Popanilla
was instantly surrounded.
'Who are you?' said one.
'What are you?' asked another.
'Who is it?' exclaimed a third.
'What is it?' screamed a fourth.
'My friends, I am a man!'
'A man!' said the women; 'are you sure you are a real man?'
'He must be a sea-god!' said the females.
'She must be a sea-goddess!' said the males.
'A Triton!' maintained the women.
'A Nereid!' argued the men.
'It is a great fish!' said the boys.
Thanks to the Universal Linguist, Captain Popanilla, under these
peculiar circumstances, was more loquacious than could have been Captain
Parry.
'Good people! you see before you the most injured of human beings.'
This announcement inspired general enthusiasm. The women wept, the men
shook hands with him, and all the boys huzzaed. Popanilla proceeded: --
'Actuated by the most pure, the most patriotic, the most noble, the most
enlightened, and the most useful sentiments, I aspired to ameliorate the
condition of my fellowmen. To this grand object I have sacrificed all
that makes life delightful: I have lost my station in society, my taste
for dancing, my popularity with the men, my favour with the women; and
last, but, oh! not least (excuse this emotion), I have lost a very
particular lock of hair.
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