Chapter Spanish Main to Speech ascribed to Dumb Animals- of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Spectator (The), a series of essays, edited by Addison, from March, 1711, to December, 1712 (555 numbers). Resumed in 1714, Pope contributed his Messiah to one of the series. Sir Roger de Coverley and Will Honeycomb are excellent characters introduced.

The Spectator is a gentleman brought up at the university, who has travelled, and finally settles in London. He goes about with his eyes open, and tells us about the theatres, about Wills, about Child, and about St. James. He takes sir Roger about, and thus furnishes a number of other excellent essays. Will Honeycomb marries, reforms, and dies, and the curtain falls.

Speech ascribed to Dumb Animals—

(1) Al Borak, the animal which conveyed Mahomet to the seventh heaven. He not only spoke good Arabic, but had also a human face.

(2) Arion, the wonderful horse which Herculês gave to Adrastos. It not only spoke good Greek, but both his near feet were those of a man.

(3) Balaam’s Ass spoke Hebrew to Balaam on one occasion.—Numb. xxii.

(4) The Black Pigeons, one of which gave the responses in the temple of Ammon, and the other in Dodona.—Classic Story.

(5) The Bulbul-Hezar, which had not only human speech, but was oracular also. — Arabian Nights (“The Two Sisters”).

(6) Comrade, Fortunio’s horse, spoke with the voice of a man.—Comtesse D’Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“Fortunio”).

(7) The little Green Bird, which Fairstar obtained possession of, not only answered in words any questions asked it, but was also prophetic and oracular.— Comtesse D’Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“Chery and Fairstar”).

(8) Katmîr, the dog of the Seven Sleepers, spoke Greek.—Al Korân, xviii.

(9) Sâleh’s Camel used to go about crying, in good Arabic, “Ho! every one that wanteth milk, let him come, and I will give it him.”—Sale: Al Korân, vii. ‘notes).

(10) The Serpent which tempted Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit.—Gen. iii.

(11) Temliha, the king of serpents, had the gift of human speech.—Comte de Calyus: Oriental Tales (“History of Aboutaleb”).

(12)Xanthos, one of the horses of Achillês, announced to the hero, in good Greek, his approaching death.—Classic Fable. N.B.—Frithjof’s ship, Ellida, could not speak, but it understood what was said to it (p. 999). (See Temliha.)