The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 346: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MYSTERIES. 331 claimed his Majesty. “ But there’s another—more indelicate sti]l——” “ Helen and Paris, sire,” said the Prince, explain- ing the subject of this second picture against which the King levelled his objections. “ Really your Majesty must be aware—hic—that there’s nothing indecent or improper in the ancient classics, any more than there is in the Bible. Boys at school read about Jupiter’s amours with Europa, and Se- mele, and Leda, just the same as both boys and girls read the story of Lot and his daughters in the Old Testament ” “ Silence, sirrah!—silence!’’ ejaculated the King, his puffy cheeks flushing with anger. ‘I know that you are a voluptuary—a seducer—a gambler—a spendthrift—and a drunkard: but I hope that you are not an infidel likewise.” “Upon my word,’ said the Prince, his own countenance glowing with a crimson deeper than even that which the wine had painted upon it,— “your Majesty is highly complimentary. ‘This is the first time your Majesty has deigned for some years to set foot within my humble dwelling: and if your Majesty has nothing more pleasing to com- municate than to call mea parcel of hard names, I hope that your Majesty’s visits will henceforth cease altogether.” “ Eh?—what—what? This to me!’ ejaculated the monarch, starting from his seat, and surveying his son with mingled amazement and anger. “To you—or to any one else who unprovokedly insults me,” said the Prince of Wales, with that dogged, sullen firmness which so frequently charac- terises a state of semi-ebriety. “JT give you two minutes to withdraw your ex- pressions, sirrah,” exclaimed the King. “ ] wouldn’t give two damns to withdraw them at all,” observed the Prince, flinging upon his father a look of mingled defiance and contempt. “You will repent of this when you’re sober, sir— you'll repent of it, I tell you,” cred the King, pro- foundly irritated. “Such ingratitude, after all I’ve done for you ——” “All you’ve done for me!” echoed his Royal Highness, drawing himself up to his full height and becoming almost completely sobered by the re- flections which that reproach forced upon his mind. “ Let us examine for an instant all the wonderful ob- ligations under which I lie towards your Majesty. In the first place, my debts have been pajd several times, it is true: but with what 2” “ With what!” exclaimed George III. “ Why— with money, to be sure.” “Yes—the people’s money,” retorted the Prince. “ Not yours—you haven't a farthing of your own in the whole world. It is all very well out-of-doors to let the world and the newspapers talk of the Sove- reign’s bounty, and such like nonsense: the throne can only be sustained by humbug of that kind. But, in doors, between you and me, my dear father,” added the Prince, with a tone and manuer of bitter satire, —“ there cannot be a more miserable mockery than for you to vapour and boast of giving away the coin wrung from the very vitals of an over-taxed, Oppressed, and wonderfully enduring nation. So much for the money part of the question. As for the moral——”’ “Do you mean to affirm, sirrah,” exclaimed his Majesty, foaming with rage, “that I have ever set you a bad example?” “T cannot say that your Majesty has done that,” returned the Prince: “but his I will proclaim— that my education was as wretchedly narrow, de- fective, and circumscribed——” “ Knough! enough!” cried the King. “ Weshall have you announcing yourself as a Republican next, and throwing off all allegiance——” “By heaven! if every one in the country knew as much of the humbug of monarchy as you and I, my dear father,” exclaimed the Prince of Wales,— “ tnere would be nothing else but Republicans. But there’s no fear of my proclaiming myself a demo- crat. No—no: I wish toreign as a King—I mean to reign as a King—and I will show the English people that I look upon them as having been made to become the slaves and ministers of my pleasures. Yes—since they will have Kings, by heaven! they shall have a true King in me,—one who will grind them down with taxes—trample upon them—spurn them—treat them as lickspittles and menials——” ““You are my own son, after all!” exclaimed his Majesty, considerably softened by these evidences of a due appreciation of regal duties and royal attributes. “The people must be coerced—never conciliated. Once graut them an inch—and they will soon require an ell, If they ask for reform—give them grape- shot: if they meet to demand a redress of grievances —disperse them at the point of the bayonet. The idea that a Sovereign can reign in the hearts of his people, is nonsense. He is their natural oppressor; and they can only be ruled by being made to re- gard the throne as something powerful, grand, awe- inspiring, and terriblee A madman alone would preach the possibility of making it loveable.” And, gasping with the exertion of having thus made one of the only connected and fluent speeches which he ever delivered in his life, the King resumed the seat whence he had started in a rage a few minutes previously. “ Well,” said the Prince of Wales, “ Iam delighted to think that the little breeze which just now arose between us, has lulled into a calm. The truth is, my dear father, | have the highest respect for you wuen you don’t call me names: because there’s Something particularly ignominious in applying harsh terms to the heir-apparent to the throne. Moreover, at this present instant I have some claims on your Majesty’s favour and consideration—inas- much as I have consented to give my hand to Caro- line of Brunswick, and have already sent Mrs. Fitzherbert about her business——” “Then it is true that this lady has left you?” in- terrupted George ILI, joyfuily. “ Well—I’m giad of it. Very beautiful, no doubt—but a Catholic, George—a Catholic! Always remember to keep up the idea that this is a Protestant throne—Protestant throne. ’Vis the only safeguard of the House of Hanover—mind that! But what were we talking about? Oh! Mrs, Fitzherbert! Well—you’ve got rid of her—and I congratulate you. Your mother congratulates you, too: she is well pleased—very well pleased. Pitt told us of ita day or two ago— alid that is what induced me to visit you personally this morning. While Mrs. Fitzherbert was beneath your roof, I could not cross the threshold. But now circumstances are altered—much altered. When I came just now—quite incog., mind—I would not allow myself to be introduced with any state or ceremony. ‘Conduct me direct, I said, ‘into the presence of the Prince:’—and I was thinking what (@ 6)(0)(©) Hal