and therefore will we try the effect of it upon his senses." Mr. Tinfoil then played the air in Midas, 66 Pray Goody please to moderate," &c. during which Mr. Winterbottom looked more sulky than ever. As soon as the air was finished, another of the party responded with his flute, from the other boat-while Mr. Quince played what he called base, by snapping his fingers. The sounds of the instruments floated along the flowing and smooth water, reaching the ears and attracting the attention of many, who, for a time, rested from their labour, or hung listlessly over the gunnels of the vessels, watching the boats, and listening to the harmony. All was mirth and gaiety—the wherries kept close to each other, and between the airs the parties kept up a lively and witty conversation, occasionally venting their admiration upon the ver dure of the sloping lawns and feathering trees, with which the banks of the noble river is so beautifully adorned: even Mr. Winterbottom had partially recovered his serenity, when he was again irritated by a remark of Quince, who addressed him. 66 "You can play no part but Pyramus; for Pyramus is a sweet-faced man-a proper man as one shall see on a summer's day; a most lovely gentleman-like man; therefore, you must needs play Pyramus." "Take care I don't play the devil with your physiognomy, Mr. Western," retorted Win terbottom. Here, Caliban, in the third boat, began playing the fiddle and singing to it, "Gaffer, Gaffer's son, and his little jackass, Were trotting along the road;" the chorus of which ditty was Ec-aw, Ec-aw!' like the braying of a jackass. "Bless thee, Bottom, bless thee, thou art translated," cried Quince, looking at Winterbottom. "Very well-very well, Mr. Western. I don't want to upset the wherry, and therefore you're safe at present, but the reckoning will come so I give you warning." "Slaves of my lamp, do my bidding, I will have no quarrelling here. You, Quince, shut your mouth; you, Winterbottom, draw in your lips, and I, your queen, will charm you with a song," said Titania, waving her little hand. The fiddler ceased playing, and the voice of the fair actress rivetted all our attention. "Wilt thou waken, bride of May, While flowers are fresh, and sweet bells chime, Listen and learn from my roundelay, How all life's pilot-boats sailed one day A match with time! "Love sat on a lotus-leaf aloft, And saw old Time in his loaded boat, Slowly he crossed Life's narrow tide, While Love sat clapping his wings and cried, "Who will pass Time?' "Patience came first, but soon was gone, With helm and sail to help time on ; Care and Grief could not lend an oar, And Prudence said, (while he staid on shore,) 'I wait for Time.' Hope filled with flowers her cork-tree bark, And lighted its helm with a glowworm's spark; "Wit went nearest Old Time to pass, With his diamond oar and boat of glass, A feathery dart from his store he drew, And shouted, while far and swift it flew, 'O Mirth kills Time.' “But Time sent the feathery arrow back, I need hardly say that the song was rapturously applauded, and most deservedly so. Several others were demanded from the ladies and gentlemen of the party, and given without hesitation; but I cannot now recall them to my memory. The bugle and flute played beteen whiles, and all was laughter and merriment. "There's a sweet place," said Tinfoil, point ing to a villa on the Thames. "Now, with the fair Titania and ten thousand a year, one could there live happy." "I'm afraid the fair Titania must go to market without the latter incumbrance," replied the lady; “the gentleman must find the ten thousand a-year, and I must bring as my dowry" "Ten thousand charms," interrupted Tinfoil-" that's most true, and pity 'tis too true. Did your fairyship ever hear my epigram on the subject? |