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Selections from Harris's Cabinet - William Roscoe · Timeless Tales - Explore Classic Fiction

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Speaker 1: Part one of selections from Harris's Cabinet. This is a
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Speaker 1: LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
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Speaker 1: For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
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Speaker 1: The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast by William Roscoe.
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Speaker 1: Come take up your hats and away, let us haste
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Speaker 1: to the Butterfly's Ball and the grasshoppers Feast. The trumpeter
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Speaker 1: gadfly has summoned the crew, and the revels are now
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Speaker 1: only waiting for you, so said little Robert, and pacing
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Speaker 1: along his merry companions, came forth in a throng, and
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Speaker 1: on the smooth grass, by the side of a wood,
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Speaker 1: beneath a broad oak that for ages had stood, saw
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Speaker 1: the children of Earth and the tenants of air for
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Speaker 1: an evening's amusement together repair. And there came the beetle,
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Speaker 1: so blind and so black, who carried the emmet his
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Speaker 1: friend on his back. And there was the gnat and
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Speaker 1: the dragon fly too, with all their relations green, orange
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Speaker 1: and blue. And there came the moth with his plumage
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Speaker 1: of down, and the hornet in jacket of yellow and brown,
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Speaker 1: who with him the wasp his companion did bring, but
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Speaker 1: they promised that evening to lay by their sting. And
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Speaker 1: the sly little dormouse crept out of his hole and
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Speaker 1: brought to the feast his blind brother. The mole, and
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Speaker 1: the snail, with his horns peeping out of his shell,
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Speaker 1: came from a great distance the length of an ell
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Speaker 1: a mushroom their table, and on it was laid a
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Speaker 1: water dock leaf, which a tablecloth made. The viands were
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Speaker 1: various to each of their taste, and the bee brought
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Speaker 1: her honey to crown the repast. Then close on his haunches,
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Speaker 1: so solemn and wise, the frog, from a corner, looked
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Speaker 1: up to the skies, and the squirrel, well pleased such
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Speaker 1: diversions to see, mounted high overhead, and looked down from
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Speaker 1: a tree. Then out came the spider, with fingers so
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Speaker 1: fine to show his dexterity. On the tight line from
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Speaker 1: one branch to another, his cobwebs he slung. Then, quick
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Speaker 1: as an arrow, he darted along, but just in the middle,
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Speaker 1: oh shocking to tell, from his rope. In an instant,
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Speaker 1: poor harlequin fell. Yet he touched not the ground, but
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Speaker 1: with talons outspread, hung suspended in air at the end
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Speaker 1: of a thread. Then the grasshopper came with a jerk,
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Speaker 1: and the spring. Very long was his leg, though, but
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Speaker 1: short was his wing. He took but three leaps and
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Speaker 1: was soon out of sight. Then chirked his own praises
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Speaker 1: the rest of the night, with steps so majestic. The
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Speaker 1: snail did advance and promised the gazers a minuet to dance.
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Speaker 1: But they all laughed so loud that he pulled in
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Speaker 1: his head and went his own little chamber to bed. Then,
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Speaker 1: as evening gave way to the shadows of night, their watchmen,
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Speaker 1: the glow worm came out with a light. Then home,
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Speaker 1: let us hasten while yet we can see, for no
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Speaker 1: watchman is waiting for you and for me, So said
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Speaker 1: little Robert, and, pacing along his merry companions, returned in
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Speaker 1: a throng end of part one Part two of selections
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Speaker 1: from Harris's Cabinet. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
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Speaker 1: The Peacock at Home a sequel to The Butterfly's Ball,
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Speaker 1: written by a lady Catharine Anne Dorsert. The Butterfly's Ball
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Speaker 1: and the grasshoppers feasts excited the spleen of the birds
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Speaker 1: and the beasts for their mirth, and good cheer of
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Speaker 1: the bee was the theme, and the gnat blew his
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Speaker 1: horn as he danced in the beam, twas hummed by
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Speaker 1: the beetle, twas buzzed by the fly, and sung by
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Speaker 1: the myriads that sports neath the sky. The quadrupeds listened
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Speaker 1: with sullen displeasure, but the tenants of air were enraged
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Speaker 1: beyond measure. The peacock displayed his bright plumes to the sun,
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Speaker 1: and addressing his mates, thus indignant, begun, Shall we, like
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Speaker 1: domestic inelegant fowls, as unpolished as geese, and as stupid
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Speaker 1: as owls, sit tamely at home, humdrum with our spouses,
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Speaker 1: while crickets and butterflies open their houses. Shall such mean
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Speaker 1: little insects pretend to the fashion cousin turkey cock? Well,
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Speaker 1: may you be in a passion if I suffer such
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Speaker 1: insolent airs to prevail? Made Juno pluck out all the
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Speaker 1: eyes in my tail, so a fate I will give,
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Speaker 1: and my taste i'll display and send out my cards
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Speaker 1: for Saint Valentine's Day. This determined six fleet carrier pigeons
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Speaker 1: went out to invite all the burrs to Argus's rout.
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Speaker 1: The nest loving turtle dove sent an excuse. Dame Partlet
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Speaker 1: lay in, as did good missus Goose. The turkey poor
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Speaker 1: soul was confined to the rip for all her young
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Speaker 1: brood had just failed with the pit and the partridge
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Speaker 1: was asked, but a neighbor hard by had engaged a
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Speaker 1: snug party to meet in a pie. The wheat air declined,
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Speaker 1: recollecting her cousin's last year to a feast. Were invited
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Speaker 1: by dozens, but alas they returned not and she had
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Speaker 1: no taste to appear in a costume of vine leaves
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Speaker 1: or paste. The woodcock preferred his lone haunt on the moor,
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Speaker 1: and the traveler swallow was still on his tour. The cuckoo,
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Speaker 1: who should have been one of the guests, was rambling
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Speaker 1: on visits to other birds nests. But the rest all
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Speaker 1: accepted the kind invitation, and a much bustle it caused
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Speaker 1: in the plumed creation, such ruffling of feathers, such pruning
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Speaker 1: of coats, such chirping, such whistling, such clearing of throats,
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Speaker 1: such polishing bills, and such oiling of pinions. Had never
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Speaker 1: been known in the biped dominions. The tailor bird offered
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Speaker 1: to make up new clothes for all the young birdlings
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Speaker 1: who wished to be bows. He made for the robin
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Speaker 1: a doublet of red, and a new velvet cap for
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Speaker 1: the goldfinch's head. He added a plume to the wren's
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Speaker 1: golden crest, and spangled with silver the guinea fowl's breast,
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Speaker 1: while the halcyon bent over the streamlets of view, how
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Speaker 1: pretty she looked in her bodice of blue. Thus adorned,
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Speaker 1: they set off for the peacock's abode with the guide indicator,
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Speaker 1: who showed them the road. From all points of the
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Speaker 1: compass came birds of all feather, and the parrot can
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Speaker 1: tell who and who were together. There came Lord Cassowary
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Speaker 1: and General Flamingo, and Dom Paracato escaped from Domingo from
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Speaker 1: his high rock built erie. The eagle came forth, and
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Speaker 1: the Duchess of Ptarmigan flew from the north. The grebe
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Speaker 1: and the ider duck came up by water with the swan,
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Speaker 1: who brought out the young signet her daughter from his
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Speaker 1: woodland abode. Came the pheasant to me eight two kindred
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Speaker 1: arrived by the last India fleet. The one like a
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Speaker 1: nabob in habits most splendid, where gold with each hue
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Speaker 1: of the rainbow was blended in silver and black, like
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Speaker 1: a fair, pensive maid who mourns for her love, was
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Speaker 1: the other arrayed. The chuff came from Cornwall and brought
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Speaker 1: up his wife. The grouse traveled south from his lairdship
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Speaker 1: in Fife. The bunting forsuck her soft nest in the reeds,
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Speaker 1: and the widow bird came, though she still wore her weeds.
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Speaker 1: Sir John, heron of the lakes, strutted in a grand pas,
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Speaker 1: but no card had been sent to the pilfering door.
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Speaker 1: As the peacock kept up his progenitor's quarrel, which esop
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Speaker 1: relates about to cast off apparel for birds alike, men
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Speaker 1: in their contest together and in questions of right, can
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Speaker 1: dispute for a feather. The peacock, in peerial, the pride
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Speaker 1: of his race, received all his guests with an infinite grace,
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Speaker 1: waved high his blue neck and his train he displayed
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Speaker 1: embroidered with gold and with emeralds inlaid. Then with all
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Speaker 1: the gay troops to the shrubbery repaired. Where the musical
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Speaker 1: birds had a concert prepared. A hollybush formed the orchestra,
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Speaker 1: and in it sat the blackbird, the thrush, the lark,
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Speaker 1: and the linnet. A bullfinch, a captive almost from the nest,
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Speaker 1: now escaped from his cage, and with liberty blest in
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Speaker 1: a sweet mellow tone, joined the lessons of art with
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Speaker 1: the accents of nature which flowed from his heart. The canary,
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Speaker 1: a much admired foreign musician, condescended to sing to the
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Speaker 1: fowls of condition, while the nightingale warbled and quavered so
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Speaker 1: fine that they all clapped their wings and pronounced it divine.
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Speaker 1: The skylark, in ecstasy, sang from a cloud, and chanty
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Speaker 1: clear crowed, and the yaffil laughed loud. The dancing began.
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Speaker 1: When the singing was over, A dottereal first opened the
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Speaker 1: ball with the plover baron stork in a waltz was
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Speaker 1: allowed to excel with his beautiful partner, the fair demoiselle
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Speaker 1: and a newly fledged gossling, so spruce and genteel. A
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Speaker 1: minuet swam with young mister Teal, a land and bred sparrow,
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Speaker 1: A pert forward chited danced a reel with Miss Wagtail
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Speaker 1: and little Tom Tit, and the Sieur Guillemeaux next performed
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Speaker 1: a pass. While the elderly bipeds were playing a pool.
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Speaker 1: The dowager Lady Toucan first cut in with old Doctor
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Speaker 1: Buzzard and Admiral Penguin. From Ivy Bush tower came Dame
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Speaker 1: Owlet the wire and councilor cross Bill sat by to
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Speaker 1: advise the birds passed their prime, or whose heads it
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Speaker 1: was fated should pass. Many Saint Valentine's, yet beonimated, looked
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Speaker 1: on and remarked that the prudent and sage were quite
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Speaker 1: overlooked in this frivolous age. When birds scarce pen feathered
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Speaker 1: were brought to a rout forward chits from the eggshell.
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Speaker 1: But newly come out that in their youthful days they
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Speaker 1: now witnessed such frisking, And how wrong in the greenfinch
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Speaker 1: to flirt with the siskin so thought laid him a
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Speaker 1: cow and her friend cockatoo, and the raven foretold that
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Speaker 1: no good could ensy. They censured the bantam for strutting
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Speaker 1: and crowing in those vile pantaloons, which he fancied, looked
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Speaker 1: knowing and a want of decorum caused many demurs against
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Speaker 1: the game chicken for coming in spurs, old alderman cormorants
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Speaker 1: for supper. Impatient at the eating room door for an
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Speaker 1: hour had been stationed till a magpie at length the
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Speaker 1: banquet announcing gave the signal long wished for of clamoring
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Speaker 1: and pouncing at the well furnished board. All were eager
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Speaker 1: to perch, but the little miss creepers were left in
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Speaker 1: the lurch. Description must fail, and the pen is unable
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Speaker 1: to describe all the luxuries which covered the table. Each
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Speaker 1: delicate viand that taste could denote wasps, a lassauce piquante,
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Speaker 1: and flies on comporte, worms and frogs on friture for
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Speaker 1: the web footed fowl, and a barbecued mouse was prepared
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Speaker 1: for the owl, nuts, grains, fruit and fish to regale.
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Speaker 1: Every pallet and groundsel and chickweed served up in a salad.
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Speaker 1: The razor bill carved for the famished group, and the
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Speaker 1: spoon bill obligingly ladled the soup. So they filled all
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Speaker 1: their crops with the dainties before him, and the tables
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Speaker 1: were cleared with the utmost decorum when they gaily had
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Speaker 1: caroled till peep of the dawn. The lark gently hinted
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Speaker 1: twas time to be gone, and his clarion so shrill
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Speaker 1: gave the company warning that chanticleer scented the gales of
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Speaker 1: the morning. So they chirked in full chorus, a friendly adieu,
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Speaker 1: and with hearts quite as light as the plumage that
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Speaker 1: grew on their merry thought bosoms away they all flew.
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Speaker 1: Then long lived the peacock in splendor unmatched, whose ball
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Speaker 1: shall be talked of by birds, yet unhatched his praise,
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Speaker 1: Let the trumpeter loudly proclaim, and the goose lend her
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Speaker 1: quill to transmit it to fame and of Part two,
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Speaker 1: Part three of selections from Harris's Cabinet. This LibriVox recording
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Speaker 1: is in the public domain. The Lion's Masquerade a sequel
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Speaker 1: to The Peacock at Home, written by a Lady Catherine
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Speaker 1: and Dorset. As a roarer stepped forth from the gates
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Speaker 1: of the east with her garland of roses and dew
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Speaker 1: spangled vest a clamor unusual assaulted her ear instead of
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Speaker 1: the lark, and her friend chanted clear at least though
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Speaker 1: their voices. She sometimes could trace. They seemed overpowered by
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Speaker 1: the whole feathered race, And such was the chirping and fluttering.
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Speaker 1: Then it roused an old lion asleep in his den.
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Speaker 1: Enraged at this racket so much out of season, he
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Speaker 1: roaring sent out to ask what was the reason, And
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Speaker 1: the jackals soon learned from some stragglers about twas the
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Speaker 1: company come from Sir Argas's rout. The gay feathered people
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Speaker 1: pursuing their flight were soon out of hearing and soon
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Speaker 1: out of sight. But the king of the quadrupeds vainly
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Speaker 1: sought rest, for something like envy had poisoned his breast.
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Speaker 1: What then were his feelings the following day, when every
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Speaker 1: creature he met on his way could talk about nothing,
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Speaker 1: both early and late. But the peacock's most sumptuous and
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Speaker 1: elegant fate, his name through the woods as he wandered along,
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Speaker 1: was still made the burthen of every song. That the
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Speaker 1: concert was exquisite. All were agreed, and so were the
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Speaker 1: ball and the supper. Indeed, the company too, of the
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Speaker 1: very first rank, and the wits that prevailed, and the
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Speaker 1: toasts that were drank, he found, to his infinite rage
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Speaker 1: and vexation, twas the favorite subject half over the nation,
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Speaker 1: and feeling no longer a relish to Rome, he returned
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Speaker 1: to his lioness sullenly.
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Speaker 2: Home, fair consort of mine, tis our pleasure, he said,
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Speaker 2: to give very shortly a grand masquerade, though the butterfly's
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Speaker 2: ball and the grasshoppers feasts were too mean for my
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Speaker 2: notice as king of the beasts. Now the peacock has
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Speaker 2: chosen to give a fine rout which is heard of
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Speaker 2: so much is so blazoned about, as excited, such rapture
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Speaker 2: and warm approbation as threatens the rank which we hold
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Speaker 2: in creation. Then, with diligence love for my banquets, prepare
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Speaker 2: and mind all the beasts of the forest. Allare twas
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Speaker 2: the task of the jackal the tickets to penn the
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Speaker 2: lion sea's masks on the twentieth ten. It would take
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Speaker 2: a whole volume distinctly to name the answer on answer
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Speaker 2: that following came. There were some that were sick from
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Speaker 2: the changeable weather, and some long engaged in snug parties together,
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Speaker 2: but few, very few would refuse.
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Speaker 1: Such a thing as a grand entertainment announced by their king.
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Speaker 1: All devoted the time now to due preparation to decide
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Speaker 1: on their character, dress decoration. At length, phoeb dawned on
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Speaker 1: the long wished for day which their beauty, their talents,
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Speaker 1: and wit should display. What licking and cleaning, What endless
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Speaker 1: adorwning not to the creature stirred out the whole course
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Speaker 1: of the morning, and some of their dresses were barely
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Speaker 1: complete at the time they were punctually ordered to meet
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Speaker 1: the lioness, willing to sanction the rest with a helmet
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Speaker 1: and spear. As Britannia was dressed, but the lion, as
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Speaker 1: lord of the banquet, remained in the same noble figure
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Speaker 1: that nature ordained, and crouching beside her with dignified mien,
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Speaker 1: contributed much to the state of his queen. The jackal
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Speaker 1: Lord Chamberlain waited upon her and two little lap dogs
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Speaker 1: as pages of honor, while twelve oranger tangs were stationed
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Speaker 1: without to usher the company in and about at the
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Speaker 1: hour which his king had thought proper to name the
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Speaker 1: horse as the hoonim of Gulliver Kane, unaccustomed to utter
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Speaker 1: the thing that is not, he reached at the moment
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Speaker 1: he promised the spot. The fox then appeared on a
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Speaker 1: different scent on foul depredation and villany bent and the
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Speaker 1: dress of a country attorney. He chose to his purpose
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Speaker 1: best suited as all the world knows, with looks as
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Speaker 1: impatient and teeming with sin. The wolf in sheep's clothing
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Speaker 1: was next ushered in. The guests now came thronging in numbers, untold,
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Speaker 1: the furious, the gentle, the young, and the old in
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Speaker 1: Domino's Son, but in characters most and now a brave warrior,
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Speaker 1: and then a fair toast, the baboon as a counselor
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Speaker 1: alderman glutton, a lamb miss in her teens with her aunt,
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Speaker 1: an old mutton. It was easy to see as this
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Speaker 1: couple passed by the wolf very knowingly cast a sheep's eye.
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Speaker 1: And now at the door was a terrible clatter. The
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Speaker 1: beasts all about wondered what was the matter. A poor
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Speaker 1: cat in patterns came running so fast her tickets was
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Speaker 1: almost forgot as she passed, but there was it appeared
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Speaker 1: quite enough to alarm her. For close at her heels
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Speaker 1: came a great hog in armor. Then followed his friend
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Speaker 1: in a very large wig, as a deep red professor,
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Speaker 1: the famed learned pig. A bear came as caliban loaded
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Speaker 1: with wood, his bones full of aches from Prospero's rod.
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Speaker 1: The greyhound as Vanity holding a glass, the stag as Achion,
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Speaker 1: king midas the Ass, and next them a sullen and
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Speaker 1: obstinate mule as a dance who had just been expelled
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Speaker 1: from his school. The Masterff, a bravingly sailor, appeared, no
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Speaker 1: friend he betrayed, and no enemy feared. Britannia received him
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Speaker 1: with marked condescension and paid him all night most distinguished attention. Now,
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Speaker 1: skipping along on the tip of his toe, came a
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Speaker 1: chattering monkey a frenchified bow, and reeling behind in an
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Speaker 1: officer's dress, with his pert younger brother just come from
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Speaker 1: the mess, with manners as forward and strut as complete
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Speaker 1: as other young ensigns you see in the street. The
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Speaker 1: bull came as Taurus, all studded with stars Capricornus, the
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Speaker 1: goat a bulldog as Mars. Now, refreshments by order were
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Speaker 1: handed about, and the dancing commenced with a terrible rout,
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Speaker 1: when suddenly silence pervaded the throng. Some Eastern grandees were
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Speaker 1: conducted along, attendants preceded with all due decorum, and spaniels
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Speaker 1: as courtiers came fawning before him, no longer in servitude,
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Speaker 1: bending the knee, and destined the first of his kind
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Speaker 1: to be free. The camel approached with magnificent stress, as
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Speaker 1: a nabob who lately arrived from the east from the
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Speaker 1: island of Ceylon. An elephant came in costume complete as
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Speaker 1: the King of Siam. Thence followed a native of snowy
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Speaker 1: white race. Respect and affection were marked in his face,
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Speaker 1: an appendage of grandeur, with the chowries hung round and
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Speaker 1: tissued embroidery that trailed on the ground. Round his tusks,
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Speaker 1: precious stones, gold and diamonds were set. He was one
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Speaker 1: splendid mass from his head to his feet. The tiger
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Speaker 1: a fierce Indian chief in the rear. Many foreigners, too,
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Speaker 1: of distinction were there. This magnificent group so astonished the
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Speaker 1: crowd that some, in their rapture, applauded aloud. Supper now
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Speaker 1: was announced, with a terrible crush to the door. Did
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Speaker 1: the ravenous visitants rush. For some time none could pass,
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Speaker 1: but the first that were able found glutton. The aldermen
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Speaker 1: seated at table at the banquet. The guests, in amazement
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Speaker 1: were lost and the King of Siam took the right
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Speaker 1: of his host. Beside him, a vase filled with water
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Speaker 1: was placed of crystal and gold, very skillfully chased with
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Speaker 1: flowers of the orange. The handles were bound, and otto
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Speaker 1: of roses was sprinkled. Around Before him were coconuts, figs,
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Speaker 1: wheat and rice, the wood of acacia, banana and spice
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Speaker 1: with rac and every delicate wine that each nation can
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Speaker 1: press from the clustering vine. To proceed were but tedious
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Speaker 1: for every beast, as well as the elephant, found a
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Speaker 1: rich feast. And now their great monarch, who quitted his
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Speaker 1: seat with an air of true majesty, said I entreat,
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Speaker 1: as he fears my displeasure, that every creature will to
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Speaker 1: night lay aside all that's bad.
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Speaker 2: In his nature.
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Speaker 1: You have heard with what harmony birds can retire, and
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Speaker 1: their conduct in this respect all must admire. In the
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Speaker 1: feathered race, here an example we find far better than
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Speaker 1: that which is set by mankind. How oft have their
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Speaker 1: gal as a tragical end, one loses a mistress, another
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Speaker 1: a friend, the wife of a third has eloped from
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Speaker 1: a ball, a fourth the next day, and a jewel
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Speaker 1: must fall. Yes, such are the fatal effects of excess,
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Speaker 1: which reason was given to man to repress. But now
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Speaker 1: let us tell them, with pride in their feasts, to
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Speaker 1: copy the insects, the birds, and the beasts. The effect
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Speaker 1: of his speech was immediately seen. They all roared, ruled
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Speaker 1: Bretagna in praise of his queen, and as soon as
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Speaker 1: their monarch had quitted the room, without growl, grunt or grumble,
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Speaker 1: they all scrambled home. And of Part three, Part four
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Speaker 1: of selections from Harris's Cabinet. This liveryvox recording is in
25:33
Speaker 1: the public domain. The Elephant's Ball and Grand fetch Chanpetro
25:42
Speaker 1: intended as a companion to those much admired pieces the
25:46
Speaker 1: Butterfly's Ball and the Peacock at home by W. B.
25:52
Speaker 1: The insects and birds with the balls and their feasts
25:56
Speaker 1: caused much conversation among all the beasts. The elephant, famous
26:01
Speaker 1: for sense as for size, at such entertainments, express'd much surprise,
26:08
Speaker 1: says he shall these impudent tribes of the air to
26:13
Speaker 1: break our soft slumbers. Thus Wanton thee dare, shall these
26:19
Speaker 1: petty creatures us beasts far below, exceed us in consequence
26:25
Speaker 1: fashion and show forbid it true dignity honor and pride,
26:31
Speaker 1: a grand rural fate. I will shortly provide that for pomp, taste,
26:36
Speaker 1: and splendor, shall far leave behind all former attempts of
26:41
Speaker 1: a similar kind. The buffalo, bison, elk antelope pard all
26:49
Speaker 1: heard what he spoke, with due marks of regard. A
26:53
Speaker 1: number of messengers quickly he sent to the beasts far
26:56
Speaker 1: and near to make known his intent. The place he
27:00
Speaker 1: designed for the scene of his plan was a valley
27:03
Speaker 1: remote from the dwellings of man, well guarded with mountains,
27:08
Speaker 1: embellished with trees, and furnished with rivers that flowed to
27:12
Speaker 1: the seas. Here first came the lion, so gallant and strong,
27:19
Speaker 1: well known by his mane, that is, shaggy and long.
27:23
Speaker 1: The jackal, his slave, followed close in his rear, resolved
27:27
Speaker 1: the good things with his master to share. The leopard
27:31
Speaker 1: came next, a gay sight to the eye, with his
27:34
Speaker 1: coat spotted over like stars in the sky. The tiger,
27:39
Speaker 1: his system of slaughter declined at once, a good supper
27:43
Speaker 1: and pleasure to find. The bulky rhinoceros came with his bride,
27:49
Speaker 1: well armed with his horn and his coat of mail hide.
27:53
Speaker 1: Then came the hyaena, whose cries authors say, oft lead
27:57
Speaker 1: the fond traveler out of his way, whom quickly he
28:00
Speaker 1: seizes and renders his prey. The wolf hasten hither. That
28:06
Speaker 1: ruffian so bold, who kills the poor sheep when they
28:10
Speaker 1: strayfened the fold. The bear, having slept the long winter away,
28:15
Speaker 1: arrived from the north to be merry and gay. The
28:19
Speaker 1: panther ferocious, the lynx of quick sight, the preacher and
28:23
Speaker 1: glutton came hither that night. The camel, so often with
28:28
Speaker 1: burthens oppressed, was glad for a while from his labor
28:31
Speaker 1: to rest. The sloth, when invited, got up with much pain,
28:37
Speaker 1: just groaned out, oh no, then laid down again. The
28:44
Speaker 1: fox near the hen roost no longer kept watch, but
28:47
Speaker 1: hide to the feast. Better viance to catch the monkeys.
28:52
Speaker 1: So cunning and full of his sport to show all
28:55
Speaker 1: his talents, came to this resort. The dog and grimalc
29:00
Speaker 1: from service released expected good snacks at the end of
29:04
Speaker 1: the feast, The first at the gate as a sentinel, stood,
29:08
Speaker 1: the last kept the rats and the mice from the food.
29:13
Speaker 1: The crowd of strange quadrupeds seen at the ball to
29:17
Speaker 1: a tedious and needless to mention them all to shorten
29:21
Speaker 1: the story, suffice it to say some scores, nay, some
29:25
Speaker 1: hundreds attended that day, but most of the tame and
29:29
Speaker 1: domestical kind, for fear of some stratagem, tarried behind. Due
29:34
Speaker 1: caution is prudent, but laws had been made. No beast
29:38
Speaker 1: on that night should another invade before we go farther,
29:43
Speaker 1: tis proper to state each female was asked to attend
29:47
Speaker 1: with her mate. Of these, many came to this fate
29:51
Speaker 1: of renown, but some were prevented by causes well known.
29:57
Speaker 1: Now Saul had retired to the ocean to sl the
30:00
Speaker 1: guests had arrived there gay vigils to keep their haul.
30:05
Speaker 1: Was a lawn of sufficient extent, well skirted with trees,
30:09
Speaker 1: the rude winds to prevent the thick woven branches, deep
30:14
Speaker 1: curtains displayed, and Heaven's high arch a grand canopy made.
30:20
Speaker 1: Some thousands of lamps fixed to poplars were seen that shone.
30:25
Speaker 1: Most resplendents red, yellow, and green. When forms, introductions and
30:31
Speaker 1: such were gone through, twas quickly resolved the gay dance
30:35
Speaker 1: to pursue. The musical band on a terrace appearing, performed
30:41
Speaker 1: many tunes that enchanted the hearing the ape on the
30:45
Speaker 1: Oh Boy, much science displayed. The monkey the fiddle delightfully played.
30:51
Speaker 1: The orangutane touched the harp with great skill. The ass
30:55
Speaker 1: beat the drum with effect and goodwill, and the squirrel
30:59
Speaker 1: kept ringing his merry bells.
31:01
Speaker 2: Still.
31:03
Speaker 1: The elephant, stately majestic and tall with cousin rhinoceros, opened
31:08
Speaker 1: the ball with dignified mien. The two partners advanced, and
31:14
Speaker 1: the dulacore minuet gracefully danced. The lion and unicorn, beasts
31:20
Speaker 1: of great fame, with much admiration, accomplished the same. The
31:25
Speaker 1: tiger and leopard, an active young pair, performed a brisk
31:29
Speaker 1: jig with an excellent air. Next, bruin stood up with
31:34
Speaker 1: a good natured smile and capered a hornpipe in singular style,
31:39
Speaker 1: with a staff in his paws and erect. All the while,
31:44
Speaker 1: the fox, wolf and panther, their humors to please, danced
31:49
Speaker 1: three handed reels with much spirit and ease. A few
31:53
Speaker 1: tried cotillions and suchlike French fancies, but most of them
31:58
Speaker 1: joined in John Bull's country dancers. Some beasts were not
32:03
Speaker 1: used to these violent motions, and some were too old
32:06
Speaker 1: or too grave in their notions. Of these, a great
32:10
Speaker 1: many diverted their hours with wist delieu, backgammon, quadrille, or
32:15
Speaker 1: all fours, much time being spent in these pleasing diversions,
32:22
Speaker 1: a motion was made to remit their exertions, for supper
32:26
Speaker 1: was waiting, which on this occasion was managed with skill
32:30
Speaker 1: and exact regulation. The bosom of earth, a firm table supplied.
32:36
Speaker 1: The cloth was green grass with gay flowerets bedyed. The
32:41
Speaker 1: various utensils, by nature were cast and suited completely this
32:45
Speaker 1: antique repast. The generous host had provided great plenty to
32:51
Speaker 1: suit various palettes of every dainty. Some scores of fat
32:57
Speaker 1: oxen were roasted entire for those who whose keen stomachs
33:01
Speaker 1: plain beef might require profusion of veal, nice lam and
33:06
Speaker 1: good mutton to tickle the taste of each more refined glutton.
33:11
Speaker 1: Abundance of fish, game and poultry. For those whose epicure
33:15
Speaker 1: palates such nice at his chose, Ripe fruits and rich
33:21
Speaker 1: sweet meats were served in great store, of which much
33:25
Speaker 1: remained when the banquet was ore. For as to mild
33:28
Speaker 1: foods of the vegetative kind, few guests at the table
33:32
Speaker 1: to these were inclined rare hap for such persons as
33:36
Speaker 1: traveled that way by chance or design. On the following day,
33:41
Speaker 1: on wine and strong spirits, few chose to regale, as
33:45
Speaker 1: most were accustomed to Adam's old ale. When supper was ended,
33:50
Speaker 1: and each happy guest had freely partaken of what he loved.
33:54
Speaker 1: Best of toasts and of sentiments, various were given, as
33:59
Speaker 1: health to our hosts, and the land that we live in.
34:02
Speaker 1: The former was drank with hussars three times three, which
34:06
Speaker 1: echo repeated with rapturous glee. Now mirth and good humor
34:12
Speaker 1: pervaded the throng, and each was requested to furnish a song,
34:17
Speaker 1: which many complied with, but such as denied. Some whimsical
34:21
Speaker 1: laughable story supplied The lion Britannia rule sung mighty well
34:28
Speaker 1: the tiger in English roast beef did excel, while others
34:33
Speaker 1: made all the wide valley to ring with Niles's glorious battle,
34:38
Speaker 1: and God Save the King. In such good amusements. The
34:43
Speaker 1: evening they passed till Aurora appeared to the eastward. At last,
34:49
Speaker 1: when back to their homes, they returned, one and all
34:53
Speaker 1: well pleased with the sports. At the Elephant's ball and
35:00
Speaker 1: of Part four, Part five of selections from Harris's Cabinets.
35:11
Speaker 1: This Library Vox recording is in the public domain. The
35:17
Speaker 1: Council of Dogs by William Roscoe. Why a council of
35:24
Speaker 1: dogs was convened on the plane the president sheep dog
35:27
Speaker 1: thus rose to explain this meeting. I call to complain
35:32
Speaker 1: of misusage from the poets, who nowadays have a strange
35:36
Speaker 1: usage of leading up insects and birds to Parnassus, while
35:42
Speaker 1: without rhyme or reason unnoticed they pass us. Declare then,
35:46
Speaker 1: those talents by which we may claim some pretensions? I
35:50
Speaker 1: hope to poetical fame. I boast of whole legions my voice,
35:55
Speaker 1: who obey without me the sheep e. The shepherd may stray,
36:00
Speaker 1: but no more of myself. Let each dog of spirit
36:03
Speaker 1: stand forward and modestly state his own merit. But I
36:08
Speaker 1: charge you be gentle. Let's hear of no growling, no grinning,
36:13
Speaker 1: no snarling, no snapping, no howling. The greyhound first rose
36:19
Speaker 1: with a spring from his seat, scarcely bending the grass
36:22
Speaker 1: that grew under his feet. His figure was airy and placid,
36:27
Speaker 1: his mien yet to flash in his eye, Indignation was seen.
36:32
Speaker 1: Brave companions, said he, shall we, noble beasts hear of butterflies, balls,
36:37
Speaker 1: and grasshoppers, feasts here dinned in our ears wherever we
36:42
Speaker 1: roam the mask seeing lion and peacock at home? Shall
36:46
Speaker 1: we hear all this? Nor assert the fair fame that,
36:50
Speaker 1: for ages long past has distinguished our name. Forbid it,
36:54
Speaker 1: ye dogs, here behold me, stand forth to proclaim to
36:58
Speaker 1: the world my deserts and my worth. Keen and swift
37:03
Speaker 1: in the chase, I can boldly declare from my speed
37:06
Speaker 1: as I follow in vain flies the hair Nay, while
37:10
Speaker 1: like the wind I bound over the course. By master
37:13
Speaker 1: comes lagging behind on his horse. TwixT friends, I could
37:18
Speaker 1: laugh at beholding the fuss and boasting men make of
37:21
Speaker 1: success due to us. The truth is so obvious, tis
37:26
Speaker 1: scarce worth theen forcing. Without our assistance, they could not
37:30
Speaker 1: go coursing. All you say, quoth the harrier, dear cause
37:36
Speaker 1: is most true. Yet I think it but just to
37:39
Speaker 1: give each dog his due. So don't be offended if
37:43
Speaker 1: I dare disclose that you are not gifted like me
37:46
Speaker 1: with a nose. When the poodle heard this, he laughed
37:50
Speaker 1: out aloud, and all the curs grinned. Who were mixed
37:53
Speaker 1: in the crowd. Then the hound and the greyhound both
37:57
Speaker 1: flew at the poodle and called him a curl coated
38:01
Speaker 1: cur and a noodle. Poor poodle was frightened at what
38:05
Speaker 1: he had done, but being himself much addicted to fun,
38:08
Speaker 1: and having no notion of running by scent, he could
38:11
Speaker 1: not conceive the hound seriously meant to say that the
38:15
Speaker 1: greyhound had no nose at all, when he'd won twice
38:19
Speaker 1: as long as his own, though twas small. Come, I've
38:24
Speaker 1: done with your jaw, said the foxhound in spleen. But
38:28
Speaker 1: how should a foreigner know what you mean? May happy
38:31
Speaker 1: can dance, and I'm sure he can beg Let him
38:34
Speaker 1: run me a race, and I'll tie up a leg.
38:36
Speaker 1: But in hunting, in truth, the harrier and beagle no
38:40
Speaker 1: more equal us than the hawk does. The eagle trotting
38:43
Speaker 1: after a hare is mere childish play. It may now
38:47
Speaker 1: and then serve to kill a dull day. But we
38:50
Speaker 1: at sunrise seek the fox in the cover, drive him
38:54
Speaker 1: often before us ten counties, half over, sweep wild o'er
38:59
Speaker 1: the hill, or close at his brush, and checked through
39:02
Speaker 1: the gorse and the river. We rush and phoebus once
39:06
Speaker 1: more must sink down to his nest. Ere we slacken
39:09
Speaker 1: our chase, or betake us to rest, so tempting our sport.
39:14
Speaker 1: Men think it to tones for the maiming of limbs
39:16
Speaker 1: and the breaking of bones, said the staghound. All rivalships
39:23
Speaker 1: here I disclaim, since for strength and for speed, so
39:26
Speaker 1: well known is my fame, that I justly am reckoned.
39:29
Speaker 1: The first among hounds get our chase like the foxhounds,
39:33
Speaker 1: with danger abounds. Nay, it is sometimes attended with fatal effects,
39:39
Speaker 1: as in hunting of stags. Men have broken their necks.
39:44
Speaker 1: Oh pray say no more, said a poor, meager cur
39:47
Speaker 1: It grees me to think men such dangers incur to mankind.
39:52
Speaker 1: I'm a friend of the genuine breed, a friend little known.
39:56
Speaker 1: But in th hour of need, by this string round
39:59
Speaker 1: my neck, I my poor master, and true to his touch,
40:03
Speaker 1: I go slower or faster. Oh pity his sorrows, for
40:07
Speaker 1: he is stone blind. Without my assistance, his way could
40:11
Speaker 1: not find. But I lead him with caution through alleys
40:14
Speaker 1: and streets, and rejoice to observe the relief that he meets.
40:20
Speaker 1: And when to our lodging at night, we repair of
40:23
Speaker 1: the food is collected, he gives me a share. Then
40:27
Speaker 1: a spaniel advanced with a courtier like mien. His manners
40:31
Speaker 1: were gentle, his coat soft and clean, His nose was
40:35
Speaker 1: jet black, and his ears were so long they swept
40:38
Speaker 1: on the ground as he passed through the throng. Thus
40:42
Speaker 1: he spoke, We boast of mankind and attachment so pure
40:47
Speaker 1: that docilent patient their blows, we endure. We can hunt,
40:52
Speaker 1: we can quest, and what's more, we can trace the
40:55
Speaker 1: descent long and nobled by favor and grace. Ancester's portraits
41:01
Speaker 1: are still to be seen with those of the babes
41:04
Speaker 1: of King Charles and his queen. You boast of your rank, sir.
41:09
Speaker 1: The water dog cried, as he shook his rough coat
41:12
Speaker 1: that was scarcely yet dried. But in sport, Who with
41:15
Speaker 1: me can compare? Have you seen where the bush fringed
41:19
Speaker 1: pool is mantled with green? How I whine through the
41:23
Speaker 1: reeds and the rushes my way, and the haunts of
41:25
Speaker 1: the snipe or the mallard betray How when loud sounds
41:30
Speaker 1: the gun aroused by the crash, as the fall of
41:33
Speaker 1: the victim is marked by the splash. Leaping forward, I
41:37
Speaker 1: bear off the prayer to dash tis enough you have merit,
41:42
Speaker 1: But I think it is better to mention my claims,
41:45
Speaker 1: quoth the feather tailed setter. The dew of the morn
41:49
Speaker 1: I with rapture in hail, when checked in my course
41:52
Speaker 1: by the scent breathing gale in caution, low crouching, each
41:57
Speaker 1: gesture displays where the covey lies basking or sportively plays
42:03
Speaker 1: my net bearing master. I watch as I creep till
42:06
Speaker 1: encircled the brood is enthralled to sweep. The pointer then
42:12
Speaker 1: rose and observed, sir, your trade is so gentle and
42:16
Speaker 1: quiet it might suit the ladies, poor things who would
42:20
Speaker 1: scream at the sound of a gun, which we pointers
42:23
Speaker 1: consider as part of the fun. We range the wide
42:27
Speaker 1: fallows or quarter the stubble, while the laboring sportsman, alive
42:32
Speaker 1: to each double, hails the high stiffened tail and the
42:36
Speaker 1: motionless joint, and cautiously warns the whole field of the point,
42:41
Speaker 1: as by magic transfixed all the signal obey with the
42:46
Speaker 1: death dealing tube. He hastes up to his prey. To
42:50
Speaker 1: the pointer a bandy leg turnspit replied, oh, you said,
42:54
Speaker 1: worthy kinsman cannot be denied as to pass times and sports.
43:00
Speaker 1: But allow me to say, aye to men some good
43:04
Speaker 1: turns I've done in my day. When's a sportsman if
43:07
Speaker 1: he turns to his meal, what a veil you're ranging
43:11
Speaker 1: and pointing, and eyes stiffened, tail of your posture so graceful,
43:16
Speaker 1: good sir, you may boast it a qua bone your game,
43:20
Speaker 1: if I did not hoast it a bristly Scotch terrier,
43:26
Speaker 1: his eyes black and keen. Thus attacked the last speaker, pray,
43:31
Speaker 1: what do you mean to boast of your service? No
43:34
Speaker 1: longer of use? If you're still roasted meat? There might
43:37
Speaker 1: be some excuse, but smoke Jack's and Rumford's and other
43:41
Speaker 1: new hits. E is you thank the dog star from
43:45
Speaker 1: turning of spits? But to be in such haste to
43:48
Speaker 1: record your own worth? As speak before me, a famed
43:52
Speaker 1: dog of the north, who while vermin destroy mouse, weasel
43:57
Speaker 1: or rat, says the turnspit? Why suggin my mistress's cat,
44:03
Speaker 1: you crooking legged cur, said the terrier, too, dear. Such
44:08
Speaker 1: talents as mine were the cats to compare the President's
44:14
Speaker 1: sheep dog to order, now called them so as well
44:17
Speaker 1: they grew quiet, or else he'd of mauldom he threatened
44:21
Speaker 1: a meeting should instantly close. Here the pug and the
44:25
Speaker 1: spaniard each turned up his nose. But a dapper barbet,
44:29
Speaker 1: so blithe and so smart, with his ruffles and rough
44:33
Speaker 1: all shone with such art, tripped forward and said his
44:36
Speaker 1: tricks he would play. He tumbled fetched ball and down
44:40
Speaker 1: for dead. Lay then started alive to defend George the third,
44:46
Speaker 1: while in pleasure, loud barking, their plaudits were heard. Eight
44:51
Speaker 1: curs the same courage stepped out with delight, and suddenly
44:54
Speaker 1: reared on their hind legs upright. They bowed, and they
44:59
Speaker 1: curtsied with iNFiNiT at skill, and danced on the turf,
45:02
Speaker 1: a graceful quadrille. More mongrels rush forward, all eager to
45:07
Speaker 1: tell how their masters they serve and in what they excel.
45:11
Speaker 1: Each followed or peddler, or tinker or gipsy and watched
45:15
Speaker 1: all the goods while their masters got tipsy. The poacher's dog,
45:20
Speaker 1: trembling and all in a fright, then whispered he followed
45:24
Speaker 1: his master by night. He never gave tongue. He safely
45:28
Speaker 1: could say, and not telling tales, slunk slyly away Stop
45:34
Speaker 1: a moment, dear, sir, and look not so rueful, But
45:37
Speaker 1: hearken to me whom the dog for a truffle. Though
45:41
Speaker 1: your body be thin and your spirits below, comparisons often
45:45
Speaker 1: will comfort Besnow look at me and acknowledge that I'm
45:50
Speaker 1: somewhat leaner. For they famished poor truffler to make him
45:53
Speaker 1: the keener. At length rose the mastif, so gruff and
45:58
Speaker 1: so surly, that the curs scampered off in a sad,
46:01
Speaker 1: hurly burly. I'm glad to observe that none of you
46:05
Speaker 1: dare to boast of your courage, for said he to
46:09
Speaker 1: compare your valor with mine in vain, would you strive all,
46:14
Speaker 1: my cousin, the bulldog alone is my rival. We are
46:18
Speaker 1: both so undaunted, determined and bold that on what we
46:22
Speaker 1: have fastened we never quit. Hold he regrets that this
46:26
Speaker 1: meeting he cannot attend, but he's gone into Norfolk to
46:29
Speaker 1: visit a friend, and has left it with me his
46:32
Speaker 1: excuses to make while he is engaged with a bull
46:35
Speaker 1: at the stake. Hold Hold, cried a dog of gigantic
46:42
Speaker 1: dimensions who came from Hibernia to urge his pretensions of
46:47
Speaker 1: your valor, so matchless you're wondrously full. But my honeys,
46:52
Speaker 1: you know I'm the dog for a bull, and learn
46:55
Speaker 1: my progenitor's famed dogs of your could do more in
46:58
Speaker 1: two days than you in a score. Their brave faiths,
47:03
Speaker 1: i'm told, are recorded by sages who wrote both of
47:07
Speaker 1: base and of men in past ages, that the wolf
47:10
Speaker 1: dogs of Erin, so fierce in their rage, dead in
47:15
Speaker 1: war with the lords of the forest, engage, and could
47:19
Speaker 1: I but meet with the base they have slain. I'm
47:22
Speaker 1: the dog, my dear joy to kill them again, cried
47:26
Speaker 1: the mastiff in haste, as he rose to reply your
47:30
Speaker 1: merit dread sir, I don't mean to deny for historical facts.
47:34
Speaker 1: I'm inclined to rely on and Tis said that your
47:37
Speaker 1: ancestors vanquished the lion aloud. But I'm told that at
47:41
Speaker 1: present your race in Camchapka but fills a subordinate place
47:47
Speaker 1: here a great dog observed. Don't think me romantic yet,
47:51
Speaker 1: My parents were born beyond the Atlantic. But a brag
47:55
Speaker 1: of descent is not in my plan for merits. More sterling,
47:58
Speaker 1: I'm valued by man through the journey of life. I
48:02
Speaker 1: his footsteps attend by night, I am his guardian by day.
48:07
Speaker 1: I am his friend. My pastimes to dive in the
48:10
Speaker 1: river or sea for the rage of the deep has
48:13
Speaker 1: no terrors for me, nor for pleasure alone.
48:17
Speaker 2: These risks, to.
48:18
Speaker 1: Our brave kind fortune allowed me my master to save.
48:23
Speaker 1: When expiring, he struggled in vain with the wave, said
48:28
Speaker 1: the President, Sir, I admire your skill, but I hear
48:32
Speaker 1: your disposed your own mutton to kill. If true this report,
48:37
Speaker 1: don't think me too bold in advising you not to
48:40
Speaker 1: choose sheep from my fold the learned dog. Next, I
48:46
Speaker 1: boast not of my learning, though perhaps it has made
48:49
Speaker 1: me than you more discerning. I conceive you have none
48:53
Speaker 1: of you knowledge in Greek, sufficient of ancient dog's merits
48:57
Speaker 1: to speak. I shall mention the first of them. This
49:01
Speaker 1: is poor Arcus, the dog of the wandering Ulysses. He
49:07
Speaker 1: lived the return of his master to greet, then, bounding
49:11
Speaker 1: for joy, fell dead at his feet. I doubt if
49:15
Speaker 1: you've heard Alcibiadis's name, a Grecian fine gentleman, who, to
49:20
Speaker 1: his shame to give the Athenians a subject to rail,
49:23
Speaker 1: deprived a most beautiful dog of his tail. When the
49:28
Speaker 1: council heard this, the great members growled, and every little
49:32
Speaker 1: dog piteously howled the clamor subsided. The wise dog again
49:38
Speaker 1: resumed his harangue. In a tedious strain, spoke of Theseus's hounds,
49:43
Speaker 1: of the true spartan breed of the hounds of Acteon,
49:47
Speaker 1: so famed for their speed, a three headed Cerberus, guardian
49:52
Speaker 1: of Hell, whom Orpheus subdued with his musical spell. How
49:57
Speaker 1: Hecuba changed, seeing dead polydor and became vide ovid. Here
50:03
Speaker 1: he heard the dog snore your patience, my friends, I
50:07
Speaker 1: no longer will tire but brief make excuses at the
50:10
Speaker 1: earnest desire of those friends from abroad, who all much
50:14
Speaker 1: lamented that chance or engagements their attendants prevented. The African
50:20
Speaker 1: dog said that he did not dare quit the warm
50:23
Speaker 1: coast of Guinea in clothing. So spare the Lapland and
50:27
Speaker 1: Dane dog, the gay Pomeranian, the slender Italian, sagacious Siberian.
50:33
Speaker 1: All pleaded the times. Some could not get passports, some
50:38
Speaker 1: feared bonaparte, some were stopped by their own courts. Some
50:43
Speaker 1: were manged, distempered, and others insane, with a few ladies
50:48
Speaker 1: lap dogs afraid of the rain. He spake on the
50:53
Speaker 1: sudden a howling went round from each terrier and mastiff,
50:57
Speaker 1: and pointer and hound, for falling them midst of the
51:00
Speaker 1: council occur whose presence no member had noticed before aprose
51:06
Speaker 1: to address them. Blood red was his eye, his carcass
51:11
Speaker 1: was fleshless, and shrill was his cry. His knees were
51:15
Speaker 1: all bent as with weakness. He shook, and death and
51:19
Speaker 1: starvation scowled in his look. You may talk of parnass
51:25
Speaker 1: as some poets. He cried at their scorn and neglect.
51:29
Speaker 1: Make complain in your pride, But that is all vanity, folly,
51:34
Speaker 1: conceit the disgust of the pamper, the pride of the great.
51:39
Speaker 1: Look at me, I am starved in yon hamlet. I
51:43
Speaker 1: dwelt and contented for years, no distresses I felt, till
51:47
Speaker 1: the tax that my master had no means to pay
51:51
Speaker 1: from the comforts of home drove me famished away. Tis
51:56
Speaker 1: for life I contend praise honor in the song of
52:01
Speaker 1: the Bard or the laureate crown. Will ne'er teach my
52:05
Speaker 1: blood in its freshness to flow, ne'er teach me with
52:09
Speaker 1: health and with vigor to glow. Revenge then revenge Exhausted,
52:16
Speaker 1: he sunk and back from the sight. In horror, they shrunk.
52:21
Speaker 1: A silence ensued. Thus the President spoke, discounsel my friends,
52:27
Speaker 1: I wished to convoke our rights to assert. But though
52:31
Speaker 1: each dog pretends to valor, or beauty or skill, Yet,
52:35
Speaker 1: my friends, if we look for success much on union depends,
52:41
Speaker 1: let no separate claims. Then this union betray For remember
52:45
Speaker 1: the promise each dog has his day tis our aggregate worth.
52:51
Speaker 1: Must our merits decide our patience, sagacity, faithfulness tried, we
52:58
Speaker 1: then shall deserve. If we don't obt fame and the
53:01
Speaker 1: poets not, we incur the just blame. This perhaps two
53:07
Speaker 1: may cause our archfoe to relent and move to compassion.
53:11
Speaker 1: The hardhearted d if so, my companions, the good that
53:17
Speaker 1: may follow is better than all we can get from Apollo.
53:23
Speaker 1: The President spoke, the fair omen they hail, and in
53:27
Speaker 1: sign of delight, each dog wagged his tail. Thus agreed,
53:32
Speaker 1: Here they rose, Their thanks were resolved, nem con to
53:36
Speaker 1: the chair, and the meeting dissolved. End of Part five,
53:49
Speaker 1: Part six of Selections from Harris's Cabinet. This Liveryvox recording
53:55
Speaker 1: is in the public domain. The butter Fli's ball and
54:01
Speaker 1: the Grasshoppers Feast from The Gentleman's Magazine, November eighteen hundred
54:07
Speaker 1: and six. The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshoppers Feast said
54:13
Speaker 1: to have been written by William Roscoe, Esquire MP for Liverpool,
54:18
Speaker 1: for the use of his children, and set to music
54:22
Speaker 1: by order of their majisters for the Princess Mary. Come
54:27
Speaker 1: take up your hats and away, let us haste to
54:31
Speaker 1: the Butterfly's Ball and the grasshoppers Feast. The trumpeter Gadfly
54:36
Speaker 1: has summoned the crew, and the rebels are now only
54:39
Speaker 1: waiting for you on the smooth shaven grass, by the
54:43
Speaker 1: side of a wood, by a broad oak which for
54:46
Speaker 1: ages had stood. See the children of Earth and the
54:49
Speaker 1: tenants of air to an evening's amusement together repair. And
54:55
Speaker 1: there came the beetle, so blind and so black, who
54:59
Speaker 1: carried the Emmy his friend on his back. And there
55:02
Speaker 1: came the gnat and the dragonfly too, and all their
55:06
Speaker 1: relations green, orange and blue. And there came the moth
55:11
Speaker 1: with her plumage of down, and the hornet with jacket
55:14
Speaker 1: of yellow and brown, who with him the wasp his companion,
55:18
Speaker 1: did bring. But they promised that evening to lay by
55:21
Speaker 1: their sting. Then the sly little dormouse peeped out of
55:26
Speaker 1: his hole and led to the feast his blind cousin,
55:29
Speaker 1: the mole, and the snail, with her horns peeping out
55:34
Speaker 1: of her shell, came fatigued with the distance the length
55:39
Speaker 1: of an ell a mushroom the table, and on it
55:43
Speaker 1: was spread a water dock leaf, which their tablecloth made.
55:47
Speaker 1: The viands were various to each of their taste, and
55:50
Speaker 1: the bee brought the honey to sweeten the feast. With
55:54
Speaker 1: steps most majestic. The snail did advance, and he promised
55:59
Speaker 1: the gaze a minuet to dance. But they all laughed
56:03
Speaker 1: so loud that he drew in his head and went
56:07
Speaker 1: in his own little chamber to bed. Then, as evening
56:12
Speaker 1: gave way to the shadows of night, their watchman, the glowworm,
56:17
Speaker 1: came out with his light. So home let us hasten
56:21
Speaker 1: while yet we can see, for no watchman is waiting
56:25
Speaker 1: for you or for me. End of Part six, Part
56:37
Speaker 1: seven of Selections from Harris's Cabinet. This liberyvox recording is
56:43
Speaker 1: in the public domain. Introduction to the Butterfly's Ball and
56:50
Speaker 1: the grasshoppers Feast early in the present century, John Harris,
56:55
Speaker 1: one of the successors to the business of Honest John Newbery,
56:59
Speaker 1: now carried on by Messrs Griffith and Farron at the
57:02
Speaker 1: old corner of Saint Paul's Churchyard, began the publication of
57:06
Speaker 1: a series of little books, which for many years were
57:09
Speaker 1: probably among the most famous of the productions of the house. Now, however,
57:14
Speaker 1: according to the fate which usually overtakes books for children,
57:18
Speaker 1: nearly all of them are forgotten or unknown. The first
57:22
Speaker 1: book in this series, which was known as Harris's Cabinet,
57:26
Speaker 1: was The Butterfly's Ball, and was published in January eighteen
57:30
Speaker 1: hundred and seven. This was followed in the same year
57:34
Speaker 1: by The Peacock AT's Home, a sequel to The Butterfly's Ball,
57:37
Speaker 1: The Elephant's Ball, The Lion's Masquerade, and then prompted no
57:42
Speaker 1: doubt by the success of these, for we learn on
57:45
Speaker 1: the publisher's authority that of the two first forty thousand
57:49
Speaker 1: copies were sold. Within twelve months, mister Harris brought out
57:53
Speaker 1: a torrent of little books of a like kind, of
57:56
Speaker 1: which the titles were The Lioness's Ball, The Lobster's Voyage,
58:01
Speaker 1: to the Brazil's, The Cat's Concert, The Fish's Grand Gala,
58:05
Speaker 1: Madame Grimalkin's Party, The Jackdaw's Home, the Lion's Parliament, the
58:11
Speaker 1: War to King's Levee, And in eighteen hundred nine, by
58:15
Speaker 1: which time, naturally enough, the idea seems to have become
58:18
Speaker 1: quite threshed out and exhausted, the last of the series
58:22
Speaker 1: was published. This was entitled The Three Wishes, or Think
58:26
Speaker 1: before you speak. Of this long list of books, a
58:31
Speaker 1: few of the titles are still familiar, and one of them,
58:34
Speaker 1: The Butterfly's Ball, may certainly claim to have become a
58:38
Speaker 1: nursery classic. It is still in regular demand, the addition
58:43
Speaker 1: now in sale, being illustrated by Harrison Weir. It has
58:47
Speaker 1: been published in various forms, and has figured in most
58:51
Speaker 1: of the collections of prose and verse for the young
58:53
Speaker 1: that have been issued during this century. Probably to the
58:57
Speaker 1: minds of hundreds of people past middle age, few lines
59:01
Speaker 1: are more familiar than the opening couplet, Come take up
59:05
Speaker 1: your hats and away, let us haste to the Butterfly's Ball,
59:09
Speaker 1: and grasshoppers feast, And many, no doubt, by a little
59:13
Speaker 1: effort of memory, could repeat the whole poem hardly less
59:18
Speaker 1: famous were the three books which next followed in order
59:21
Speaker 1: of issue, The Peacock at Home, The Elephant's Ball, and
59:25
Speaker 1: The Lion's Masquerade. Their original size was five by four inches,
59:31
Speaker 1: and they were issued in a simple printed paper wrapper.
59:35
Speaker 1: It is of these four books that the reprint is
59:37
Speaker 1: here given, and in order to present both pictures and
59:40
Speaker 1: text with greater effect, this reprint has been made upon
59:44
Speaker 1: considerably larger paper. The text and illustrations are facsimile reproductions
59:50
Speaker 1: of originals from the celebrated Flaxman collection, recently dispersed at
59:55
Speaker 1: a sale by Messrs Christie, Manson and Woods, when mister Tour,
1:00:00
Speaker 1: to whom I am indebted for their loan, became their
1:00:03
Speaker 1: fortunate possessor. The Butterfly's Ball is not a reproduction of
1:00:09
Speaker 1: the first edition, which, as will be shown later on,
1:00:12
Speaker 1: would be considered by those who are familiar with the
1:00:15
Speaker 1: poem as incomplete. Moreover, the illustrations in the edition here
1:00:20
Speaker 1: presented are obviously by the same hand as that which
1:00:24
Speaker 1: embellished the other three books, and it was felt for
1:00:27
Speaker 1: these reasons it would possess a greater interest. The Butterfly's
1:00:32
Speaker 1: Ball first appeared in the November number of the Gentleman's Magazine,
1:00:36
Speaker 1: where it is said to have been written by William Roscoe,
1:00:39
Speaker 1: MP for Liverpool, the author of the Life of Leo
1:00:42
Speaker 1: the tenth and well known in the literary circles of
1:00:45
Speaker 1: his day, for the use of his children, and set
1:00:48
Speaker 1: to music by order of their majesties for the Princess Mary.
1:00:53
Speaker 1: When the verses were subsequently published in book form, the
1:00:56
Speaker 1: text and pictures were engraved together on copper play. An
1:01:01
Speaker 1: edition with pictures on separate pages appeared early in the
1:01:05
Speaker 1: next year, which is the one here reproduced. In this
1:01:09
Speaker 1: edition there are many variations from the previous one. The
1:01:13
Speaker 1: allusions to little Robert, evidently William Roscoe's son do not
1:01:18
Speaker 1: occur in the former, and many slight improvements, tending to
1:01:22
Speaker 1: make the verses more rhythmical and flowing, are introduced. The
1:01:26
Speaker 1: whole passage then close on his haunches to chirp his
1:01:31
Speaker 1: own praises. The rest of the night is an interpolation
1:01:34
Speaker 1: in this later edition. It is I believe certain that
1:01:38
Speaker 1: the verses were written by Roscoe for his children on
1:01:41
Speaker 1: the occasion of the birthday of his son Robert, who
1:01:44
Speaker 1: is nearly the youngest of his seven sons, no doubt
1:01:48
Speaker 1: when they were copied out for setting to music, the
1:01:51
Speaker 1: allusions to his own family were omitted by the author.
1:01:55
Speaker 1: A correspondent of notes and Queries, who is, I believe
1:01:59
Speaker 1: a niece of the late Sir George Smart says, in
1:02:02
Speaker 1: reference to the question of the setting of the verses
1:02:05
Speaker 1: to music, that the manuscript in Roscoe's own handwriting has
1:02:09
Speaker 1: sent to Sir g Smart for setting to music is
1:02:12
Speaker 1: in a valuable collection of autographs bequeathed by the musician
1:02:16
Speaker 1: to his daughter. The glee was written for three princesses, Elizabeth,
1:02:21
Speaker 1: Augusta and Mary, daughters of George the Third and pupils
1:02:26
Speaker 1: of Sir George, and was performed by them during one
1:02:29
Speaker 1: of their usual visits to Weymouth. The Peacock at Home
1:02:34
Speaker 1: and the Lion's Masquerade were, as the title page puts it,
1:02:38
Speaker 1: written by a lady, and we should most likely have
1:02:41
Speaker 1: remained in ignorance as to who the lady was if
1:02:44
Speaker 1: there had not been published in eighteen sixteen another little
1:02:48
Speaker 1: book of somewhat similar character entitled The Peacock and the
1:02:52
Speaker 1: Parrot on their Tour to discover the author of The
1:02:55
Speaker 1: Peacock at Home, which The preface tells us was written
1:02:59
Speaker 1: immediately after the appearance of the Peacock AT's Home, but
1:03:02
Speaker 1: from various circumstances was laid aside in the opinion of
1:03:07
Speaker 1: the publishers. The preface goes on to say, it is
1:03:10
Speaker 1: so nearly allied in point of merit to that celebrated trifle,
1:03:14
Speaker 1: that it is introduced at this late period. The book
1:03:18
Speaker 1: relates in verse how the peacock and parrot far as
1:03:22
Speaker 1: England extends, then together did travel to visit their friends,
1:03:28
Speaker 1: endeavor to find out the name of our poet, and
1:03:31
Speaker 1: ere we return ten to one that we know it.
1:03:35
Speaker 1: After long traveling a path strewed with flowers, they gaily pursued,
1:03:40
Speaker 1: and in fancy their long sought Incognita viewed till all
1:03:44
Speaker 1: their cares over in Dorset, they found her, and, plucking
1:03:48
Speaker 1: a reef of green bay leaves, they crowned her. In
1:03:51
Speaker 1: a footnote is added Missus Dawset was the authoress of
1:03:55
Speaker 1: The Peacock AT's Home. Missus Dawset, according to a note
1:04:00
Speaker 1: mister Dice, which appears on the fly leaf of a
1:04:02
Speaker 1: copy of The Peacock at Home in the Dice and
1:04:05
Speaker 1: Forster collection at South Kensington was sister to Charlotte Smith.
1:04:10
Speaker 1: Their maiden name was Turner. The British Museum catalog says
1:04:14
Speaker 1: Missus Dawset also wrote The Three Wishes or Think Before
1:04:18
Speaker 1: You Speak, which is the last on the list of
1:04:21
Speaker 1: books in Harris's Cabinet. It seems to be clear that
1:04:25
Speaker 1: the same lady wrote The Lion's Masquerade as the Peacock
1:04:29
Speaker 1: at Home. For in The Lioness's Ball, a companion to
1:04:32
Speaker 1: the Lion's Masquerade, the dedication begins, thus, I do not,
1:04:37
Speaker 1: fair Dorset, I do not aspire with notes so unhallowed
1:04:42
Speaker 1: as mine, to touch the sweet strings of thy beautiful liar,
1:04:46
Speaker 1: or covet the praise that is thine. I regret that
1:04:50
Speaker 1: I am unable to offer any conjecture here as to
1:04:53
Speaker 1: the w B who wrote The Elephant's Ball. The same
1:04:57
Speaker 1: initials appeared to an appendix to an edition of Goody
1:05:00
Speaker 1: two Shoes published some time before seventeen eighty, but this
1:05:04
Speaker 1: may be a coincidence only. Besides the interest and merit
1:05:09
Speaker 1: of these little books on literary grounds, these earlier editions
1:05:13
Speaker 1: are especially noteworthy because they were illustrated by the painter
1:05:17
Speaker 1: William Mulready and the drawings he made for them are
1:05:20
Speaker 1: amongst the earliest efforts of his genius. They were executed
1:05:25
Speaker 1: before he had reached man's estate. It is not a
1:05:29
Speaker 1: little curious to observe in this connection how many artists
1:05:33
Speaker 1: who have risen to eminence have, at the outset of
1:05:36
Speaker 1: their career been employed in illustrating books for children. It
1:05:41
Speaker 1: would indeed appear that until comparatively recent years, the veriest
1:05:45
Speaker 1: tyroh was considered capable of furnishing the necessary embellishments for
1:05:50
Speaker 1: books for the nursery, a state of things which we
1:05:53
Speaker 1: need not say happily does not obtain in the present day.
1:05:58
Speaker 1: Notwithstanding this, however, these and many other little books of
1:06:01
Speaker 1: a by gone time abound in instructive indications of the
1:06:05
Speaker 1: beginnings of genius which has subsequently delighted the world with
1:06:09
Speaker 1: its masterpieces. In connection with Mulready and children's books, it
1:06:15
Speaker 1: may be interesting to note that in eighteen hundred and
1:06:18
Speaker 1: six a little book called The Looking Glass was published,
1:06:22
Speaker 1: said to be written by William Godwin under the name
1:06:25
Speaker 1: of Theophilus Markliff. This work is the history and early
1:06:30
Speaker 1: adventures of a young artist, and it is known that
1:06:33
Speaker 1: it was compiled from a conversation with Mulready, who was
1:06:36
Speaker 1: then engaged in illustrating some juvenile books for the author,
1:06:40
Speaker 1: and the facts in it relate to the painter's early life.
1:06:44
Speaker 1: It contains illustrations of the talent of the subject, done
1:06:48
Speaker 1: at three, five and six years old, which are presumed
1:06:52
Speaker 1: to be imitations of Mulready's own drawings at the same ages.
1:06:57
Speaker 1: I cannot more fitly close these few words of inns
1:07:00
Speaker 1: production than by quoting the quaint and curious announcement with
1:07:04
Speaker 1: which mister Harris was wont to commend these little books
1:07:07
Speaker 1: to the public. It is unnecessary, says he, for the
1:07:11
Speaker 1: publisher to say anything more of these little productions than
1:07:15
Speaker 1: that they have been purchased with avidity and read with
1:07:18
Speaker 1: satisfaction by persons in all ranks of life. No doubt
1:07:23
Speaker 1: the public of to day will be curious to see
1:07:25
Speaker 1: what manner of book it was that was so eagerly
1:07:28
Speaker 1: sought after by the children of the early days of
1:07:31
Speaker 1: the present century, and interested in comparing it with the
1:07:34
Speaker 1: more finished, but often showy and sensational productions of our
1:07:38
Speaker 1: own time. C. W. Leyton Stone, September eighteen eighty three.
1:07:47
Speaker 1: End of Part seven, end of selections from Harris's cabinet