as do some of those in the box, where one man holds a 'Book of Songs', and a playbill is displayed: 'Surry Theatre- Silvester Daggerwood'. In the verses the titles of and allusions to plays are in italics:
'All the World is a Stage' it's well known,
'Life's a Chapter of Accidents,' too, Sir;
'Everyone has his Fault', we must own,
Whether Musselman, 'Quaker', or 'Jew', Sir,
While the brisk 'Wheel of Fortune' goes round,
To 'Laugh when you can' is most hearty,
Wherever the cause can be found,
From 'Tom Thumb' to the great Bonaparte
Tol de roll, &c.
If the 'World' this vast hero had got,
'Hit' or 'Miss', he would wish to drive further;
I will not decide, 'Knave or not'
But 'tis plain he thinks 'Killing no Murder',
He's as choleric, too, as 'King Lear'
And some say, 'Tis well it 's no worse', Sir;
He a sad 'Jealous Wife' made last year,
When he slyly got up the 'Divorce', Sir.
He found an odd 'Way to get Married',
'The Honey-Moon' pass'd without strife, Sir;
And tho' he his point snugly carried,
It was a 'Bold stroke for a Wife', Sir.
Josephine, like a sad 'Mourning Bride',
Saw Hymen's soft fetters undone, Sir;
And the poor 'Son in Law' thrust aside
To make way for the 'Doubtful Son', Sir.
Tol de rol, &c.
When he finds 'Ways and Means' rather bare,
In his 'Cabinet' such the hard plan is,
The 'Dutch Merchant' he never will spare,
Any more than the 'Merchant of Venice'.
He's fortune's 'Spoil'd Child', people say,
Such luck tho' we don't often meet, Sir;
There's always the 'Devil to pay',
When he meets with the 'English Fleet', Sir.
Of his 'Brothers', too, something I'll say
They're not o'erfond of his laurels;
And prudently, some run away
'Cause they do not like 'Family Quarrels'.
But this is no ill-natur'd age,
Humanity's spark will not cool, Sir;
And the 'Exile' that flies from his 'Rage'
Will meet a kind friend in 'John Bull', Sir.
Tol de rol, &c.
Plate numbered 519.
25 March 1811.
Etching with letterpress
- Production date
- 1811
- Dimensions
-
Height: 182 millimetres
-
Height: 300 millimetres
-
Width: 228 millimetres (platemark)
-
Width: 240 millimetres (sheet)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1861
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1861,0518.1238
