A Virtuosos Collection | Page 3

the Duchess of Kendall."
My guide next pointed out Minerva's owl and the vulture that preyed
upon the liver of Prometheus. There was likewise the sacred ibis of
Egypt, and one of the Stymphalides which Hercules shot in his sixth
labor. Shelley's skylark, Bryant's water-fowl, and a pigeon from the
belfry of the Old South Church, preserved by N. P. Willis, were placed
on the same perch. I could not but shudder on beholding Coleridge's
albatross, transfixed with the Ancient Mariner's crossbow shaft. Beside
this bird of awful poesy stood a gray goose of very ordinary aspect.
"Stuffed goose is no such rarity," observed I. "Why do you preserve
such a specimen in your museum?"
"It is one of the flock whose cackling saved the Roman Capitol,"
answered the virtuoso. "Many geese have cackled and hissed both

before and since; but none, like those, have clamored themselves into
immortality."
There seemed to be little else that demanded notice in this department
of the museum, unless we except Robinson Crusoe's parrot, a live
phoenix, a footless bird of paradise, and a splendid peacock, supposed
to be the same that once contained the soul of Pythagoras. I therefore
passed to the next alcove, the shelves of which were covered with a
miscellaneous collection of curiosities such as are usually found in
similar establishments. One of the first things that took my eye was a
strange-looking cap, woven of some substance that appeared to be
neither woollen, cotton, nor linen.
"Is this a magician's cap?" I asked.
"No," replied the virtuoso; it is merely Dr. Franklin's cap of asbestos.
But here is one which, perhaps, may suit you better. It is the
wishing-cap of Fortunatus. Will you try it on?"
"By no means," answered I, putting it aside with my hand. "The day of
wild wishes is past with me. I desire nothing that may not come in the
ordinary course of Providence."
"Then probably," returned the virtuoso, "you will not be tempted to rub
this lamp?"
While speaking, he took from the shelf an antique brass lamp, curiously
wrought with embossed figures, but so covered with verdigris that the
sculpture was almost eaten away.
"It is a thousand years," said he, "since the genius of this lamp
constructed Aladdin's palace in a single night. But he still retains his
power; and the man who rubs Aladdin's lamp has but to desire either a
palace or a cottage."
"I might desire a cottage," replied I; "but I would have it founded on
sure and stable truth, not on dreams and fantasies. I have learned to
look for the real and the true."
My guide next showed me Prospero's magic wand, broken into three
fragments by the hand of its mighty master. On the same shelf lay the
gold ring of ancient Gyges, which enabled the wearer to walk invisible.
On the other side of the alcove was a tall looking-glass in a frame of
ebony, but veiled with a curtain of purple silk, through the rents of
which the gleam of the mirror was perceptible.
"This is Cornelius Agrippa's magic glass," observed the virtuoso.

"Draw aside the curtain, and picture any human form within your mind,
and it will be reflected in the mirror."
"It is enough if I can picture it within my mind," answered I. "Why
should I wish it to be repeated in the mirror? But, indeed, these works
of magic have grown wearisome to me. There are so many greater
wonders in the world, to those who keep their eyes open and their sight
undimmed by custom, that all the delusions of the old sorcerers seem
flat and stale. Unless you can show me something really curious, I care
not to look further into your museum."
"Ah, well, then," said the virtuoso, composedly, "perhaps you may
deem some of my antiquarian rarities deserving of a glance."
He pointed out the iron mask, now corroded with rust; and my heart
grew sick at the sight of this dreadful relic, which had shut out a human
being from sympathy with his race. There was nothing half so terrible
in the axe that beheaded King Charles, nor in the dagger that slew
Henry of Navarre, nor in the arrow that pierced the heart of William
Rufus,--all of which were shown to me. Many of the articles derived
their interest, such as it was, from having been formerly in the
possession of royalty. For instance, here was Charlemagne's sheepskin
cloak, the flowing wig of Louis Quatorze, the spinning-wheel of
Sardanapalus, and King Stephen's famous breeches which cost him but
a crown. The heart of the Bloody Mary, with the word "Calais" worn
into its diseased substance, was preserved in a bottle of spirits; and near
it lay the golden case in which the queen of