YOOMY—Inspiration, that!
BABBALANJA.—Call it as you will, Yoomy, it was a sort of sleep- walking of the mind. Lombardo never threw down his pen: it dropped from him; and then, he sat disenchanted: rubbing his eyes; staring; and feeling faint—sometimes, almost unto death.
MEDIA—But pray, Babbalanja, tell us how he made acquaintance with some of those rare worthies, he introduces us to, in his Koztanza.
BABBALANJA—He first met them in his reveries; they were walking about in him, sour and moody: and for a long time, were shy of his advances; but still importuned, they at last grew ashamed of their reserve; stepped forward; and gave him their hands. After that, they were frank and friendly. Lombardo set places for them at his board; when he died, he left them something in his will.
MEDIA—What! those imaginary beings?
ABRAZZA—Wondrous witty! infernal fine!
MEDIA—But, Babbalanja; after all, the Koztanza found no favor in the eyes of some Mardians.
ABRAZZA—Ay: the arch-critics Verbi and Batho denounced it.
BABBALANJA—Yes: on good authority, Verbi is said to have detected a superfluous comma; and Batho declared that, with the materials he could have constructed a far better world than Lombardo’s. But, didst ever hear of his laying his axis?
ABRAZZA—But the unities; Babbalanja, the unities! they are wholly wanting in the Koztanza.