phoenix was a delicate morsel, but that it produced headache, Plutarch
was a little out of his reckoning, inasmuch as the phoenix never
existed."

"A detestable speech! The cinnamalker which makes its nest with sticks
of cinnamon, the rhintacus that Parysatis used in the manufacture of his
poisons, the manucodiatas which is the bird of paradise, and the
semenda, which has a threefold beak, have been mistaken for the phoenix;
but the phoenix has existed."

"I do not deny it."

"You are a stupid ass."

"I desire to be thought no better."

"You have confessed that the elder tree cures the quinsy, but you added
that it was not because it has in its root a fairy excrescence."

"I said it was because Judas hung himself on an elder tree."

"A plausible opinion," growled the theologian, glad to strike his little
blow at AEacus.

Arrogance repulsed soon turns to anger. AEacus was enraged.

"Wandering mountebank! you wander as much in mind as with your feet.
Your tendencies are out of the way and suspicious. You approach the
bounds of sorcery. You have dealings with unknown animals. You speak to
the populace of things that exist but for you alone, and the nature of
which is unknown, such as the hoemorrhoues."

"The hoemorrhoues is a viper which was seen by Tremellius."

This repartee produced a certain disorder in the irritated science of
Doctor AEacus.

Ursus added, "The existence of the hoemorrhoues is quite as true as that
of the odoriferous hyena, and of the civet described by Castellus."

AEacus got out of the difficulty by charging home.

"Here are your own words, and very diabolical words they are. Listen."

With his eyes on his notes, AEacus read,--

"Two plants, the thalagssigle and the aglaphotis, are luminous in the
evening, flowers by day, stars by night;" and looking steadily at Ursus,
"What have you to say to that?"

Ursus answered,--

"Every plant is a lamp. Its perfume is its light." AEacus turned over
other pages.

"You have denied that the vesicles of the otter are equivalent to
castoreum."

"I merely said that perhaps it may be necessary to receive the teaching
of AEtius on this point with some reserve."

AEacus became furious.

"You practise medicine?"

"I practise medicine," sighed Ursus timidly.

"On living things?"

"Rather than on dead ones," said Ursus.

Ursus defended himself stoutly, but dully; an admirable mixture, in
which meekness predominated. He spoke with such g