Scan 500
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1884
35 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 404. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE VIOLIN.
3And tow'd him if he lagg'd behind,
4Like boat against the tide and wind.
5Thus grave and solemn they march on,
6Until quite thro' the town th' had gone,
7At further end of which there stands
8An ancient castle, that commands*
9Th' adjacent parts; in all the fabric
10You shall not see one stone nor a brick
11But all of wood, by powerful spell
12Of magic made impregnable.
14Thither arriv'd, th' advent'rous Knight
15And bold Squire from their steeds alight
16At th' outward wall, near which there stands
17A bastile, built t' imprison hands;
19On top of this there is a spire
20On which Sir Knight first bids the Squire
21The Fiddle, and its spoils, the case,†
22In manner of a trophy, place.
23That done, they ope the trap-door gate,
24And let Crowdero down thereat;
25Crowdero making doleful face,
26Like hermit poor in pensive place.
27To dungeon they the wretch commit,
28And the survivor of his feet,
29But the other that had broke the peace
30And head of knighthood, they release,
31Though a delinquent false and forged,
33* This is an enigmatical description of a pair of stocks and whipping-post. It is so pompous and sublime that we are surprised so noble a structure could be raised from so ludicrous a subject. We perceive wit and humour in the strongest light in every part of the description."—Note by Dr. Grey.
34† Dr. Nash suggests the following rendering: "His spoils, the Fiddle, and the case."
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