RETALIATION;

A

POEM.

FIRST PRINTED IN MDCCLXXIV,

AFTER THE AUTHOR'S DEATH.

Dr Goldsmith and some of his friends occasionally dined at the St James's Coffee-House.-One day it was proposed to write epitaphs on him. His country, dialect, and person, furnished subjects of witticism. He was called on for RETALIATION, and at their next meeting produced the following poem.

RETALIATION;

POEM.

*

Or old, when Scarron his companions invited,
Each guest brought his dish, and the feast was united;
If our landlord supplies us with beef, and with fish,
Let each guest bring himself, and he brings the
best dish::

Our Dean shall be venison, just fresh from the plains:

Our Burke shall be tongue, with the garnish of brains:

Our S Will shall be wild-fowl, of excellent flavour, And Dick with his pepper shall heighten the sa

Our

vour:

Cumberland's sweet-bread its place shall obtain,

And ** Douglas is pudding, substantial and plain :

* The master of the St James's Coffee-house, where the doctor, and the friends he has characterized in this poem, occasionally dined.

+ Doctor Bernard, dean of Derry, in Ireland.

The Right Hon. Edmund Burke.

S Mr William Burke, late secretary to General Conway, and member for Bedwin.

Mr Richard Burke, collector of Granada.

¶ Mr Richard Cumberland, author of the West Indian, Fashionable Lover, the Brothers, and various other productions (a).

** Dr Douglas, canon of Windsor, (now bishop of Salisbury) an ingenious Scotch gentleman, who has no less distinguished himself as a citizen of the world, than a sound critic, in detecting several literary mistakes (or rather forgeries) of his countrymen; particularly Lauder on Milton, and Bower's History of the Popes.

(a) Since this note was written, of "Calvary, or the Death of Christ."

*

Our Garrick's a sallad; for in him we see
Oil, vinegar, sugar, and saltness agree:

To make out the dinner, full certain I am,
That † Ridge is anchovy, and‡ Reynolds is lamb;
That S Hickey's a capon, and by the same rule,
Magnanimous Goldsmith, a gooseberry fool.
At a dinner so various, at such a repast,

Who'd not be a glutton, and stick to the last?
Here, waiter, more wine, let me sit while I'm able,
Till all my companions sink under the table;
Then, with chaos and blunders encircling my head,
Let me ponder, and tell what I think of the dead.

Here lies the good || Dean, re-united to earth, Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth :

If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt,
At least in six weeks I could not find 'em out;
Yet some have declar'd, and it can't be denied 'em,
That sly-boots was cursedly cunning to hide 'em.

Here lies our good ¶ Edmund, whose genius was such,

We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much; Who, born for the universe, narrow'd'his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind. Though fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat,

To persuade** Tommy Townshend to lend him a vote;

* David Garrick, Esq.

+ Counsellor John Ridge, a gentleman belonging to the Irish bar.

Sir Joshua Reynolds.

An eminent attorney.

Vide page 89.

Vide page 89.

** Mr T. Townshend, member for Whitchurch.