142 ON THE FOOD OF ANIMALS. 



prudent doctor from Barataria to put his wand 

 upon the treacherous dishes, and forbid me to 

 touch their contents ! But there are no such 

 true friends now-a-days. Ail are lavish in the 

 praise of the kitchen. I must give up to them 

 my better judgment. 



" Video meliora, proboque ; 



Deteriora sequor." 



I am a victim to savoury smells and tempting 

 cheer ; whilst some mellow mortal sings, — 



" O the joys, the charms of dinner ! 

 O the scent divinely sweet ! 

 He's a base, unfeeling sinner 



Who can shy this splendid treat." 



A very slight inspection of our alimentary 

 system will give us too much reason to con- 

 jecture that the greater part of our bodily 

 achings and ailments have their origin in an 

 over-loaded stomach. 



As I have not an opportunity of examining 

 the interior of a dinner-fitted stomach, I will 

 beg a seat in the hazel-nut chariot of Shak- 

 speare's Queen Mab, and take a drive through 

 the gastric regions of a performer at the annual 

 civic dinner, given by the first magistrate of 

 the metropolis ; and where " lords and dukes 

 and noble princes," and doctors in law, in 



