If there's one thing 18th-century lawmakers know, it's their Greek and Roman classics. Dudes loved them some classical worldview.

Henry compares the temptation to ignore an unpleasant truth to the sirens of ancient myth: half-human, half-bird or fish creatures who sang sailors to their deaths on the rocks.

We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. (9)

We think Henry shouldn't knock it 'til he's tried it. It might be cool to have wings.