Tommy (during the cleverly arranged Amphitheatre Scene, Act IV.) I am glad to see, Sir, that in this scene where we have so much to admire, the tumblers——
Mr. Barlow. These, my dear Tommy, represent the gladiators. And you must remember that on the stage, where every combat has to be carefully arranged both as to the number and fashion of the blows given and received, and as to who shall be, and who shall not be the conqueror, the contest of two determined champions, or rather of two champions whose course has been previously determined, cannot fail to be of a most thrilling and exciting character.
Tommy. O, Sir! they have given orders to let the Lion loose. O, Sir! the Lion is coming!
Harry. I do not believe that all these fine gentlemen and ladies would remain so still if there were, indeed, a Lion approaching.
Mr. Barlow. The Lion, my dear Tommy, is a native of both India and Africa. When they are hungry, they kill every animal they meet, and will even devour little boys——
Here poor Tommy's trepidation was increased to such an extent that he would have quitted his seat and the theatre, but for the sudden entry of the traitor Calenus, whose charge of murder brought against his master, the wily Arbaces, instantly distracted everyone's thoughts from the coming of the expected monster.
Both Mr. Barlow and Harry were loud in their praises of the dramatist who had contrived to arouse in the breasts of the spectators such emotions of fear, by the absence of the Lion, as could scarcely have been equalled by his formidable presence.
"Indeed," said Mr. Barlow, "on reflection, I am led to consider the chiefest part in this piece to be the Lion's share in it. He is spoken of at the commencement of the play, he is often alluded to throughout, and the bare mention of his name sensibly electrifies the spectators on and off the stage. From the very first we are incited to expect his appearance. He has not to roar to make himself dreaded. He has not even to be present, either on or off, the scene.
Harry. This device is, in my humble judgement, worthy of high commendation in the play-wright, who has thus evinced his reverence for the words of the immortal William, and whose plan is in cordial agreement with Bottom's opinion on this very matter, which, my dear Tommy, as you are as yet unacquainted with the works of Shakspeare, I will repeat to you. "Masters," says Bottom, "You ought to consider with yourselves, to bring in a lion among ladies is a most dreadful thing, for there is not a more fearful wild fowl than your lion, living."
Tommy was so forcibly struck by this adroit application of a famous passage from the plays of Shakspeare, that he determined, on the first opportunity to read all these dramas through from beginning to end. And having already set himself to the study of astronomy and mechanics, solely in order to make himself as proficient in the art of applicable illustrations as was his friend Harry Merton, Tommy now found that he had at least one hour of the day fully occupied.