Transcription
The Manager of the Royal Amphitheatre, Mr. ASTLEY, jun. finished a most lucrative and splendid season last night; and as encouragement ever has been, and must at all times prove a stimulus to deserve it, the following Address, written by Mr. UPTON, and spoken by Mr. CONNELL, may not prove unacceptable to our readers:
Fashion, they say, beings many a thing in use,
And, back’d by time, does strange events produce.
’Tis true:—yet Fashion, howesoe’er held dear,
Brings not the humblest of your servants here.—
No; mine’s a task, I boldly can confess,
That spurns its striking aid in this address.
The theme I boast is sure a tribute due
For various favours here reciev’d from you;
Accept it then, nor deem the proffer rude,
Accept our Manager’s warmest gratitude.
By me he speaks, and truth each word conveys,
His proudest wish is e’er to gain your praise;
Sanction’d he is, and great’s the sanction too,
Which, through the season, he has met from you;
And, for such patronage, he can declare,
Nor pains, exertion, nor expence [sic] he’ll spare;
For, when again this scene we come before,
To hold your favour he will yet do more.
The House, which now your preference deigns to grace,
He hopes to shew you with a newer face;
For, tho’ old friends an’t wish’d for with new faces,
We sometimes find a pleasure in new places;
And such, he hopes, nor hopes without a reason,
You will find here in the ensuing season.
For this he leaves Hibernia’s fertile soil,
And winters here, to prosecute his toil;
Yet quits not Ireland for pecuniary ends,
For they, like you, have prov’d his best of friends:
No; ’tis his duties here demand his stay,
“For when the cat’s abroad, the mice will play.”
But tho’ from this we bid adieu to-night,
From west to east he only takes his flight:
There, Proteus-like, he means full oft, ’tis true,
To bring each varied excellence to view;
Change upon change, he hopes, in turn to show,
Yet hopes no change in your esteem to know:
Proud of such friendship, he’ll do all to serve it,
And use his best endeavour to deserve it.
For me, and those who act in the same cause,
Be our’s the task to merit your applause;
And, while possess’d of such distinguish’d treasure,
We’d prove we live but to obey—your pleasure.
