COCK AND HEN. 19 



ferent manner, on other occasions ; for when he meets 

 the hawk, an enemy of his race, and the destroyer of 

 his brood, his pride and courage generally forsake 

 him, and he skulks aw r ay into the first safe place, leav- 

 ing his consort, the Hen, to take care of herself and 

 her chickens in the best manner she can. 



This conduct of the silly brute is imitated at the 

 present day by some human beings who call them- 

 selves men of honour. If one of these men happen 

 to speak a sharp word to the other, he considers it as 

 a kind of crowing over him, and immediately offers to 

 do battle with him, by sending him what is called a 

 challenge, that is, an offer to fight him with swords, 

 pistols, or guns, until one or the other is killed. This 

 is culled a duel, and sometimes when one is wounded, 

 but not quite killed, the other will crow r over him, by 

 saying that he is a coward, unless he continues to fight 

 as long as he can hold his sword, or pistol, in his hand, 

 and thus he is insulted, even while his blood is running, 

 unless he fights until he kills, or is killed himself. 



At the same time, these men, who are so ready to 

 spill their blood in defence of their honour, or in other 

 words, who had rather die than suffer what they call 

 an insult, are very often, both of them cowards. For 

 let an enemy come into their country and destroy it 

 with fire and sword, and very likely these men would 

 be the first to skulk away into some safe place, and 

 like the Cock, let their wives and children take care 

 of themselves. 



It is personal pride therefore, and not true courage, 

 which makes men fight duels, and kill one another for 

 the sake of honour. And he who does this, it is quite 



