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. 1872 Excerpt: ...shot Some Dragon fierce should him molest--And fled the spot. Among all the extraordinary and fantastic dishes compounded for the palate of Heliogabalus, the Prince of Epicures, that delicious admixture of the animal and the vegetable--Strawberries and Cream--is never mentioned in the pages of the veracious chronicler of his gastronomic feats! Yes! 'tis a lamentable truth, this smooth, oleaginous, and delicately odorous employment for the silver spoon was unknown.--Should the knowledge of his loss reach him in the fields of Elysium, will not his steps be incontinently turned towards the borders of the Styx--his plaintive voice hail the grim ferryman, while in his most persuasive tones he cries--" Row me back--row me back," that he may enjoy, for a brief space, this untasted pleasure? Ye gods! in our "mind's eye" we behold the heartless and unfeeling Charon refuse his earnest prayer, and see his languid spirit--diluted by disappointment to insipidity--wandering over the enamelled meads, as flat and shallow as an overflow in the dank fens of Lincoln. His imagination gloats upon the fragrant invention, and he gulps at the cheating shadow, until Elysium becomes a perfect Hades to his tortured spirit. Mellow, rich, and toothsome compound! Toothsome did we say? Nay, even those who have lost their molaiYis iiicisores, canine teeth, dentes sapientice, and all, can masticate "and inwardly digest" thee! Racy and recherche' relish! Thou art--As delicate as first love--As white and red as a maiden's cheek--As palatable as well-timed flattery--As light and filling as the gas of a balloon--As smooth as a courtier--As odorous as the flowers of Jasmin--As soft as floss silk--As encouraging, without being so illusory, as Hope--As tempting as gr...