Our Honeymoon; And Other Comicalities from "Punch."

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854. Excerpt: ... Of Conon and Lysander, And Alcibiades; But of all the gallant heroes, There's none for to compare, With my right fol de riddle iddle lol, To the British Grenadier. CHAPTER X. ON MERCURY. Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia. Those who regard Mythology typically, will view this statement as an allegory; and consider that Jupiter meant iron filings, and Maia cinnabar; such being the substances from which by the application of heat, Mercury is obtained at present. But those who prefer entertaining to useful knowledge, will believe that Jupiter was the very Thunderer, and that Maia was one of the lovely Pleiades. The Pleiades were seven sweet nymphs who in life adorned this lower world, and after death were translated to the skies. And still their starry thrones are bright in heaven--all except one. This is that of pooftMerope, who, whereas she might have matched with a god, demeaned herself by marrying a mortal. Therefore were their stars made to exceed her star in glory. So goes the legend: but most sweet ladies do not believe a word of it. Merope married the man of her choice; and she was exalted, above earthly vision, out of sight of this fortune-hunting world, to the pure empyrean, the third heaven. But our present affair is with Mercury, not with his aunt. Mercury had a fine appointment under the Olympic government. He was the celestial herald, and the special messenger of Jupiter. But there were several other important offices which he filled. He was the patron nf travellers, and of course of the Travellers' Club. He wns Grand Marshal of the Disembodied Spirits, whom he conducted with his baton or caduceus into the nether region. He moreover presided over barristers, orators, auctioneers, declaimers in general, and merchants. In short, he was quite...