Vauxhall Gardens

Green-Wood Hall

Colin's Description of Vauxhall. Set by Mr. Gladwin

O Mary, soft in Feature,
I've been at dear Vauxhall
No Paradise is sweeter
Not that they Eden call.
At Night such new Vagaries,
Such gay & harmless sport;
All look like Giant Fairies,
And this their Monarch's Court

Methought when first I enter'd
Such Splendors round me shone
Into a World I ventur'd
Where rose another Sun.
Whilst Musick never cloying,
As Sky Larks sweet I hear
The Sounds I'm still enjoying
They'll always Sooth my Ear.

Hear Paintings sweetly glowing
Where e'er our Glances fall
Here Colours Life bestowing
Bedeck this Greenwood Hall
The King there dubs a Farmer
There John his Doxy loves
But my Delight's the Charmer
Who steals a Pair of Gloves.

As still amaz'd I'm straying
O'er this inchanted Grove
I spy a Harper playing
All in his proud Alcove
I doff my Hat desireing
He'd tune up Buxom Joan
But what was I admiring
Odzooks a man of Stone.

But now the Tables spreading
They all fall to with Glee
Not ev'n at Squires fine Wedding
Such Dainties did I see
I long'd poor starvling Rover
But none heed Country Elves
These Folk with Lace dawb'd over
Loves only dear themselves.

Thus whilst mid Joys abounding
As Grasshoppers they're gay
At Distance Crouds surrounding
The Lady of the May
The Man I'th Moon tweer'd slily
Soft twinkling thro the Trees
As tho' twould please him highly
To taste Delights like these.

As published in Calliope, or English Harmony,Vol. II ( London, Henry Roberts, 1739), p. 170 , 2 vols

Colin's Description to his Wife of Green-Wood Hall or the Pleasures of Spring Gardens.

O! Mary soft in feature, I've been at dear Vauxhall:
No Paradise is sweeter Not that they Eden call.
At Night such new vagaries such gay and harmless sport.
All look'd like Giant fairies And this their Monarch's Court.

Methought, when first I enter'd Such splendors round me shone
Into a world I ventur'd where rose another sun
Whilst music never cloying as sky larks sweet I hear
The sound I'm still enjoying They'll always sooth my Ear.

Here Paintings sweetly glowing Where e'er our glances fall
Here colours life bestowing bedeck this green-wood hall
The King their dubs a Farmer their john his doxy loves
But my delight the charmer who steals a pair of gloves. *

As still amaz'd I'm straying o'er this enchanted grove
I spy a Harper playing all in his proud alcove
I doft my hat desiring he'd tune up Buxom-joan
But what was I admiring—Odzooks! a man of Stone.†

But now the Tables spreading they all fall to with glee
Not ev'n at 'squir's fine wedding, such dainties did I see
I lang'd (poor starv'ling rover,) but none heed country elves
These folk with lace dawb'd over Love only dear themselves.

Thus whilst 'mid joys abounding as grashoppers they're gay
At distance crouds surrounding the Lady of the May, ‡
The Man i'th'moon tweer'd slily soft twink'ling thro' the Trees
As tho' 'twou'd please him highly to taste delights like these.

* Alluding to three pictures in the pavilions, viz. The King and the Miller of Mansfield. The Sailors in a tippling house in Wapping: and the Girl stealing a kiss from a sleepy Gentleman.
† Mr Handel's statue.
‡ Her Royal Highness the princess of Wales sitting under her splendid pavilion

As published in Universal Harmony (J. Newbery, London,1745) p.36

(First recorded in May 1740. See T.J. Edelstein, ed., Vauxhall Gardens, exhibition catalogue (New Haven: Yale Center, 1983) p.44, no.67)