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cycles, scornfully. " Gaze at the happy crowd below,
which, as time flies, becomes gayer and more reckless.
Ah ! my Egyptian friend,
"' Good wines the gift that God hath given,
To man alone beneath the heaven,
Of dance and song the genial sire,
Of friendship gay and soft desire.'
" Remember the advice of that giddy-headed Athenian
physician, Mnesitheus, who recommends occasional hard
drinking, as it produces purging and a certain relaxation.
You quoted Rabelais this morning, who contended that
drunkenness was better than physic, inasmuch as there
were more old drunkards than old physicians. Come !
let us inhale more of the delicious aroma arising from this
commingling perfume of whisky, wine, and beer."
" The vapory fumes of the liquor have already affected
your silly spiritual head,'' answered Athothis. " Jest no
more ! for I see that the modern doctor knows the advan-
tages of alcohol to his own business. Let the wholesale
poisoning of mankind proceed. Below, in the city, I
perceive the many colored lights of a modern pharmacy.
There we can investigate undisguised poisons." So say-
ing, the spirits circled down from the lofty tower and
alighted on a public street.
