David Garrick (1717–1779)

September 7, 1769

YE Warwickshire lads, and ye lasses!

See what at our Jubilee passes!

Come, revel away! Rejoice, and be glad;

For the Lad of all lads, was a Warwickshire Lad;

Warwickshire Lad!

All be glad,

For the Lad of all lads, was a Warwickshire Lad!

Be proud of the charms of your County;

Where Nature has lavished her bounty.

Where much she has given, and some to be spared;

For the Bard of all bards, was a Warwickshire Bard;

Warwickshire Bard:

Never paired;

For the Bard of all bards, was a Warwickshire Bard!

Each shire has its different pleasures,

Each shire has its different treasures:

But to rare Warwickshire all must submit;

For the Wit of all wits, was a Warwickshire Wit;

Warwickshire Wit:

How he writ!

For the Wit of all wits, was a Warwickshire Wit!

Old Ben, Thomas Otway, John Dryden;

And half a score more, we take pride in.

Of famous Will Congreve we boast too the skill;

But the Will of all Wills, was a Warwickshire Will;

Warwickshire Will;

Matchless still!

For the Will of all Wills, was a Warwickshire Will!

Our Shakespeare compared is to no man;

Nor Frenchman, nor Grecian, nor Roman.

Their swans are all geese to the Avon’s sweet Swan;

And the Man of all men, was a Warwickshire Man;

Warwickshire Man;

Avon’s Swan!

And the Man of all men, was a Warwickshire Man!

As ven’son is very inviting,

To steal it our Bard took delight in;

To make his friends merry he never was lag;

And the Wag of all wags, was a Warwickshire Wag;

Warwickshire Wag;

Ever brag!

For the Wag of all wags, was a Warwickshire Wag!

There never was seen such a creature;

Of all she was worth, he robbed nature;

He took all her smiles, and he took all her grief;

And the Thief of all thieves, was a Warwickshire Thief!

Warwickshire Thief;

He’s the chief!

For the Thief of all thieves, was a Warwickshire Thief!

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