The devil (right) squats on a low circular stool before a fire which he blows with bellows to heat a cauldron hanging from a hook. He says,
"god save great george our king
god bless our noble king;
god damn the broth it will never boil. "
"god" (three times), "george", and "damn" have been scratched through but left fully legible. Behind and on the left sit north (left) and fox (right); fox with his right arm round north's shoulders, north offering him a spoonful from the dish which he holds on his knees, at which (as boreas) he is blowing. North is sitting on a cylindrical roll inscribed "budget". Fox, who has a fox's head, sits on a chest inscribed "pandora's box". Fox says, "blow hot! blow cold! he! he! he! with the self same breath my lord - give me a sup of your soup - i have often cool'd your porridge my lord! hay? he! he! he!" north says, "my dear reynard you are welcome to a spoonfull - be cautious! - a little of my broth goes a great way - 'tis d------d high seasond - look at my cook he & my freind. Hum!. With the consent of the. Hum, did both. Hum the nation. Over the fire-place is an oval medallion of the heads of north and fox, called "coalition medal". This is a free rendering of sayers s print of that name, see bmsat 6183. The words of the title are placed under the three characters: north is "bonus", fox "melior", the devil "optimus". 22 april 1783
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1783. Dimensions: Height: 240 mm; Width: 330 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Charles James Fox. Collection: British Museum. Bonus Melior Optimus or the Devil's the best of the bunch. (BM 1851,0901.136)
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