| Citation |
RG-C.782.072
8-12 Jun 1782:21 (2/134)
[London] The following ingenious piece of levity was
occasioned by a laughable circumstance that happened at the
Ball at St. James's on her Majesty's last birth night. By
the Royal Couple are meant the Prince of Wales and the
Princess Royal; it being the etiquette at St. James's that
those of the highest rank should dance together,
notwithstanding, as in the present instance, any
relationship of the partners.
'Twas at the Birth-night ball, Sir,
God bless our gracious Queen,
Where people great and small, Sir,
Are on a footing seen;
As down the dance,
With heels from France,
A Royal couple flew,
Though well she tripp'd,
The lady slipp'd,
And off she cast her shoe,
Doodle, doodle, doo,
The P----ss lost her shoe;
Her Highness hopp'd,
The fidlers stopp'd,
Now knowing what to do.
-----
Amaz'd at such a pause, Sir,
The dancers to a man,
Eager to hear the cause, Sir,
Around the Princess ran,
Lord Hertford too,
Like light'ning flew,
And tho' unus'd to truckle,
Laid down his wand,
And lent a hand,
Her royal shoe to buckle,
Doodle, doodle, doo, &c.
-----
The vestal maids of honour,
Attentive to their duty,
All crouded close upon her,
The Prince survey'd their beauty,
Admir'd their zeal,
For a partner's heel,
But told them he conceiv'd
Though some false steps,
Made demi-reps,
This soon might be retriev'd.
Doodle, doodle, doo, &c.
-----
The Princess soon was shod, Sir,
And soon the dance went on:
'Tis said some guardian God, Sir,
Came down to get it done;
Perhaps 'tis true,
Old England too
Might dance from night to noon,
If slips of state
Amongst the great,
Were mended half as soon.
Doodle, doodle, doo,
Egad 'tis very true,
Or late or soon
They're out of tune,
And know not what to do.
|