THE BLUES:[609]
A LITERARY ECLOGUE.
ECLOGUE THE FIRST.
London.—Before the Door of a Lecture Room.
Enter Tracy, meeting Inkel.
Ink. You're too late.
Tra. Is it over?
Ink. Nor will be this hour.
But the benches are crammed, like a garden in flower.
With the pride of our belles, who have made it the fashion;
So, instead of "beaux arts," we may say "la belle passion"
For learning, which lately has taken the lead in
The world, and set all the fine gentlemen reading.
Tra. I know it too well, and have worn out my patience
With studying to study your new publications.
There's Vamp, Scamp, and Mouthy, and Wordswords and Co.[610]
With their damnable——
Ink. Hold, my good friend, do you know10
Whom you speak to?