THE BULL. 



great gravity on horfeback, and alk from the prefident of the entertainment 

 an order for it to commence. A lignal is inftantly given, and the 

 animal, which was before flint up in a kind of hovel, makes his 

 appearance. On this the officers of juftice, not liking the company of 

 their new gueft, prudently retire as fall as they can, and their fright is 

 a prelude to the cruel pleafure about to be enjoyed by the fpe&ators. 

 The Bull is received with loud fhouts of extacy; he is firfl: deftined to 

 contend with Picadores, mounted on horfeback; who, drefled after the 

 ancient Spaniih manner, and as it were fixed to their faddles, wait for him, 

 each being armed with a Itrong lance. Formerly the greater!; lords did not 

 difdain to practife this exercife, which requires firength, courage, and 

 dexterity; even at prefent fome of the hidalgos folicit for the honour of 

 fighting the Bull on horfeback, and they are then prefented to the people by 

 fome of the principal officers of the court. 



The fcene is opened by the Picadores. The Bull often darts upon them 

 without any provocation, and this is confidered as an earner!: of much 

 entertainment. If he returns immediately to the charge, undaunted by the 

 fharp points of the weapons with which his attack is defended, the lhouts 

 of applaufe are redoubled, and the joy of the fpeclators is turned into 

 enthufiafm ; but if the Bull, firuck with terror, appears quiet, and fhuns his 

 antagoniils, by walking round the fquare in a timid manner, he is hilled and 

 hooted at by the fpeclators, and all thofe, near whom he paries, fail not to load 

 him with blows. He feems then to be a common enemy, who has fome great 

 crime to expiate. If nothing can roufe his courage, he is deemed unworthy 

 of being tormented by men, the cry of perros,perros s calls forth new enemies 

 againft him, and large Dogs are let loofe upon him, which feize him by the 

 neck and ears in a furious manner. The animal then finds the ufe of thofe 

 weapons with which he is furnillied by nature, he tofles the Dogs in the air, 

 who fall down ltimned, and often mangled ; they however recover, and 

 renew the combat, which generally ends in victory on their fide, and thus 

 the Bull peri (lies ignobly. If, on the other hand, he offers himfelf to the 

 combat with a good grace, he runs a longer and nobler, but a more pain fill 

 career. The firfl act of the tragedy is performed by the combatants on 



3 



