| Citation |
MG-A(G.773.044
24 Jun 1773:41,42,43 (1450)
A New Edition of the Answer to the Letter of Thanks,
address'd by the Representatives of the City of Annapolis to
the First Citizen, with notes.
That I've "merited well," no proof can require;
For, depend on't, I know, il faut se fair valoir:
Which, more meo, I'll, lib'rally, translate,
I'm a damnable, clever, little Barber, I'll say't:
. . . [30 lines]
Mark well what I say: whilst Antilon stands,
(For, the rest are but puppets, play'd by his hands,
Save honest Jack Peachum, who's as close as a snail,
. . . [11 lines]
Nor can H---d, again, stand forth to confound,
By the drums and the fife h , his musick you drown'd.
. . . [28 more lines, signed] First Citizen.
[Footnote h] It is congruous to probability, that herein is
contained an allusion to the present, novel fashion albeit
favouring more of faction, and the ancient form of military
election, than the fair and free proceeding of peaceful
citizens, to drown the voice of some dangerous orator, who
would distil the sweetness of instruction on his listening
countrymen by the clamorous report of the fife and drum.
And this putteth us in mind of what is recorded in the page
of William Shakespeare, Act IV. Scene V. that the usurper
Richard 3d drown'd, with the clamorous report of war; the
exclamations of the Queen, and his own mother, that they
might not be heard to rail at the monstrous crimes, the
forgeries, and destructive hypocrisy of him the lord's
anointed. The same William Shakespeare doth convey to us,
an apt idea of the fatal success, with which, certain puny
assailants in one united phalanx, attacked the persons above
marked out: the former being driven into retirement, there
to contemplate; the disgust and despair, the ruin he could
not prevent: and the latter, despoiled of his seat in the
publick assembly of the people, he thus singeth, on
occasion,
An Eagle tow'ring in his pride of place,
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.
Macb. Act. II, Scene VI. [signed] Anti Crispinus.
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