RICHARD III. SURNAMED CROOKBACK. "1 know that deformed-he is a thief." "A cut-purse of the empire and the rule, "The Cat, the Rat, and Lovell the Dog, "Rule all England under the Hog." SHAKESPEARE. DOGGERELS OF THE DAY.* THE VICTIMS, A PARODY. WHEN GLO'STER, hump-back'd Prince, was young, While yet on fostering breast he hung, For the composition of which W. Collingbourne, Esq. who had been Sheriff of Wiltshire and Devonshire, was executed. By By turns they taught the embrio King Once, while he slept and all were fired, From scenes of the succeeding age, Some victim of the tyrant's power; Into their darlings destiny. First CLARENCE came, his taste to try, Next HENRY'S SON,† his eye on fire, * George, Duke of Clarence, it is said, having been offered a choice as to the mode of his death, was by such melancholy election drowned in a butt of malmsey wine. *The gallant Prince Edward, murdered in cold blood after the battle of Tewkesbury. In woeful guise of sad despair, King HENRY mourns his hopes beguil'd, 'Till GLO'STER's dagger ends his care, And sends the father to his child. But thou, O Hope! with eyes so fair, What was thy delusive measure? Still it whisper'd royal pleasure TO EDWARD's son, and promis'd thrones and pow'r. Still did her voice the cheat prolong, And YORK and EDWARD fell into the snare. And longer had she sung, but with a frown He threw his artful mask in fury down, Of HASTINGS, RIVERS, VAUGHAN, and GREY* he took * Hastings, beheaded in the Tower for his attachment to the rights of the royal children; and the other three, their near relations, put to death at Pomfret, The The lives and bid his hellish agents do A deed so horrible and dread- Ne'er were half-stifled shrieks so full of woe, Her soul subduing voice applied: Still on the couch of innocence they lean, Till each strain'd ball of sight announce the victims dead! Unsteady BUCKINGHAM, whose friendship fixed The crown on RICHARD, mourns his fallen state; His cup of death ungrateful GLOSTER mix'd, And one he cherish'd sells him to his fate.* With eyes upraised, as one inspired, * The Duke of Buckingham having levied a force against Richard, for evading certain promises made before he obtained the crown, was deserted by his army, and delivered to his enemy by the treachery of Banister, a confidential servant, who had been greatly obliged by the Duke. * Ann, the Widow of Edward, Son of Henry VI. who unaccountably married her husband's murderer, by whom, it is supposed, her own death was hastened. And, And, from her wretched regal seat, In notes by sorrow render'd sweet, Pour'd to Prince EDWARD's shade her plaintive soul; And deeply grieves that e'er she found, Like EVE, the soft beguiling sound Of the keen serpent's voice, which gently stole Oh, woman's weakness! past excusing, But oh! how alter'd was the mournful tone, When HARRY RICHMOND, arm'd with title true, His Baldrick 'cross his shoulder ftung, And, with enliv'ning trumpet, blew A call to arms that thro' the island rung ! ELIZABETH, late EDWARD'S Queen, VOL. II. C And |