212520_The_Adve ... _Way_Through_The_World.pdf - OUDL Home

INTRODUCTION xxxvii
The epilogue which my father wrote for the end of the play
ran as follows :—
EPILOGUE
SPOKEN FOR MR. W. M. THACKERAY IN HIS SILENT CHARACTER OF
MR. BONNINGTON BY MR. HORACE TWISS
Our drama ends,
Our Landlord gives a greeting to his friends.
Some rich, some poor, some doubtful, some sincere,
Some tried and loved for many a faithful year,
He looks around and bids all welcome here ;
And as we play'rs unanimously say
A little speech should end a little play,
Through me ho tells the friendliest of pits
He built this story with his little wits.
These found the mild repast on which you'll sup,
These filled (at one-and-nine) the Gascon cup ;
These built the house from garret down to hull ;
These paid the bills, at least paid nearly all,
Vides my Fili, what a little nous
Suffices to edificate a house !
What's this ? Our Landlord drinks of his own wine ?
[Mr. Thackeray drinks to his guests.
A glass—no, half a glass—of one-and-nine—
And though he stands now that the play is done
As mum—as mum as Mr. Bonnington—
Methinks I know the feelings which engage
His heart, the venerable speechless Sage !
He drinks in yonder bumper which he pours
A health from his and him to you and yours,
A kindly pledge to all within his doors.
Whate'er the meal here spread, or poor or splendid,
He prays a gracious Heaven Love may attend it.
Whate'er the meat, may hearty friends come share it,
Whate'er the care, may dear love help to bear it.
Whatever Mrs. Grundy says about it,
May envy, rancour, never come from out it,
May truth, good-humour, kindness dwell within it.
Enough ! the place is opened from this minute.
And, though it seems quite large enough already,
I here declare the Landlord's purpose steady,
Before his novel-writing days are o'er
To raise in this very house one or two storeys more.
My father was relieved from much anxiety by having resigned
the editorship of The Cornhill Magazine, but moving houses is not