| Citation |
VGW(PA.737.071
16-23 Sep 1737:11 (60)
Madrid, May 6. The 2d instant being the festival of
St.Philip, the two infanta's gave Their Majesties and all
the court the diversion of a fine opera, which was executed
with a great deal of success by their Royal Highnesses; upon
which the King made the infant Don Philip a present of a
gold hearted cane, set with diamonds of a great value; His
Majesty made the like present to the Cardinal infant, and
gave likewise several fine jewels to the two infanta's. The
Queen made also a present of a gold snuff box, set with
diamonds to each of the infants, and some very rich toys to
the infanta's, for having perform'd their parts with so much
address.
It must certainly have been a most edifying sight to the
Spaniards, to see a Prince that may possibly be their King,
and a cardinal archbishop, their primate, strutting in
buskins on the stage, and acting parts, in which, with all
their address, they must never expect to equal the Strollers
of Italy. In our opinion, they made a more unnatural and
shocking figure, than Hercules with his distaff between his
legs, instead of his club, since any one spinner or weaver
is of more real value to a nation, than all the singers and
fiddlers in Italy: An article which we wish the l----ds of
the Hay Market would take into their consideration as
Englishmen. The money that is given to encourage the
vagabonds of Italy, for corrupting our virtue, and there-by
contributing to the ruin of our country, and consequently
the enslaving our posterity, would let some thousands of our
now unemploy'd wollen manufactures to work: This will draw
millions of present blessings upon those, whose memory, if
they don't change their conduct, may, perhaps, meet with as
many curses from our progeny, for that inundation of
corruption of our morals, they, at so high a price, are
daily bringing in upon us from Italy. It was not with a
parcel of effeminate so la-mi l---ds, and capering tuppeed
officers, that our gallant Black Prince won the famous
battles of Cressy and Poltiers, and took the French King
prisoner; it was not with a powder'd, essenc'd perfumed
army, that our great Henry the V, cut his way to the beggary
of France, through numberless hosts of bold Frenchmen,
commanded by two Kings in person, and emperor elect, a
multitude of Princes, and an intrepid nobility; it was not
with the disciples of the Hay-Market that our immortal
Marlborough, a name which, like Atlas bearing the heavens on
his shoulders, will still continue the honour and fame of
Britain, in spight of our present depravity, since his glory
can never die, nor his actions cease to be read without
wonder and astonishment; it was not with such disciples, I
say, such pretty male misses as I have seen making apes of
themselves in beating time to Farinelli with their heads,
that the invincible Marlborough snatch'd the empire out of
the claws of France, beat the French marshals all round to
ten years together, and brought their proud monarch, with
all the House of Bourbon, on their knees to Queen Anne; nor
is it by such didling fa-la-ing veterans that our ruined
merchants must ever hope to see satisfaction forced for them
from the insulting, depredating Spaniards. O Tempora! O
Mores!
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