Page:Angelo's Pic Nic.djvu/80

 GEORGE COLMAN Charles LAmB, Whose ready wit and rich vein of humour are well known, was staying at Paris, with his friend Kenney, when Talma invited them, with Howard Payne, to come and see an original picture of Shakspeare, on an old pair of bellows, which he had purchased for a thousand francs, and which proved to be a well-known imposture, of which the great tragedian had recently become the victim. After admiring his supposed acquisition, the party announced their intention of seeing him that evening, in the play of Regulus, and invited him to sup with them afterwards, to which he assented Lamb, however, could not at all enter into the spirit of French acting, and in his general distaste made no exception in favour of his intended guest. This, however, did not prevent their mutual and high relish of each other's character and conversation, nor was any allusion made to the perform ance, till, on rising to go, Talma inquired, "how he liked it?" Lamb shook his head, and smiled. “Ah!" said Talma, " was not very happy to-night; you must see me in Sylla." " Incidit in Scyllam," said Lamb, "qui vult vitare Charybdim." --"Ah ! you are a rogue ; you are a great rogue," said Talma, shaking him cordially by the hand, as they parted. We cannot paint the good-natured tone and look, which took all sting out of this joke, as it does out of all others uttered by the same distinguished humorist. KENNEY. GEORGE CoLMAN. On a ramble with Jack Bannister and George Colman, we passed an evening at the Castle at Richmond. After supper,