THE 
 
 LION'S MASQUERADE, 
 
 A 
 
 SEQUEL 
 
 TO THE 
 
 PE A COCK A T II M E. 
 
 WRITTEN 
 By A LADY. 
 ILLUSTRATED WITH ELEGANT ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. HARRIS, SUCCESSOR TO E. NEWBERV, CORNER 
 OF ST. FAUL's CHURCH-YARD ; AND B. TABART, 
 OLD BOND-STREET. 
 
 1808. 
 
RSJdbJ SriJiS5S7"5reSt Ntw street, fStS 
 
THE 
 
 JON'S MASQUERADE. 
 
 S Aurora stept forth from the gates of the East, 
 Sth her garland of roses, and dew.spangled vest, 
 clamour unusual assaulted her ear, 
 Jtcad of the Lark, and her friend Chanticleer, 
 ; least though their voices she sometimes could tra< < , 
 ej seem'd oyerpowerM by the whole feather'd jmcc s 
 W such \ V as the chirping, and fluttering tben v 
 |rou?Al an old Lion asleep in his den ; 
 
Enrag'd at this racket so much out of season, 
 
 He, roaring, sent out to ask what was the reason, 
 
 And the Jackal soon learnt from some stragglers about* 
 
 'Twas the company come from Sir Argus's rout. 
 
 The gay feather' } d peofile pursuing their flight, 
 
 \\\ pe soon out of hearing, and soon out of sight. 
 
 But the King of the Quadrupeds vainly sought rest, 
 
 For something like envy had poison'd his breast. 
 
 What then were his feelings the following day, 
 
 When every creature he met on his way, 
 
 Could talk about nothing both early and late, 
 
 But the Peacock's most sumptuous and elegant f£te. 
 
 His name, through the woods as he wandei 'd along, 
 
 Was still made the burthen of every song. 
 
That the concert was exquisite, all were agreed, 
 
 And so were the ball, and the supper indeed, 
 
 The company too of the very first rank, 
 
 And the wit that prevail'd, and the toasts that were drank 
 
 He found to his infinite rage and vexation, 
 
 'Twas the favourite subject half over die nation ; 
 
 And feeling no longer a relish to roam, 
 
 He return'd to his Lioness, sullenly, home. 
 
 " Fair consort of mine, 'tis our pleasure/' he said, 
 
 " To give very shortly, a grand Masquerade. 
 
 " Tho' the Butterfly's ball, and the Grasshopper's 
 
 « Were too mean for my notice, as King of the beasts ; 
 
 " Now the Peacock has chosen to give a fine rout, 
 
 " Winch is heard of so much, is so blazon'd about, 
 
6 
 
 " Has excited such rapture, and warm approbation, 
 
 N As threatens the rank which we hold in creation. 
 
 " Then with diligence, love, for my banquet prepare, 
 
 * And mind all the beasts of the forest are there. " 
 
 'Twas the task of the Jackal the tickets to pen, 
 
 " The Lion sees -masks, on the twentieth, at ten,'* 
 
 It would take a whole volume distinctly to name, 
 
 The answer on answer that following came. 
 
 There were some that were sick from the changeable weath< 
 
 And some long engag'd in snug parties together. 
 
 But few, very few, would refuse such a thing, 
 
 As a grand entertainment announe'd by their King. 
 
 All devoted the time now to due preparation, 
 
 To decide on their character, dress, decoration, 
 
7 
 
 At length Phccbus dawird on the long wish'd-fol it) 
 
 Which their beauty, their talents, and wit should dispk^i 
 
 What licking, and cleaning, what endless adorning) 
 
 Not a creature stirr'd out the whole course of the morning 
 
 And some of their dresses were barely complete, 
 
 At the time they were Delictually order'd to meet, 
 
 The Lioness, willirig to sanction the reStj 
 
 With a helmet, ahd spear. . fei&baui was drest ; 
 
 Bot the Lion, as lord of the banquet, remained 
 
 In the same noble figure that Nature ordain'd ; 
 
 And crouching beside her, with dignified mien, 
 
 Contributed much to the state of his Queen. 
 
 The Jackal Lord Chamberlain waited upon her, 
 
 And two I'itth J -M-P'-cs as Pdges of Hun oar t 
 
8 
 
 While twelve Ourang-Outancs were station'd without, 
 
 To usher the company in, and about. 
 
 At the hour which his King had thought proper to name, 
 
 The Horse, as the Hounyhm of Gulliver came ; 
 
 Unaccustomed to " utter the thing that is not,"* 
 
 He reach'd, at the moment he promis'd, the spot. 
 
 The Fox then appeared on a different scent, 
 
 On foul depredation, and villainy bent ; 
 
 And the dress of a. country attorney he chose, 
 
 To his purpose best suited, as all the world knows ! 
 
 With looks as impatient, and teeming with sin, 
 
 The Wolf in Sheep' s-elot.hing was next usher'd in. 
 
 * Vi'ic Gulliver's Trivets. 
 
9 
 
 The guests now came thronging in numbers untold, 
 
 The furious, the gentle, the young and the old. 
 
 In dominos some, but in characters most, 
 
 And now a brave warrior, . and then a fair toast. 
 
 The Baboon, as a Counsellor ; Alderman Glutton ; 
 
 A Lamb, Miss h her teens, with her mint an old mutton* 
 
 It was easy to see, as this couple past by, 
 
 The Wolf, very knowingly, cast a SheejSs eye. 
 
 And now at the door was a terrible clatter, 
 
 The beasts all about wonder'd what was the matter, 
 
 A poor Cat in flattens came running so fast* 
 
 Her ticket was almost forgot as she y 
 
to 
 
 i'n; iherc WSS, it appear'd, quite enough to alarm her ; 
 
 fiti i lose to lief heels came R frr^/ Hog in arraoiify 
 
 Thefl follow'd his friend in 3 very large wig 
 
 As a Jfcjfc read firofisi or *~;the fam'd learned Pig— 
 
 A i3ii Att. came as OalibMi loaded with wood* 
 
 tiia bones full G&atfceJ from Prosperous rod* 
 
 The GreykoI'KD as Vanity holding a glass, 
 
 The Stag, as AcU6n j Kiilg Midas, the As 3^ 
 And next theni a Mullen, arid obstinate Mui/E* 
 Ai a Dunccy who had just been expelFd from his school * 
 "The Mastiff a WilTO English iallaf appear'd) 
 be l<etray'd, and ncf ertemy fear'd j 
 
Britannia receiv'd him with niark'd condescension 
 And paid him all night most distinguished attention 
 Now skipping along on the tip of hia toe, 
 Came a chattering Monkev, a Frenchifi'd beau « 
 And reeling behind, in an officer's dreis, 
 Was his pert younger brother, just come from the mess 
 With manners as forward, and strut as complete, 
 As other young Ensigns you see in the street, 
 The Bull came as Taurus, all studded with stars j 
 Capricornus, the Goat; a Bull-dog, a* Mars* 
 Now refreshments by order were handed about/ 
 And the dancing cemmene'd with a terrible rou! j 
 
12 
 
 When suddenly silence pervaded the throng, 
 Some Eastern grandees were conducted along. 
 Attendants preceded with all due decorum, 
 And Spaniels, as courtiers, came fawning before 'em. 
 No longer in servitude bending the knee, 
 And destin'd, the first of his kind, to be free, 
 The Camel approach'd, with magnificence drest 
 As a Nabob, who lately arriv'd from the Ea-t. 
 From the Island of Ceylon an Elephant came, 
 In costume complete, as the King of Si am : 
 Thence follow'd a Nathe of snowy white race, 
 Respect and affection were mark'd in his £ >cc, 
 
13 
 
 An appendage of grandeur, with chowries hung round, 
 
 And tissu'd embroidery that traiPd on the ground ; 
 
 Round his tusks precious stones, gold, and diamonds were set, 
 
 He was one splendid mass from his head to his feet. 
 
 The Tiger, z fierce Indian Chief, in the rear, 
 
 Many foreigners too of distinction were there. 
 
 This magnificent group so astonish'd the crowd, 
 
 That some, in their rapture, applauded aloud. 
 
 bper now was announe'd ; with a terrible crush, 
 
 jo the door did the ravenous visitants rush : 
 
 or some time none could pass, but the first that were able, 
 
 pund Glutton the Alderman, seated at table. 
 
14 
 
 At the baficjuet the guests in amazement were lo>- , 
 And the King of Slam took the right of his host, 
 Beside him, a vase fill'd with water was plac'd, 
 Of chrystal, and gold, very skilfully chae'd : 
 With flow'rs of the -orange the handles were bound, 
 And Otto of Roses was sprinkled around — • & 
 Before him were cocoa nuts, figs, wheat, and rice, 
 The wood of acacia, banana, and spice ; 
 With arrack, and every delicate wine, 
 That each nation can press from the clustering n&< I 
 To proceed were but tedious ; for every beast) 
 A* well as the Elephant, found a rich feast; 
 
II 
 
 Atii now their great Mqnarch, who quitted his seat* 
 With an air of true majesty said, « I entreat, 
 « As he fears my displeasure, that eyery creature 
 M Will to night lay aside alj that'* bqjl in his nafure, 
 p< You haye heard with what harmony i?/>*/f can retire, 
 " And their conduct in this respect all mint admire, 
 
 In the feathered race here an example we find> 
 " Far fetter than that which is set by Mankind, 
 H How oft haye their gala's a tragical end, 
 
 One loses a mistress, another a friend—, 
 " The wife of a third has elop'd from a ball, 
 " A fourth the next day in a 4uel mu.-t faJJ, 
 
16 
 
 « Yes ! such are the fatal effects of excess, 
 
 " Which reason was given to man to repress. 
 
 " But now let us tell them, with pride, in their feats, 
 
 " To copy the Insects, the Birds, and the Beasts." 
 
 The effect of his speech was immediately seen, 
 
 They all roar'd " Rule Britannia" in praise of his Queen. 
 
 And as soon as their Monarch had quitted the room, 
 
 Without growl, grunt, or grumble, they all scrambled home. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Printed by £, Hemsted, Great New stmt, Fetter-lane,