" "Who is this whimsical spirit in the clouds?" said Bob. "Ay,
lad," I retorted, "that's just the inquiry I have been making for
the last eight months: ~236~~although it would appear we have--_ad
interim_--been running, riding, racing, rowing, and sailing together in
various parts of the kingdom, you perceive, Bob, there are more Spies
than ourselves at work. However, this must be some protecting geni
who hovers over our heads and fans the air on silken wing, wafting
zephyr-like the ambrosial breeze, where'er our merry fancies stray.
Anon, 'we'll drink a measure the table round;' and if we forget the
'Honest Reviewer,' may we lose all relish for a racy joke, and be
forgotten ourselves by the lovers of good fellowship and good things."
"Which we never shall be," said Bob; "for those eccentric _tomes_ of
ours must and will continue to amuse a laughter-loving age, when we
are booked inside and bound for t'other world." There was not a little
egotism, methought, about friend Transit's eulogy; but as every
parent has a sort of poetical licence allowed him in praising his own
bantlings, perhaps the patronage bestowed by the public upon the English
Spy may excuse a little vanity in either the author or the artist. "But
you are the great magician o' the south yourself, Bernard," continued
Transit, "and will you not use your power, you who can 'call spirits
from the vasty deep'" "True, Bob; I can call, but will they come when I
shall command? However, let us retire to our inn, and after dinner we'll
chant his lay; and if he dances not to the music of his own metre, then
hath he no true inspiration in him, and is a poet without vanity, a
_vara avis_ who delighteth not in receiving the reward of merit; so on,
old fellow, to our quarters, where we will
'Carve the goose, and quaff the wine,'
And wish our sprite were here to dine--
We'd give him hearty cheer;
A welcome such as hand and heart
To kindred spirits should impart,
Where friendship reigns sincere.
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