Not
that we would make our final bow as the comic actor of the Company :
wherefore, now doffing the Cap, and Bells, out of due respect to our
present audience, we take a more serious view of the situation, and
seek to come forward hand in hand with some established favourites of
the generous literary public to support us on this occasion. Asking—for
the nonce—the paramount assistance of dear, quaint, learned, eccentric
Charles Lamb, the Prince of convivial Essayists, that he shall grasp us
by the right hand of good-fellowship ; and invoking that piously
endearing, yet unsanctimonious, homely Saint, Robert Herrick, the
human-hearted poet of Devon, to lend us his happy-phrased eloquence, on
our left; we venture to withdraw from the boards with a modicum of
hoped-for applause, granted, if not to ourselves, at least to these
distinguished brethren of the Sock, and Buskin, who come from Elysian
Fields to lend us their gracious help.
—"
Bespeaking kindly attention," saith Elia; (with his familiar use of
old-fashioned language, much to the point), " shall we confess a truth
? I begin to count the probabilities of my duration ! In proportion as
the years lessen, and shorten, I set more count upon their periods ; I
am not content to pass away ' like a weaver's shuttle.' These metaphors
solace me not, nor sweeten the unpalatable draught of mortality. I care
not to be carried with the tide ; and I reluct at the inevitable course
of destiny. I am in love with this green earth; the face of town, and
country; the unspeakable rural solitudes ; and the sweet security of
streets : I would set up my tabernacle here : I am content to stand
still at the age to which I am arrived ; I, and my friends ! " " Sun,
and sky, and breeze, and solitary walks, and
