The Genuine Remains of Samuel Butler Volume 1 (Paperback)

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.1822 Excerpt: ... THE ELEPHANT IX THE MOON. IN LONG VERSE. A Virtuous, leara'd Society, of late The Pride and Glory of a foreign State, Made an agreement on a summer's night, To search the Moon at full, by her own light; To take a perfect invent'ry of all 5 Her real fortunes, or her personal; And make a geometrical survey Of all her lands, and how her country lay, As accurate as that of Ireland, where The sly Surveyor's said t'have sunk a shire: 10 After the author had finished this story in short verse, he took it in his head to attempt it in long. That this was composed afier the other is maniiest from its being wrote opposite to it npon a vacant part of the same paper; and though in most places the Poet has done little more than fill up the verse with an additional foot, preserving the same thought and rhime, vet, as it is a singular instance in its way, and has besides many considerable additions and variations, which tend to illustrate and explain the preceding poem, it may be looked upon not only as a curiosity in its kind, but as a new production of the Author's. This I mention only to obviate the objections of those, who may think it inserted to fill up the volume. To the admirers of Butler, I am sure no apology is necessary.--(TH Y R.) T observe her country's climate, how 'twas planted, And what she most abounded with, or wanted; And draw maps of her prop'rest situations For settling, and erecting new plantations; If ever the Society should incline 15 T' attempt so great and glorious a design: A task in vain, unless the German Kepler Had found out a discovery to people her, And stock her country with inhabitants Of military men, and elephants. 20 For th' Ancients only took her for a piece Of red-hot iron, as big as Peloponese, Till he appear d; for which, som...