The Artists

PRUDE Pallas observ'd to the Demirep Queen,
Dear Venus, what is it these English folks mean?
Their Island is favour'd beyond other Isles,
'Twas I gave them Sapience, and you bestow'd Smiles;
Nay ev'ry Immortal a bounty has sent 'em,

The Goddess of Grace, in love's soft silver tone,
Reply'd "'twas immense, immense odd she must own;
"Let us trip down to Earth, just to see the affair,
"It is only through Atmosphere taking the air;
"I've my Doves at the door, come, dear creature, "with me;"
Away in a Whirlwind they whisk'd — Vis a vis.

From Council Jove miss'd them, enquiring about,
His feather-heel'd post boy discover'd their rout;
Replies the sky ruler, "they've no business there,
"In Britain there always is beauty to spare;
"And as to Dame Wisdom, by Styx I aver,
"While Faction stays with them they won't employ her.

"Haste home with them Hermes," away flew the God,
And the yielding clouds cut with his snake twisted rod;
In London, from place to place, questioning flew,
Where is Wisdom? but where, indeed nobody knew.
He return'd with a tale, with a tale melancholy,
That Wisdom elop'd into Scotland with Folly.

"Where is Venus??" quoth Mars, "Aye, my Wise "have you seen?"
Cries the King of the Cyclops, "My Man-loving "queen?"
"I left her employ'd with her Handmaids, the Graces,
"By Science requested to finish his Faces:
"Here's the name of each Genius with whom she's a guest,
"REYNOLDS, GAINSBOROUGH, MORTIMER, "MYERS, DANCE, WEST."

Vulcan vow'd he wou'd fetch her, "You shan't, "thurder'd Jove,
"I encourage the Arts, and yon Island I love;
"Into Fate I have look'd, and e'er long I can see,
"What Athens was once, my Britannia will be;
"So Lemnos be mute, Haebe hand me the nectar,
"Here's Great-Britain's Artists, and GEORGE "their PROTECTOR."