View Colman in the lap of Mother Shipton, a better subject satire never whipt on [graphic]

"From the first page of the second part of 'The Theatres', see British Museum Satires No. 5063, which is an attack on Colman and Covent Garden. Colman sits on the lap of Mother Shipton, in his right hand is a harlequin's sword, in his left, a paper inscribed "For wooden Sword I've chang'd my useless Pen I ne'er could Write & Hate all writing Men". A ribbon sash with long ends is round his waist from which hangs a child's coral and bells. At his feet lies a bundle of pens. He looks towards Harlequin (left) who is trampling on three books inscribed "Shak ...", "Johns ..." [Jonson], and "Shake..." "Mother Shipton", in conical hat and ruff, has a walking-stick in her left hand, her right. is over Colman's shoulder; she says: "Oh my Coly my Coly oh my Coly my Deary". Across the engraving is printed, "Bad has begun and worse remains behind". On the back is part of the poem: "See curious Colman negligent of merit, Of Tragic energy and comic spirit Palm on his servile partners, and the town, Abject and vile dependents of his own"."--British Museum online catalogue