Davenant, Battersea grass, hey? 6 That rum one, old King Jamie, had a bundle sent him as a rarity. Take it awa you loon,' said he, ''tis nothing better na' grown childrens' lolly-pops. Let me see na more of sic suck-baby at my board.' "Talking of gude old Jamie," observed Mohun, "they say our king is vastly like his royal grand-dad,-you have seen his majesty lately, Sir William, what think you, Sir ?" 66 Why, King Charles favours his grandfather, 'tis true, Sir, but not so much as his highness the Duke of York. The king has more dignity of visage; and though certainly somewhat hard favoured, his look is more princely; so marked an intelligence of countenance; and his smile is more engaging than I can describe: every one who approaches him, is enchanted by his gracious manner." “Yea,” said D'Urfey, “and, like your vicepresident, so becomes his magnificent wig; so, gentlemen, travestieing the loyalty of Davenant, who shall I have the pleasure of helping to this princely pigeon-pie? There is so much dignity in the view of it, though certainly some what high flavoured, but then the pigeons look so pretty; there is so much ri-tum-titum-ti, more than I can describe, that any one who approximates my pie, enchanted with my gracious manner of doling it out, will "Starve our patience," said Davenant, laughing; "for if thou be not the most impudent, dawdling jack-pudding, that ever presided over a pie, I'll be whipped." "Do cork up your wit till we come to the bottle, and mind your business, you Tom D'Urfey." "Master Mustard-seed, I know your patience well," replied D'Urfey; "so there Master President, you see thy old god-dad and I have a saying for every occasion." "Thou false deluding slave, that feedest me with the very name of meat,' "" said Mohun, "Do help the pie, or I'll vote you out of your office." "All our officers have been opprest with riotous feeders,'” replied the wag; when whetting his knife on the fork, he added, “ now, Master Mohun, my gay spark, behold this dainty dish,' The which, if I do not carve most curiously, say my knife's nought,'" when helping Mohun with mock ceremony, "there, Sir, 'tis a royal slice." "So much more our carver's excellence," said Mohun, observing - 'pon my soul 'tis strange; but our bard really has a saying for ev'ry thing -there is no end to him." 66 By which token-” said old Shirley, "Come, young gentleman," addressing Sir Charles Sedley*" you can carve, so break up this capon;" * Sir Charles Sedley, a dramatic writer, but more celebrated as a bon vivant and a wit. He was one of the constellation at the Court, of which the Dukes of Buckingham and Rochester were superior stars. His works were chiefly written for his amusement. He was, however, the least indecorous of that school of literary licentiousness, which will for ever disgrace the age of Charles the Debonnaire. His works consist of plays, translations, songs, prologues, epilogues, and little occasional pieces. The softness of his verses is characterised by the Duke of Buckingham, who calls them " Sedley's Witchcraft;" and the art of intimating loose principles, in neat and decent language, is thus ascribed to him by the Earl of Rochester :— when Nokes, with his accustomed gravity, added, "Yes, he can carve too, and lisp," which happening to be the fact, excited great merriment; for the young knight, though a gentleman in his manner and address, was a little foppish, and affected in his speech. He however laughed heartily at the comical Nokes; and, turning to D'Urfey, said, Tom, cannot you help me out?" when, with his accustomed promptitude, D'Urfey lisped, with the voice and gesture of his appellant, "Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods, and not hew him as a carcase fit'- ; further I will not go," said Sedley has that prevailing, gentle art, It has been held by some, that the latter part of his life was decorous, if not exemplary. He, however, was a bon vivant to the last, and died, as a poet expresses it," with a jest in his mouth, and a tear in his eye." D'Urfey," in such good company; so now, Sir Charles, I think we have cut and carved our bard to the bone, so I shall be most happy to take a glass of wine with you." 6 "He calls for wine: a health,' quoth he, as if he had been aboard, carousing to his mates after a storm.' Why, what a d―d impudent vice president," said Sedley, a little nettled at D'Urfey's freedom. "However, give me a bowl of wine;" so filling his glass, and smiling at the mad-pate, he rejoined—“ in this I bury all unkindness, Cassius."" "Bravo! better and better," said D'Urfey. "Why, my noble manager, we are all god-sons of the same sponsor, all cygnets of the old swan of Avon. Why, good master o' mine, otherwise thrice noble Sir Will, damme but we could knock up any piece of the old bard's at five minute's warning; know him all by heart-note him, and quote him, drunk or sober, fluently as the Christmas bellmen do their verses. So now, Sir Charley, boy, as your hand is in, do me the civility to help me to a pinion bone of one of those capons, together with a shapeable slice of the breast upon it: and if such things be not in |