I have a large Box, with two lids, two caps, three established Measures, and a great number of articles a Carpenter cannot do without.—Then I have always by me a couple of good Fish, and a number of a smaller tribe,—besides two lofty Trees, fine Flowers, and the fruit of an indigenous Plant; a handsome stag; two playful Animals; and a number of a smaller and less tame Herd:—Also two Halls, or Places of Worship; some Weapons of warfare; and many Weathercocks:—The Steps of an Hotel: The House of Commons on the eve of a Dissolution; Two Students or Scholars, and some Spanish Grandees, to wait upon me.
All pronounce me a wonderful piece of Mechanism, but few have numbered up the strange medley of things which compose my whole.
Nov. 1866.
Explication of the Enigma
The Whole,—is Man.
The Parts are as follow.
A large Box—The Chest.
Two lids—The Eye lids.
Two Caps—The Knee Caps.
Three established Measures—The nails, hands, and feet.
A great number of articles a Carpenter cannot do without,—Nails.
A couple of good Fish—The Soles of the Feet.
A number of a smaller tribe—The Muscles. (Mussels).
Two lofty Trees—The Palms (of the hands).
Fine Flowers—Two lips, (Tulips), and Irises.
The fruit of an indigenous Plant—Hips.
A handsome Stag—The Heart. (Hart).
Two playful Animals—The Calves.
A number of a smaller and less tame Herd—The Hairs. (Hares).
Two Halls, or Places of Worship—The Temples.
Some Weapons of Warfare—The Arms, and Shoulder blades.
Many Weathercocks—The Veins. (Vanes).
The Steps of an Hotel—The Insteps. (Inn-steps).
The House of Commons on the eve of a Dissolution—Eyes and Nose. (Ayes and Noes).
Two Students or Scholars—The Pupils of the Eye.
Some Spanish Grandees—The Tendons. (Ten Dons).
Nov. 1866.