Part 35 (1/2)
Come, thou grape-encircled Boy!
From thy blissful seats above, Crown the present hours with joy, Bring me wine and bring me love: Fill the sparkling b.u.mper high, Let us drain the bottom dry.
Bacchus, o'er my yielding lip Spread the produce of thy vine; Love, thy arrows gently dip, Temp'ring them with generous wine: Fill the sparkling b.u.mper high, Let us drain the bottom dry.”
In the mean time, the enemy of life was making rapid strides upon them unheeded, till Dashall reminded Merrywell of their intended visit to the East; and that as he expected a large portion of amus.e.m.e.nt in that quarter, he proposed a move.
They were by this time all well primed--ripe for a rumpus--bang-up for a lark or spree, any where, any how, or with any body; they therefore took leave of their present scene of gaiety.~269~~
CHAPTER XVIII
”Wand'ring with listless gait and spirits gay, They Eastward next pursued their jocund way; With story, joke, smart repartee and pun, Their business pleasure, and their object fun.”
IT was a fine moonlight evening, and upon leaving the Globe, they again found themselves in the hurry, bustle, and noise of the world. The glare of the gas-lights, and the rattling of coaches, carts and vehicles of various-descriptions, mingled with
”The busy hum of men,”
attracted the attention of their eyes and ears, while the exhilarating juice of the bottle had given a circulation to the blood which enlivened imagination and invigorated fancy. Bob conceived himself in Elysium, and Frank Harry was as frisky as a kitten. The first object that arrested their progress was the house of Mr. Hone, whose political Parodies, and whose trials on their account, have given him so much celebrity. His window at the moment exhibited his recent satirical publication ent.i.tled a Slap at Slop and the Bridge Street Gang.{1}
1 The great wit and humour displayed in this publication have deservedly ent.i.tled it to rank high among the jeu desprit productions of this lively age--to describe it were impossible--to enjoy it must be to possess it; but for the information of such of our readers as are remote from the Metropolis, it may perhaps be necessary to give something like a key of explanation to its t.i.tle. A certain learned Gentleman, formerly the Editor of the Times, said now to be the Conductor of the New Times, who has by his writings rendered himself obnoxious to a numerous cla.s.s of readers, has been long known by the t.i.tle of Dr. Slop; in his publication, denominated the mock Times, and the Slop Pail, he has been strenuous in his endeavours to support and uphold a Society said to mis-call themselves The Const.i.tutional Society, but now denominated The Bridge Street Gang; and the publication alluded to, contains humorous and satirical parodies, and sketches of the usual contents of his Slop Pail; with a Life of the learned Doctor, and an account of the origin of the Gang.
~270~~ ”Here,” said Tom, ”we are introduced at once into a fine field of observation. The inhabitant of this house defended himself in three different trials for the publication of alleged impious, profane, and scandalous libels on the Catechism, the Litany, and the Creed of St.
Athanasius, with a boldness, intrepidity, and perseverance, almost unparalleled, as they followed in immediate succession, without even an allowance of time for bodily rest or mental refreshment.”
”Yes,” continued Frank Harry, ”and gained a verdict on each occasion, notwithstanding the combined efforts of men in power, and those whose constant practice in our Courts of Law, with learning and information at their fingers ends, rendered his enemies fearful antagonists.”
”It was a n.o.ble struggle,” said Tallyho; ”I remember we had accounts of it in the country, and we did not fail to express our opinions by subscriptions to remunerate the dauntless defender of the rights and privileges of the British subject.”
”_Tip us your flipper_”{1} said Harry---”then I see you are a true bit of the bull breed--one of us, as I may say. Well, now you see the spot of earth he inhabits--zounds, man, in his shop you will find amus.e.m.e.nt for a month--see here is The House that Jack Built--there is the Queen's Matrimonial Ladder, do you mark?--What think you of these qualifications for a Gentleman?
”In love, and in liquor, and o'ertoppled with debt, With women, with wine, and with duns on the fret.”
There you have the Nondescript--
”A something, a nothing--what none understand, Be-mitred, be-crowned, but without heart or hand; There's Jack in the Green too, and Noodles, alas!
”Who doodle John Bull of gold, silver, and bra.s.s.
”Come,” said Dashall, ”you must cut your story short; I know if you begin to preach, we shall have a sermon as long as from here to South America, so allons;” and with this impelling his Cousin forward, they
1 Tip us your Flipper--your mawley--your daddle, or your thieving hook; are terms made use of as occasions may suit the company in which they are introduced, to signify a desire to shake hands.
~271~~ approached towards Saint Paul's, chiefly occupied in conversation on the great merit displayed in the excellent designs of Mr. Cruikshank, which embellish the work they had just been viewing; nor did they discover any thing further worthy of notice, till Bob's ears were suddenly attracted by a noise somewhat like that of a rattle, and turning sharply round to discover from whence it came, was amused with the sight of several small busts of great men, apparently dancing to the music of a weaver's shuttle.{1}
”What the devil do you call this?” said he--”is it an exhibition of wax-work, or a model academy?”
”Neither,” replied Dashall; ”this is no other than the shop of a well-known dealer in stockings and nightcaps, who takes this ingenious mode of making himself popular, and informing the pa.s.sengers that
”Here you may be served with all patterns and sizes, From the foot to the head, at moderate prices;”
with woolens for winter, and cottons for summer--Let us move on, for there generally is a crowd at the door, and there is little doubt but he profits by those who are induced to gaze, as most people do in London, if they can but entrap attention. Romanis is one of those gentlemen who has contrived to make some noise in the world by puffing advertis.e.m.e.nts, and the circulation of poetical handbills. He formerly kept a very small shop for the sale of hosiery nearly opposite the East-India House, where he supplied the Sailors after receiving their pay for a long voyage, as well as their Doxies, with the articles in which he deals, by obtaining permission to style himself ”Hosier to the Rt. Hon. East India Company.”