Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1887 edition. Excerpt: ... THE VULTURES AND THE PIGEONS La Fontaine's Fable tells us how once there was a quarrel among the Vultures over the body of a dead dog, which resulted in a terrific encounter. "With tooth and nail They battled; many chiefs fell dead, Many a dauntless hero bled." All this aroused the pity of the Pigeons, who succeeded in pacifying the quarrellers; but they, as soon as they were united, turned against the defenceless peacemakers. In the illustration a long array of vultures are seen swooping down on the huddling pigeons, while indications of the preceding struggle are shown in the distance SATAN AT THE GATES OF HELL. The result of the consultation of the fiends assembled in Pandaemonium is? that search shall be made into the truth of the prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature, to be created about that time. Satan himself undertakes this perilous and difficult enterprise, and sets out on his journey towards the gates of Hell. These he finds of threefold substance, each substance three times repeated;--"Three folds were brass, Three iron, three of adamantine rock, Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire, Yet imconsumed. Before the gates there sat On either side a formidable shape. The one seem'd woman to the waist, and fair, But ended foul, in many a scaly fold, Voluminous and vast, a serpent arm'd With mortal sting: about her middle round A cry of hell-hounds never ceasing bark'd With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung A hideous peal. . ..... The other shape--If shape it might be call'd that shape had none Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb, Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd For each seem'd either; black it stood as night, Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell, ...
