parapet, so that in proportion this extended elephant's hide
was to the whole of the castle what the parchment is to a drum, in such
a manner that the whole became one great instrument of war.

To correspond with this, Colossus took Guildhall and Westminster Abbey,
and turning the foundations towards the heavens, so that the roofs of
the edifices were upon the ground, he strung them across with brass
and steel wire from side to side, and thus, when strung, they had the
appearance of most noble dulcimers. He then took the great dome of St.
Paul's, raising it off the earth with as much facility as you would a
decanter of claret. And when once risen up it had the appearance of
a quart bottle. Colossus instantly, with his teeth, cracked off
the superior part of the cupola, and then applying his lips to the
instrument, began to sound it like a trumpet. 'Twas martial beyond
description--_tantara!_--_tara!_--_ta!_

During the concert I walked in the park with Lady Fragrantia: she was
dressed that morning in a _chemise a la reine_. "I like," said she, "the
dew of the morning, 'tis delicate and ethereal, and, by thus bespangling
me, I think it will more approximate me to the nature of the rose [for
her looks were like Aurora]; and to confirm the vermilion I shall go to
Spa." "And drink the Podhon spring?" added I, gazing at her from top to
toe. "Yes," replied the lovely Fragrantia, "with all my heart; 'tis the
drink of sweetness and delicacy. Never were there any creatures like
the water-drinkers at spa; they seem like so many thirsty blossoms on
a peach-tree, that suck up the shower in the scorching heat. There is
a certain something in the waters that gives vigour to the whole frame,
and expands every heart with rapture and benevolence. They drink! good
gods! how they do drink! and then, how they sleep! Pray, my dear Baron,
were you ever at the falls of Niagara?" "Yes, my lady," replied I,
surprised at such a strange association of ideas; "I have been, many
years ago, at the Falls of Niagara, and found no more difficulty in
swimming up and down the cataracts than I should to move a minuet." At
that moment she dropped her nosegay. "Ah," said she, as I presented it
to her, "there is no great variety in these polyanthuses. I do assure
you, my dear Baron, that there is taste in the selection of flowers as
well as everything else, and were I a girl of sixteen I should wear some
rosebuds in my bosom, but at five-and-twenty I think i