Lion and Unicorn . 
457 
•smooth and not deep, being for the most part like unto the wreathing 
turnings of snailes, or the revolutions or windings of wood-bine about 
any wood. But they proceed from the right hande toward the left, 
from the beginning of the horne, even unto the very ende. The 
colour is not altogether white, being a long time somewhat obscured. 
But by the weight it is an easie thinge of conjecture, that this beast 
which can beare so great burden in his head, in the quantity of his 
body can be little less then a great oxe.” (Page 717.) 
Specimens of this curiosity, which are in reality tusks 
of the narwhal, can be seen in many museums, and two 
are at the present time exhibited at G-ardner’s, in Oxford 
Street. 
Spenser not only takes it for granted that the unicorn 
exists, but describes the mode of warfare adopted by its 
time-honoured antagonist, the lion:— 
“ Like as the lyon, whose imperial powre 
A proud rebellious unicorn defyes, 
T’ avoide the rash assault and wrath full stowre 
Of his tiers foe, him to a tree applyes, 
And when him ronning in full course he spyes, 
He slips aside ; the whiles that furious beast 
His precious horne, sought of his enimyes. 
Strikes in the stroke, ne thence can be released. 
But to the victor yields a bounteous feast.” 
(Faerie Queene, ii. v. 10.) 
Shakspeare refers to this method of defeating the 
unicorn, which was adopted by his human antagonists, as 
well as by the lion: in his tirade against Apemantus, 
Timon of Athens exclaims:— 
Wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee, 
and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury.” (Timon of 
Athens , iv. 3, 337.) 
And again, Decius declares that Csesar— 
“ Loves to hear 
That unicorns may be betray’d with trees, 
And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, 
Lions with toils and men with flatterers.” 
(<Julius Caesar, ii. 1, 303.) 
