19
Many a beggar might live on the steams
That dance in the hall on the wax-light beams;
But he must have a most delicate smell,
Who by the strange odor the dish could tell!
That dance in the hall on the wax-light beams;
But he must have a most delicate smell,
Who by the strange odor the dish could tell!
A terrible shriek stirs the steam and air,
That circle around the lady fair:
The guests all around the table arise—
Gaze toward her in dread surprise.
That circle around the lady fair:
The guests all around the table arise—
Gaze toward her in dread surprise.
"Pray sit my good lords," at length said she,
"And kindly, I pray, don't question me!"
And glad were they, when the fright was o'er,
To turn to the sumptuous feast once more.
"And kindly, I pray, don't question me!"
And glad were they, when the fright was o'er,
To turn to the sumptuous feast once more.
In vain did the lady strive to eat
Delicate morsels of richest meat;
A dreadful sight met her constant view—
She had bitten the cockroach through and through!
Delicate morsels of richest meat;
A dreadful sight met her constant view—
She had bitten the cockroach through and through!
Then to her in the steam from a bright tureen,
Was the "ghost" of the luckless cockroach seen;
And while confusion in her ears did ring,
The spirit of the cockroach seemed to sing:—
Was the "ghost" of the luckless cockroach seen;
And while confusion in her ears did ring,
The spirit of the cockroach seemed to sing:—
"Lady why gave you that terrible shriek?
Why rolled your eyes and paled your cheek?
Why dread to bite a poor worm like me,
But eat sheep and sivine most greedily?"
Why rolled your eyes and paled your cheek?
Why dread to bite a poor worm like me,
But eat sheep and sivine most greedily?"
"Oh, delicate lady—oh, sensitive fair—
See the table strewn with carcasses there—
Mangled and torn, all flesh from bone—
O, leave such horrible feasts alone!
See the table strewn with carcasses there—
Mangled and torn, all flesh from bone—
O, leave such horrible feasts alone!
"The waving corn and fruitful tree
Bear gracious nourishment for thee;
Live, fair one, as a lady should;
And being beautiful—be good!
Bear gracious nourishment for thee;
Live, fair one, as a lady should;
And being beautiful—be good!
"Though lions, tigers, vultures, prey,
Be thou more merciful than they;
Thy health will last—thy life be long!—
Anon.And thus the cockroach ceased his song."
Be thou more merciful than they;
Thy health will last—thy life be long!—
Anon.And thus the cockroach ceased his song."
6. CHEMICAL.
Since all the animals obtain their food—either directly, or in the case of the carnivorous indirectly—from the plant kingdom, it follows that we gain nothing, chemically considered, by taking our sustenance at second hand from the animals.
Chemical analysis of various articles of diet shows that
