Anonymous, 1769
“The Dramatic Race. A Catch. By a Lover of the Turf.”
Clear, clear the course—make room—make room, I say!
Now they are off, and Jonson makes the play.
I’ll bet the odds—done, sir, with you, and you;
Shakespeare keeps near him—and he’ll win it too:
Here’s even money—done for a hundred, done—
Now, Jonson! now or never—he has won.
I’ll take my oath, that Shakespeare won the prize,—
Damme! whoever says he lost it, lies.
Shakespeare’s Garland. Being a Collection of New Songs, Ballads, Roundelays, Catches, Glees, Comic Serenatas, etc., performed at the Jubilee at Stratford-upon-Avon, 1769, p. 16.