226 THE GAME FOWL. 



brought a small table to the door, on which she placed several 

 things, as if for the evening repast, and then sat down on a 

 stool; presently returned the Catalan, and, without a word, took 

 his seat on the threshold ; then, as if nothing had occurred, 

 the extraordinary couple commenced eating and drinking, 

 interlarding their meal with oaths and jests/' Borrow 's Bible 

 in Spain, vol. ii. p. 53. The lady was as submissive, as affec- 

 tionate, and withal as petulant, as the Game Hen, on whom 

 her lord bestows three or four sharp pecks, in punishment for 

 ill-behaviour. We are conscious that we are now decidedly 

 wandering; but, as a relief from the description of quill- 

 feathers and the weight of Eggs, must really give an addi- 

 tional instance of the compatibility of even friendship with 

 slaughter. 



" In the course of the day, our men went down to a small 

 brook, which flowed between the opposing armies, for water; 

 and French and English soldiers might be seen drinking out 

 of the same narrow stream, and even leaning over to shake 

 hands with each other. One private, of my own regiment, 

 actually exchanged forage-caps with a soldier of the enemy, 

 as a token of regard and good-will. Such courtesies, if they 

 do not disguise, at least soften the horrid features of war ; and 

 it is thus we learn to reconcile our minds to scenes of blood 

 and carnage. " Recollections of the Peninsula, p. 110. 



" It was a strange thing to see, in the crowded wards of the 

 hospital, 'English and French soldiers lying helplessly side by 

 side, or here and there performing little kind offices for each 

 other, with a willing and a cheerful air. Their wants and 

 thoughts, I observed, they communicated to each other in 

 phrases of Spanish, which language many of the French pri- 

 vates spoke fluently, and our men understood well enough for 

 all common purposes/' Id. p. 168. 



Game Cocks are led on to battle by blind instinct, and have 

 no higher directing principle. Shall we men ever retain the 



