A soliloquy on death [graphic]Marks, John Lewis, printmaker[approximately August 1821]eng"Heading to a printed broadside, a parody of Hamlet's soliloquy spoken by George IV, beginning 'To be or not to be? and ending 'I'd rather drink and revel here in secret, | Than fly | Where I might meet her face to face'. The King, much burlesqued, stands with legs astride on the boards of a theatre, framed by curtains patterned with grapes, bottles, glasses, crowns, and antlers. On the back-cloth are crude Chinese figures. He has a huge head, with heavy drink-blotched face crowned by the towering curls of his wig, and holds a full goblet and a bottle of Curaco. With an expression of calculating melancholy he meditates suicide, on account of 'The scorns and satire of an injur'd Nation', but fears to meet his wife's ghost."--British Museum online catalogueTitle printed in letterpress below image.Date of publication from the British Museum catalogue.Thirty-two lines of letterpress text beneath title, beginning: To be or not to be? That is the question ...Price statement and publisher's advertisement following imprint: --Price 1s. coloured.--Where may be had "Hush-a-bye baby upon the tree top."