A new screen for an old one or the screen of screens. The Screen. A Simile. Dear William did'st thou never go To mimic Farce called Puppet-shew? There, William, Did'st thou never see Of Figures great Variety? With a big Belly comes a Fellow, In Blustering Mood, called Punchinello; he roars and swaggers, bounces, swears, Giving himself a thousand Airs; Knocks puppets down, and makes a Boast, That he alone will rule the Roast. But when Punch is turned off the Stage, Some other Puppets come t'engage: With other Motions, other Faces, Act some new Part, to shew their Graces. Alas! dear William, all this while, A Trickster doth your Sense beguile: Behind that SCREEN there stands a Wight, safely concealed from publick sight; He was the Punch at first you saw; He gives the other Puppets Law, And by his secret Strings he still Governs the others as he will; And all the Difference that is known, You only hear another Tone: The Puppet Man, - behind the Screen, Is the same Man, - although not seen. London Evening Post, Mar. 11, 1741-2.
