La gloire des honnetes gens!! [graphic]

"Four designs on one plate, separated by intersecting lines, each having a separate title, inscription, and border. [1] MODESTY! The Princess of Wales and Bergami seated together in an opera-box; the occupants of the pit, all men, look up at the box, shouting "Via! via! hiss hiss s s s." The pair frown angrily; Bergami holds a bottle labelled 'Bergamot' and wears braided hussar uniform. The Princess wears a Turkish turban, a very décolletée dress defines bulging contours. A cross on the wall with the inscription 'Republica Genovese' shows that the scene is Genoa. Below: "Her Modest looks a Cottage might adorn, Sweet as the primrose peeps beneath the thorn" ... [2] DIGNITY! A scene in the Captain's cabin; the Princess and Bergami sit close together at a round table laid for dinner. She wears the same Turkish dress, which is now seen to have trousers. Both frown angrily at a naval officer who stands before them, hat in hand, saying: "I can recognize no power in you to enoble any one--and I shall not degrade myself & the Service by sitting at the table with such a fellow as that." Another officer stands by, and a midshipman walks off (right), exclaiming, "What will the larboard birth say to this?!!" "Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, In all her actions [sic] dignity"--[Milton on Eve.] ... [3] CHASTITY!-- The Princess, seated on a couch, embraces Bergami; both are dressed as before. Below: "-- Chaste as the Icecle, That's curded by the frost from purest snow, And hangs on Dian's Temple -- " ['Coriolanus', v. 3.] [4] NATIONAL LOVE!-- A scene in the palace of Murat (Joachim, King of Naples), with Vesuvius seen through a window (right). The Princess, in her Turkish costume, walks with Pauline Borghese, their arms interlaced. She places a wreath on the bonnet rouge which decorates a bust of 'Murat' (left), which has grotesquely long moustaches. Pauline (as in British Museum Satires No. 10072) has the patched face which indicates a damaged reputation, and wears a dress of transparent gauze; she turns to take a letter addressed 'Principessa Paulina' from a leering Italian. Bergami stands close behind the Princess of Wales; behind, couples waltz. Below: "the loyalty, well held to fools, does make our faith mere folly"-- ..."--British Museum online catalogue