| Citation |
NYJ-N.769.029
2 Mar 1769:22 (1365)
From the General Evening Post, London, Nov.29. [allegory
about 4 brothers: Bouncing Will, 'Squire Gawky, Gentle
George, and Jemmy Trimmer.] This fraternity, Sir, would be
ever standing up in the grand dance of state, and extremely
fond of it they were; always at it, in and out, crossing and
turning, zig-zag, right-hand and left. But I don't know how
it happened, they were generally divided, two in one set,
and two in another; they could never agree about calling a
tune, nor about the true method of footing.--In short, every
step of theirs seemed to be a fling aimed at the opposite
set, and all their motions tended to obstruct each other:
Bouncing Will had gone over to Hanover, where he learnt a
new dance called the Allemande, which he performed with
great applause from the boxes along with his 'Squire Gawky,
and so fond was he of this foreign jig, that he publickly
declared he preferred it to all the country dances he had
learnt in his youth. Embolden'd by so great success, he
wanted to open the next ball with a Spanish fandango, but he
gave himself such intolerable airs, that brother George and
the rest of the set would not suffer him to proceed; on
which he and Gawky in great dudgeon flounced out of the
house, swearing they would soon make it too hot for him.
George being now master of the ceremonies, made the music
play just as he pleased; and one night (after an extra dose
of cyder) he swore he would exhibit to the company a dance,
which had never been attempted but in North-America.--`Twas
in vain that his friends, observing the state of
intoxication he was in, endeavoured to dissuade him from
that attempt; George was obstinate as a mule, and called
aloud to the musick to play up yanky doodle, but the fidlers
not playing fast enough he roared and stamped at such a
rate, that some boards in the flooring gave way, and down he
went like a ghost in a tragedy:--Bounding Will became once
more master of the ceremonies; upon which 'Squire Gawky went
off, and joined brother George, whilst Jemmy Trimmer stuck
close to Bounce, still keeping up the equal division of the
brotherhood, two against two. In this manner things have
continued for some time; but at last, common fame reports,
that there is likely to be an Unitas Fratrum, a general
reconciliation of all four; and that this grand partie
qaarree, after dancing the Hayes most amicably in the county
of Kent, will sacrifice to the Goddess Concord in the county
of Bucks, And is it possible? Then miracles are not
ceased.--Shall Bouncing Will and Gentle George unite! Oil
and vinegar, fire and water, "serpentes avibus," et Tigribus
Agni . . . [20 more lines. Signed] Quidnunc.
|