Father. I do—for I see they are not furnished by Nature with organs requisite for the purpose.
Rob. Might not artificial wings be contrived, such as Dædalus is said to have used?
Fa. Possibly they might; but the difficulty would be to put them in motion.
Rob. Why could not a man move them, if they were fastened to his shoulders, as well as a bird?
Fa. Because he has got arms to move which the bird has not. The same organs which in quadrupeds are employed to move the fore-legs, and in man the arms, are used by birds in the motion of the wings. Nay, muscles or bundles of flesh, that move the wings, are proportionally much larger and stronger than those bestowed upon our arms; so that it is impossible, formed as we are, that we should use wings, were they made and fastened on with ever so much art.
Rob. But angels, and cupids, and such things are painted with wings; and I think they look very natural.
Fa. To you they may appear so; but an anatomist sees them at once to be monsters, which could not really exist.
Rob. God might have created winged men, however, if he had pleased.
Fa. No doubt; but they could not have had the same shape that men have now. They would have been different creatures, such as it was not in his plan to make. But you that long to fly—consider if you have made use of all the faculties already given you! You want to subdue the element of air—what can you do with that of water? Can you swim?
Rob. No, not yet.