I am merry that I
may decoy people into my company, and grave that they may be the
better for it. Now and then I put on the garb of a philosopher, and
take the opportunity that disguise procures me to drop a word in
favour of religion. In short there is some froth, and here and
there some sweetmeat which seems to entitle it justly to the name
of a certain dish the ladies call a 'trifle.' But in 'task' or
'trifle' unless the ingredients were good the whole were nought.
They who should present to their deceived guests whipt white of egg
would deserve to be whipt themselves."
But Southey by no means follows the profitable rule he here lays down.
On the contrary, he sometimes betrays such a love of the marvellous as
would seem unaccountable, had we not read bygone literature, and
observed how strong the feeling was even as late as the days of the
"Wonderful Magazine." Among his strange fancies we find in the "Chapter
on Kings:"
"There are other monarchies in the inferior world beside that of
the bees, though they have not been registered by naturalists nor
studied by them. For example, the king of the fleas keeps his court
at Tiberias, as Dr. Clark discovered to his cost, and as Mr. Cripps
will testify for him."
He proceeds to give humorous descriptions of the king of monkeys, bears,
codfish, oysters, &c.
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