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REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE TO GEORGE II. |
637 |
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R. Leveri
When mighty roast beef was the Englishman's food, [blood;
It ennobled our hearts, and enriched our Our soldiers were brave, and our courtiers were good. Oh, the roast beef of old England! And oh, for old England's roast beef!
But since we have learn'd from effeminate
France To eat their ragouts, as well as to dance, Wi! are fed up with nothing but vain complaisance.
Oh, the roast beef, &c.
Our fathers of old were robust, stout, and
strong, [long.
And kept open house, with good cheer all day
Which made their plump tenants rejoice in
Oh, the roast beef, &c. [this song. |
dge's Song.
When good Queen Elizabeth sat on the throne, Ere coffee and tea, and such slip-slops were
known, The world was in terror if e'en she did frown. Oh, the roast beef, &c.
In those days, if fleets did presume on the
main, They seldom or never return'd back again; As witness the vaunting Armada of Spain. Oh, the roast beef, &c.
Oh, then we had stomachs to eat and to fight, And when wrongs were cooking, to set ourselves right; But now we're a—hm!—I could, but good night.
Oh, the roast beef of old England ! And oh, for old England's roast beef! |
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Many other songs have been written to this tune, one in praise of old English brown beer, and several anti-Jacobite songs; but the new application of the fable of the Frog and the Ox, written by Hogarth's friend, Theophilus Forest, as an illustration for his picture of " The Gate of Calais," must not be omitted. |
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THE ROAST BEEF CANTATA. |
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'Twas at the gate of Calais, Hogarth tells,
Where sad despair and famine always dwells,
A meagre Frenchman, Madame Grand-sire's cook, [took.
Ah home he steered, his carcase that way
Bending beneath the weight of famed Sirloin, [dine,
On whom he'd often wish'd in vain to
Good Father Dominick by chance came by, [eye;
With rosy gills, round paunch, and greedy
Who, when he first beheld the greasy
load, His benediction on it he bestowed; And as the solid fat his fingers press'd, He lick'd his chaps, and thus the knight
address'd:
" Oh, rare roast beef, lov'd by all man-
If I was doom'd to have thee, [kind,
When dress'd and garnish'd to my mind, |
And swimming in thy gravy, Not all thy country's force combin'd Should from my fury save thee.
Kenown'd sirloin, ofttimes decreed
. The theme of English ballad; On thee e'en kings have deign'd to feed,
Unknown to Frenchmen's palate : Then how much more thy taste exceeds
Soup meagre, frogs, and sallad! "
A half-starv'd soldier, shirtless, pale, and
lean, Who such a sight before had never seen, Like Garrick's frighted Hamlet, gaping
stood, [food.
And gazed with wonder on the British
His morning's mess forsook the friendly bowl, [stole;
And in small streams along the pavement
He lieav'd a sigh which gave his heart relief, [grief:
And then in plaintive tone declared his |
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