The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-22
nULWER,s DRAGON.


allegory, in three chapters, called the Three
Sisters. The FIRST chapter on the DRAGON
so forcibly reminded US Of the Monster
we cannot forbear giving it to our readers
We think they viii find features in the Ora.
CONS adversaries shikingiy resembling the
present and the past.
In the portraits Of the second and third
chapters, likewise, we think some familiar po-
lltical resemblances will be recognized which
will make the /" Man Trap" and the CLAY.
cLoD' not little amusing.
THE THREE SISTERS.
TRANSLATED PROM THE PHGHIcIAN
CHAPTER /.
In age which two or three thousand years ago
considered somewhat Of the earliest bot which geoo-
gss have proved TO have been but yesterday, lao
pater elgned those dstric known historians by
the name Of Phnnica An honest arbitrary, good
OF king he Vas not altogether unlike our Henry the
Eighth,-ony he qnite much master OF bis
into tho particulars of which need not enter seeing
that people in this virtuons age have Discrimination to
scandal, and that the Greeks have made Of the
best stories sufficiently familiar in that budget Of gossip
which they call Mythology. Ravenons m0u-
tons. "
Iao-pater had very large famiy--sons and daugh-
tiers without number. Among them, by a iefi-handed
marriage. three young ladies' called in the Ian
guage Of that day. Aza, Merhyne, and Insla. Re
speeding these pncesses, find tale recorded in one
OF the manuscripts consulted by Sanchonathon in his
work the Serpent, which has hitherto been pub
lished.
In the latter days Of Iaopatet his subjects visit
ed by most terrible species Of madness. Each man
fancied he horrible dragon upon the back Of his
neghbor, and instantly seized with furious desire
to attack the monster. Thus, the moment your back
was turned, half dozen Of your countrymen made a
rush at you, one with sword to hew, another with
saw to saw, third with red hot pncers pluck off,
the creature Of their Imagination if no other weapon
at hand, they fastened you with their nails and
teeth. What made this malady more singular while
their victim persisted under their mutations they kept
congratuating him his approaching delivery from the
dragon The more he below ed for mercy, the worse
he Jared: when attacked in this manner, his fate
was sealed and, he gave up the ghost his tormen-
tors instead Of suspectlng they had done any thing
wrong, shrugged their shoulders and crled"Ths comes
Of the dragoni" ,...a
So dreadiuwerc the ravagcs and slaughter resulting
from this insanity, that his majestys domnions were
nearly depopuated lao-pater in great fright lest his
back should be caught sight Of shut himself up in
his palace and all prudent persons followed the royal
example, kept themselves in DOORS with their backs
nine millions and forty-wo birds, and four hundred
thousand sows but the enirais Of the victims OBJ
snately silent the occasion, nor could any remedy
for the growing evil be suggested by counsellor or
priest,
AT length, one night, Aza dreamed dream. She
thought that the great doy, No-No appeared to her,
and said Arise, go forth into the city and the people
shall be delivered from the curse. And Aza, the next
morning sought Iao-parr, who had crept into hole OF
the wall that nothing but his face was discernibe.
Aza told her dream, and mplored permission to obey
the divine command.
" Do as you like my dear child" said the king, but
don't come close to me: and mind, wherever you 60,
that you proclaim it to be high treason to attempt to
peep at my back. As for other peoples backs-it is
not my affair" "... "..
the royal gardens and amused herself with catching the
most beautiful butterflies she could find Having put
them into little net of silver meshes inconceivaby
fine, she took her way into the great street Scarcely
had she gone three PAGES when she heard tremendous
uproar and hallooing; and presently young man. more
beautiful than words describe, came bounding up
the street, pale, breathless, and frightened out Of his
wits, aud fell exhausted the feet OF the princess.
Save me save me !" he cried out" am un-
happy stranger in this city, and whole mob at my
heels, swearing have dragon at my back AS long
as spoke to them face to face they overwhelmed me
with civililies. But the moment turned All, here
they re-" And, in fact, or two, Of fierce
looking citizens some with hatchets with pnces,
some with long hooks--(al for the dragon)-now
thronged, hot and painting, TO the spot,
AT the sight Of Aza they halted abruptly,-for there
was something in her face so serene and lovely, that
the wretched manacs felt the soothing influence Of
her beauty. IT.. ..n-.
.'My friends said Aza, in voice Of sweet COM
mand, +" what would you do with this young man?'
"The dragon the dragon l'-shouted dozen
voices already hoarse with screaming Ie has dragon
on his back we would not harm him for the world =
most charming young man ~ but the dragon, your
royal highness,--he dragon!"
:" have taken it of the strangers back" said the
princess mildly. "See, here il is Behold the terrible
monster that so appais you y so saying, she opened
her hand and away few of the beautiful purple
and gold butterflies tnat
AS the insect Auttered and circled to and fro, the
crowd stared at it with open mouths,
Bless me- cried one of them, " and that's what we
took for dragon-so it is "
q lIollo you sir y cried another lifting up his
Ratchet agains, the last speaker, who had unwittingy
turned round and exposed his own back" The dragon
is on y0a ~ ,..=.. .-a ,..
Hold" exclaimed Aza, arrcsting the madman's
arm. "1he god Mono has changed all your dragons
into butterflies" With that, she turned ASIDE and I'M
perceived by the crowd, empted the silver net. The
air filed with butterflies The crowd stared again;
first at the insects, then at the princess then at
other Fortunately, that time the god Mono thought
it good opportunity to thunder: the completed
the curc-and the mob woke all at from their de-