DESPERATE ENCOUNTER. 355 



It must not be supposed, however, that the contests 

 between these vicious animals are in any way conducted 

 after the courtly principles of chivalry, or that an honest 

 tilting-match is the extent of their passages of arms ; 

 they are not always content with butting against each 

 other, as described in the preceding quotation; on 

 the contrary, nothing can exceed the savage, blind 

 ferocity with which they sometimes ply the work of 

 battle, as if hatred, and revenge, and fiend-like cruelty 

 prompted their fierce encounter; this the mangled 

 claws and limbs wrenched off soon testify, so that the 

 spectator naturally beholds them with a shudder, and 

 of course supposes creatures thus crippled, maimed at 

 least for life. Not a bit of it : the loss of a few legs 

 to these wretches appears to be a very trifling acci- 

 dent, and, strange to say, is very speedily repaired : 



" Him they dismember'd often, and not slew ; 

 Nor he, because dismember'd, ever dies, 

 For he remodels leg or hand like wax*;" 



and in a short time presents himself with a new set 

 of limbs, quite as complete and efficient as their pre- 

 decessors. 



Whole congregations were to him 



A dish of Salmagundi ; 

 The corporation worshipful 



He valued not an ace, 

 But swallow'd the mayor, asleep in his chair, 



And pick'd his teeth with the mace." 



* " Piu volte 1' hanno smembrato e non mai uccidea, 

 Ne per smembrarlo uccider si potea, 

 Che se tagliato o mano o gamba gli era, 

 La rappiccava che parea di cera." 



