But, in a while, remembering Cleone's note, he must needs check his
speed, and taking the paper from his bosom, began to con it over: 1. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty
spirit before a fall.
2. Selfishness shall find its own reward.
3. Journeys end in lovers' meetings.
Now as he rode thus at a hand-pace, puzzling over these cryptic words,
he was presently aroused by a voice, somewhat harsh and discordant,
singing at no great distance; and the words of the song were these: "Push about the brisk bowl, 't will enliven the heart
While thus we sit down on the grass;
The lover who talks of his sufferings and smart
Deserves to be reckoned an ass, an ass,
Deserves to be reckoned an ass."
Therefore Barnabas raised his head and, glancing to one side of the
way, beheld the singer sitting beneath the hedge. He was a small,
merry-eyed man and, while he sang, he was busily setting out certain
edibles upon the grass at his feet; now glancing from this very
small man to the very large pack that lay beside him, Barnabas
reined up and looked down at him with a smile.
"And pray," he inquired, "how do books sell these days?"
"Why, they do and they don't, sir. Sermons are a drug and novels
ain't much better, poems is pretty bobbish, but song-books is my meat.
And, talking o' songbooks, here's one as is jest the thing for a
convivial cock o' the game--a fine, young, slap-up buck like you, my
Lord. Here's a book to kill care, drive away sorrer, and give a
'leveller' to black despair. A book as'll make the sad merry, and
the merry merrier. Hark to this now!"
So saying, the Pedler drew a book from his pack, and opening it at
the title-page, began to read as follows, with much apparent unction
and gusto:
BEING A
Chaste, Elegant, and Humourous
COLLECTION OF SONGS,
for the ENTERTAINMENT of: The TENDER MAID, the PINING LOVER, the CHOICE
SPIRIT, the DROLL DOG, the JOVIAL SPORTSMAN, the
DARING SOLDIER and the ROUGH, HONEST TAR:
and for all those who would wish to render themselves agreeable,
divert the Company, kill Care, and be joyous; where the
high-seasoned WIT and HUMOUR will be sufficient Apology for
a bad Voice, and by which such as have a tolerable one will be
able to Shine without repressing the Laugh of the merrily
disposed, or offending the Ear of the chastest Virgin.
To which is added: A complete Collection of the Various TOASTS, SENTIMENTS,
and HOB-NOBS, that have been drank, are now
drinking, and some new Ones offered for Adoption.
"There you are, sir--there's a book for you! A book? A whole
li-bree--a vaddy-mekkum o' wit, and chock full o' humor! What d' ye
say for such a wollum o' sparkling bon mots? Say a guinea, say
fifteen bob? say ten? Come--you shall take it for five! Five bob for
a book as ain't to be ekalled no-how and no-wheer--"