ing literally. And the 'of old' is redundant, for
rhyme's sake, since Rooks hold parliaments now as much as ever
they did.

76. EACH YEAR. I doubt the fact; and too sadly suspect that birds
take different mates. What a question to have to ask at this time
of day and year!

82. RIVERS. Read slowly. The 'customs' are rivers that 'go on
forever' flowing from the fount of the soul. The Heart drinks of
them, as of waterbrooks.

92. PHILOSOPHY. The author should at least have given a note or
two to explain the sense in which he uses words so wide as this.
The philosophy which begins in pride, and concludes in malice, is
indeed _a_ fountain--though not _the_ fountain--of woes, to
mankind. But true philosophy such as Fenelon's or Sir Thomas
More's, is a well of peace.

98. WORTH. Again, it is not clearly told us what the author means
by the worth of a bird's soul, nor how the birds learned it. The
reader is left to discern, and collect for himself--with patience
such as not one in a thousand now-a-days possesses, the
opposition between the "fount of our soul" (line 83) and fountain
of philosophy.

124. I could willingly enlarge on these last two stanzas, but think my
duty will be better done to the poet if I quote, for conclusion, two
lighter pieces of his verse, which will require no comment, and are
closer to our present purpose. The first,--the lament of the French
Cook in purgatory,--has, for once, a note by the author, giving M.
Soyer's authority for the items of the great dish,--"symbol of
philanthropy, served at York during the great commemorative banquet
after the first exhibition." The commemorative soul of the tormented
Chef--always making a dish like it, of which nobody ever eats--sings
thus:--

"Do you veesh
To hear before you taste, of de hundred-guinea deesh?
Has it not been sung by every knife and fork,
'L'extravagance culinaire a l'Alderman,' at York?
Vy, ven I came here, eighteen Octobers seence,
I dis deesh was making for your Royal Preence,
Ven half de leeving world, cooking all de others,
Swore an oath hereafter, to be men and brothers.
All de leetle Songsters in de voods dat build,
Hopped into the kitchen asking to be kill'd;
All who in de open furrows find de seeds,
Or de mountain berries, all de farmy