A Tale of a Tub Section 8

In which the curious doctrine of the Æolists is expounded with a delicate humour, portraying men as vessels of wind whose learning and inspiration proceed through the noble art of belching, revering the four cardinal winds as gods and indulging in mysterious rites of spiritual inflation. With keen observation and a gentle irony, the narrative reveals how these airy philosophies naturally contrive devils to oppose their deities, thus reflecting mankind’s penchant for balancing light and shadow in the imagination.