1832.] [ 393 



THE PRENTICK-BOYS OF DERKY. 

 AN IRISH VAUDEVILLE (Acted but OHCC.) 



Scene, DERRY. An immense assemblage of Prentice-boys, consisting of not less than 

 twenty-seven persons, all above fourteen years of age, are encircling the Town-Pump in the 

 absence of their great Patron, and drinking in pure water, (ivith some whiskey in it,) 

 health and long-laughter to the Marquis, or, as he is more familiarly called, the Quiz, of 

 Derry. They dance round the Pump, on which the Peer's head is appropriately carved, 

 and sing 



Green grows the Marquis, oh ! 



Green grows the Marquis, oh ! 

 The wildest wag the world e'er saw 

 Is tamer than the Marquis, oh ! 



Old Nature dear she loves the peer, 

 Whom people near and far quiz, oh ! 



Her 'prentice han' she tried on DAN, 

 And then she made the Marquis, oh ! 



Green grows the Marquis, oh ! 



Green grows the Marquis, oh ! 

 What signifies the House of Lords, 

 If 'twere not for the Marquis, oh ! 



A shout is raised in the distance, and cries of " The Marquis ! the Marquis /" The 

 gates of Derry are heard to creak on their obstinate hinges, and the hero enters in triumph, 

 borne irresistibly onwards by a dense crowd of fifteen tenants. As the 'Prentices rush 

 forward to greet him, crying out " The Marquis ! the Marquis /" an Irish echo answers, 

 " Quiz ! quiz!" and when they change the shout to " Derry!" the same echo faithfully 

 replies, " Derry, down derry." A VANE is descried in the background, pointing to the 

 west, where the sun of England is seen setting for ever. The Marquis ascends a car, 

 not unlike a coal-waggon, and speaks : 



My lords and patriots I mean, my " lads," 

 And " Pats" that keep aloof from every " riot," 

 By patriots raised believe me that it glads 

 My heart, to see this scene of peace and quiet ! 



Here a fight ensues among the 'Prentices, in consequence of one of them having said 

 that it was the Duke of Wellington, and not the Marquis, that beat Alexander the Great 

 at Waterloo ; and that Magna Charta was instituted by Oliver Cromwell instead of the 

 hero of Derry. The refractory asperser, being put down by the united valour of the 

 assembly, is eventually borne off upon a shutter. 



Most gallant politicians, noble boys, 



Who hate vile Freedom, nourished upon noise, 



I've often wished it makes my bosom bleed 



To think you can't that some of you could read. 



Then should you see, in London as in Derry, 



How every way my genius wins its crown ; 



And how the press devotes itself to ferry 



My fame across the current of renown. 



Of course you've heard of my exploits, you've heard 



How every night my satire some one shatters ; 



How Brougham was left without a single word, 



And how I tore Lord Plunkett all to tatters. 



Two Chancellors are they, without a chance ; 



The House seems horror-stricken ; poor Earl Grey 



