PRICE SIX-PENCE.

SONGS, DUETTOS, GLEES, 
CATCHES, &c. 

WITH AN EXPLANATION OF THE PROCESSION IN THE 
PANTOMIME OF 
Harlequin Free-Mason, 

As performed at the 
THEATRE — ROYAL, 
IN 
COVENT — GARDEN.

A NEW EDITION. 

LONDON

1781

Air  I. Mason's Glee

[voir ici la page consacrée à cet air]

Behold the model of our art, 
Work on whatever plan, 
Masons must borrow still some part 
From that great structure Man. 
Here, well to captîvate the sight, 
The orders all agree; 
Proportion, strength and force unite 
With ease and symmetry. 
But see, the sun rides down the West, 
And hark our sign from work to rest. 

Recit.  Hiram Abiff.

Lo, from amîdst those sacred glades 
Where rest grand heroes, statesmen, kings, 
And other antient Masons' shades, 
The ghost of Hiram Abiff springs.

Chief of the Mason's noble art, 
While of a Master they make choice, 
Shall I not take an active part, 
And loudly join my brethren's voice !

Fall, mystic figure — to our eyes 
Present a motley child of mirth ; 
Whose featly pranks shall all surprize 
And give to vacant laughter birth. 
Move, kneel, stoop, stand, spring, dance, leap, ran, 
Now mark me, for the charm is done.

Air.

[voir ici la page consacrée à cet air]

In all your dealings take good care,
Instructed by the friendly Square,
To be true, upright, just and fair,
And thou a fellow Craft shall be,

The Level so shall poise thy mind,
That satisfaction thou shalt find,
When to another Fortune's kind,
And that's the drift of Masonry.

II.

The Compass t'other two compounds,
And says, though anger'd on just grounds,
Keep all your passions within bounds,
And thou a fellow craft shall be.

Thus, symbols of our order, are
The Compass, Level, and the Square,
Which teach us to be just and fair,
And that's the drift of Masonry. 

Recit.

Use this, and this, in evil hour, 
And thou shalt wonder at their power: 
Thou'lt see me yet, ere it be night, 
Begone, and revel in delight.

Air  III.   Master Mason.

The Sun's a Free-mason, he works all the day, 
Village, city and town to adorn, 
Then from labour at rest, 
At his lodge in the West, 
Takes with good Brotber Neptune a glass on his way. 
Thence ripe for the fair 
He flies from all care, 
To Dame Thetis's charms, 
Till rous'd from her arms 
By the morn.

 Chorus. 

So do we, our labour done, 
First the glass, 
And then the lass, 
And then 
Sweet slumbers give fresh force 
To run our course, 
Thus with the rising sun.

II.

The course of the sun all our mysteries defines ; 
First Masonry rose in tbe East, 
Then to no point confin'd, 
His rays cheer mankind, 
Besides, who'll deny that he well knows the signs ? 

The Grand Master he 
Then of Masons shall be, 
Nor shall aught the Craft harm, 
Till to shine and to warm 
He has ceas'd. 

 Chorus. 

Then like him, our labor done, &c.

Air IV.   In the Temple of Bacchus. 

At a jovial meeting of Gods once on high, 
Ere Bacchus was hatch'd from old Jupiter's thigh, 
This one told his story, and that sung hîs song, 
And did what he could lest the time should seem long. 

Apollo read verses, the Graces wreath'd flowers, 
The Muses of harmony sung for the powers, 
Bully Mars cracked his joke, and sly Momus his jest ; 
Yet their mirth wanted something to give it a zest. 

II.

Says Jove, our assembly to-day's pretty full, 
Yet I don't know how 'tis we're horribly dull ; 
We have all the ingredients that mirth should inspire, 
But some clay-born alloy damps our heav'nly fire. 

I have it — in this l'll a mixture inclose 
Of all the delights whence good fellowship flows 
And we'll taste of its produce, for mirth's bad at best 
When there's anything wanting to give it a zest. 

III.

So saying, so doing, he buried the shrine, 
Which quickly sprung up in the form of a vine, 
The leaves broad and verdant, the fruit deepest blue, 
Whence a juice flow'd that health, love or youth might renew.

Its influence to feel, they came round it in swarms ; 
Mars took draughts of courage, and Venus drank charms; 
Momus swallow'd bon mots, Cupid love, — so the rest, 
While Jove spurning Nectar, cry'd, — This is the zest. 

Duetto.     Skaiters. 

This bleak and frosty morning,
All thought of danger scorning, 

From right to left we're plying, 
Swifter than winds we're flying, 
Spheres on spheres surrounding, 
Health and strength abounding. 
In circles we sleep, 
Our poise still we keep, 
Behold how we sweep 
The face of the deep, 
With a fa, la, la, la, 
To the Sound of the merry horn.

II.

Great Jove looks on us smiling, 
Who thus the time beguiling, 
Where the waters he seal, 
Still rove on our keel, 
Our weapons are steel, 
And no danger we feel, 
With a fa, la, la, la. 
See, see our train advances, 
See how each skaiter lances, 
Health and strength abounding, 
While horns and oboes sounding 
The Tritons shall blow 
Their conch-shells below,
And their beards fear to show, 
While a skaiting we go, 
With a fa, la, la, la, 
To the Sound of the merry horn. 

Catch.    Lawyers.

Lawyer Brief, why all this stir ? 
Upon my word you wrong me, Sir, 
I am not, (as you say) a thief , 
In truth, you wrong me, Lawyer Brief.

Who was it took a double fee ? 
Who rapp'd ? Who put in a sham plea ? 
Who should be pillor'd ? Who's a thief ? 
Who should be hang'd ? Cheat, Lawyer Brief ! 

Corne, be friends, nor make this rout, 
Brothers as we are to fall out ; 
Besides, thief should not cry out thief ; 
You understaud me, Lawyer Brief. 

Recit.   Hiram Abiff.

Thy périls are all past, thy toils are o'er, 
Nor ever shall hard fortune vex thee more ; 
Leave me thy jarring foes to reconcile, 
And foUow where in wonder lost the while, 
The Mason's noble science now shall see 
In all the pomp and pride of pageantry, 
Where brothers, gracing Hiram's memory 
Upon the ancient stock a scion graft, 
Chusing a master to the royal craft.

Air.

[NB : cet air n'est pas original, mais figurait déjà, en tant que Chant des Compagnons, aux Constitutions d'Anderson de 1723]

Hail masonry, thou craft divine, 
Glory of earth from heaven reveal'd, 
Which does with jewels precious shine, 
From all but masons eyes conceal'd : 
As men from brutes distinguish'd are, 
A mason other men excels : 
For what's in knowledge choice or rare. 
But in his breast securely dwells ! 
His silent breast and faithful heart 
Preserve the secrets of our art.

II.

From scorching heat and piercing cold, 
From beasts whose roar the forest rends, 
From the assault of warriors bold 
The mason's art mankind défends. 
Ensigns of state that feed our pride,
Distinctions troublesome and vain, 
By masons true are laid aside, 
Art's free-born sons such toys disdain. 
Ennobled by the name they bear, 
Distinguish'd by the badge they wear. 

III. 

Sweet fellowship, from envy free, 
Friendly converse of brotherhood, 
The lodge's lasting cement be, 
Which has for ages firmly stood. 

Be justice donc in every lay, 
To those who have enrich'd the art ; 
Down to the master of this day, 
And let each brother bear a part. 
Let noble masons healths go round, 
Their praise in lofty lodge resound.

Chorus.    In the procession.

 Your cymbals tune, your voices raise, 
Sing the name, 
And mighty famé 
Of Solomon in ever living lays. 
He our Grand Master shall remain, 
While lofty pile and holy fane, 
Vestige, or monument of taste, 
Or glorious masonry shall last. 

Recit. Hiram.

I am come to crave admittance for 
A brother and a visitor : 
One from his duty never swerving, 
Who will prove faithful and deserving ; 
And who would fain the brethren greeting, 
Be present at the generai meeting.

 Chorus.   The Last. 

Fill a capacious bowl, 
While we proclaim, 
The mason's famé. 
Which ever  shall extend 
From East to West, from Pole to Pole, 
In spite of Envy's poison'd shaft, 
Let Cowan's what they will prétend, 
Let three times three, 
The signal of our plaudit  be, 
While we toast to the King and Craft.