d the valiant soul of the renowned Falstaff, or
because an axe on the public grindstone is a more congenial weapon in
the itching palm of a Knight of Spoons, has not yet been determined
with absolute precision.

The warrior Ulysses, like his namesake of Ithaca, however widely
opinion may militate upon his other qualifications, certainly deserves
the everlasting gratitude of a spoon-desolated country for the
strategy displayed in tearing off the plumes of the American
Polyphemus, and fixing that precious flower of knighthood among the
"bottled" curiosities of natural history.

The American Cyclops.

Progressive age! for contemplation's eye,
Thy checker'd scenes a glorious field supply;
Time was when Mercury waved the potent wand,
And Nature brightened in the artist's hand,--
When mind's dominion round the world was thrown,
Before usurping Mammon seized the throne.
Aspiring genius, chill thy noble rage,
For baser uses rule our iron age;
Drive the hard bargain, mart for sordid gain,
And where it will not win, hold honor vain;

[Illustration: "He wakes a patriot, presto, he is clad
As Fallstaff for the battle--raving mad." _Page_ 21.]

To lofty subjects bring the narrow view,
Shift with each scene, and principle eschew.
Are these the elements of man's success?
Go where the busy throng all onward press;
Ay, there they flourish and will long remain,
Till virtue purge the haunts where vice doth reign.
Not to the few the moral taint's confined,
But in its boundless range infects mankind;
'Twere idle to upbraid the good old plea--
Might governs all, the rest were mock'ry.
The plumpest fly a sparrow's meal provides--
The heartless bird its agony derides:
"Nay," quoth relentless Sparrow, "you must die,
For you, weak thing, are not so strong as I."
A Hawk surprised him at his dainty meal,
In vain the Sparrow gasped his last appeal;

[Illustration: "The faithful groom the pawing steed attends,
The maudlin Cyclops all oblique ascends;
But ere the lambent flames consume the town
The Cid unhorsed, like Bacchus, topples down." _Page_ 21.]

"Wherefore, Sir Hawk, must I, thy victim, die?"
"Peace," quoth the Hawk, "thou art less strong than I."
Grimly an Eagle viewed the state of matters,
Swoops on Sir Hawk, and tears his flesh to tatters:
"Release me, King, and doom me not to die;"
The Eagle said, "thou art less strong than I.