THE BULL. 



horfeback : this is the moil animated and bloody of all the fcenes, and often 

 the- moll difgufling. The irritated animal braves the pointed Heel, which 

 makes deep wounds in his back, attacks with fury the innocent Horfe who 

 carries his enemy, rips up his fides, and overturns him, together with his 

 rider. The latter, thus difmounted and difarmed, would be in immediate 

 danger, did not combatants on foot, called Chulos, come to divert the Bull's 

 attention, and to provoke him, by making before him different pieces of 

 cloth of various colours. This arMance, however, which they offer to the 

 difmounted horfeman, is at their own rifk ; for the Bull frequently purfues 

 them, and they then Hand in need of all their agility. They often efeape 

 from him, by letting fall in his way the piece of fluff which was their only 

 arms, and againll which the deceived animal fpends ail his fury. Sometimes 

 he is not fatisfied with this fubflitute, and the combatant is obliged to throw 

 himfelf over the barrier, fix feet high, which inclofes the interior part of the 

 arena. This barrier is fometimes double, and the intermediate fpace forms a 

 gallery, behind which the purfued torreadore is fafe. But when the barrier is 

 fmgle, the Bull attempts to jump over it, and fometimes fucceeds. When this 

 happens, the conflernation of the nearefl fpectators may be eafily imagined ; 

 they crowd to the upper feats, and often receive more injury from their hafle 

 to efeape, than from the fury of the Bull, who Humbling at every flep he takes 

 amongfl the narrow feats, attends more to his own fafety than to revenge, 

 and the blows he receives from all quarters foon bring him down. 



If the Bull does not fucceed in his attempt to jump over the barrier, he 

 prefently returns. By this time, his adverfary has recovered, and regained 

 his feet. He inflantly remounts his Horfe, if it has not been killed or 

 rendered ufelefs, and renews the attack ; in which he is often obliged to 

 change his Horfe feveral times. Exprellions cannot then be found to 

 celebrate thefe acts of prowefs, which are the favourite topic of converfation 

 for feveral days. The poor Horfes, who are very affecting models of patience, 

 courage, and docility, may be feen trampling on their own bloody entrails, 

 which drop from their fides, half torn open, and yet obeying, for fome time 

 after, the hand which conducts them to new tortures. Spectators who polfefs 

 any feeling, now experience a diiguft which converts their pleafure into pain. 



