ON THE FOOD OF ANIMALS. 141 



Harry Vane ! V And I may say, in like manner, 

 on viewing the kitchen, Oh, deliver me from 

 the thraldom of that mortal enemy of my con- 

 stitution ! It keeps gout under the dresser, and 

 fever in the cupboard. It smiles, and smirks, 

 and smells sweetly, and tempts me beyond my 

 strength ; and then, having overcome my philo- 

 sophy, like Circe with the sailors of old, it turns 

 me into a swine. There is no escaping from 

 such an insidious destroyer. It puts its every 

 resource in requisition, in order to effect my 

 ruin. Say, ye stern moralists of the day, how 

 can I resist roast beef with horse-radish? 

 mutton with caper-sauce ? and lamb with vernal 

 salad ? And when I have unfortunately eaten 

 too much of these, up comes an omelet from 

 the kitchen, smoking hot, and then a cranberry 

 tart, with cheese and celery in the rear. After 

 which, there are fruits and preserves, with a 

 ¥ nunc est bibendum." 



" Jolly mortals, fill your glasses." 



Ye powers of mastication ! what is to become 

 of me ? who can escape from such daily allure- 

 ments ? such beautiful manchineels ? All, all 

 are enticing me into the snare, and I am a slave 

 past redemption. Would there were some 



