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his study; first, because living in a cave, he had no study; secondly,
because he had no chimney-piece; thirdly, because clocks were not yet
invented. Let us put these things right. Put them right. O gentlefolks,
who listen to me, if any one tells you that a lizard will be born in
your head if you smell the herb valerian; that the rotting carcase of
the ox changes into bees, and that of the horse into hornets; that a man
weighs more when dead than when alive; that the blood of the he-goat
dissolves emeralds; that a caterpillar, a fly, and a spider, seen on the
same tree, announces famine, war, and pestilence; that the falling
sickness is to be cured by a worm found in the head of a buck--do not
believe him. These things are errors. But now listen to truths. The skin
of a sea-calf is a safeguard against thunder. The toad feeds upon earth,
which causes a stone to come into his head. The rose of Jericho blooms
on Christmas Eve. Serpents cannot endure the shadow of the ash tree. The
elephant has no joints, and sleeps resting upright against a tree. Make
a toad sit upon a cock's egg, and he will hatch a scorpion which will
become a salamander. A blind person will recover sight by putting one
hand on the left side of the altar and the other on his eyes. Virginity
does not hinder maternity. Honest people, lay these truths to heart.
Above all, you can believe in Providence in either of two ways, either
as thirst believes in the orange, or as the ass believes in the whip.
Now I am going to introduce you to my family."
Here a violent gust of wind shook the window-frames and shutters of the
inn, which stood detached. It was like a prolonged murmur of the sky.
The orator paused a moment, and then resumed.
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