And in the middle of it what do you think you come upon? Why our
old nursery friend, The Three Bears. Southey trusts that this
book will suit every one, "that the lamb may wade in it, though
the elephant may swim, and also that it will be found 'very
entertaining to the ladies.'" Indeed he flatters himself that it
will be found profitable for "old and young, for men and for
women, the married and the single, the idle and the studious, the
merry and the sad; and that it may sometimes inspire the
thoughtless with thought, and sometimes beguile the careful of
their cares." But if it is to be quite perfect it must have a
chapter for children--
"Prick up your ears then,
My good little women and men;
And ye who are neither so little nor no good, favete linguis,*
for here follows the story of the Three Bears." So there it is.
"One of them was a Little, Small, Wee Bear; and one was a Middle-
sized Bear, and the other was a Great, Huge Bear"--and from the
way it is told, I think we may be sure that Uncle Robert or
comical papa often told stories with a circle of eager, bright
faces round him.
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