Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE ACTOR by JOHN WOLCOTT

Poet Analysis

First Line: A SHABBY FELLOW CHANCED ONE DAY TO MEET
Last Line: "WHEN YOU PLAYED HAMLET, SIR, I PLAYED THE COCK!"
Subject(s): ACTORS & ACTRESSES;

A SHABBY fellow chanced one day to meet
The British Roscius in the street,
Garrick, of whom our nation justly brags;
The fellow hugged him with a kind embrace; --
"Good sir, I do not recollect your face,"
Quoth Garrick. "No?" replied the man of rags;
"The boards of Drury you and I have trod
Full many a time together, I am sure."
"When?" with an oath, cried Garrick, "for, by G -- d,
I never saw that face of yours before!
What characters, I pray,
Did you and I together play?"
"Lord!" quoth the fellow, "think not that I mock --
When you played Hamlet, sir, I played the cock!"



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