Not all the
gardens of boasted Italy can produce a shade to outvie this, which
nature had joined with art to render so exceeding fine; and 'tis a
marvel to see how such vast trees, as big as English oaks, could
take footing on so solid a rock, and in so little earth as covered
that rock: but all things by nature there are rare, delightful, and
wonderful. But to our sports.
Sometimes we would go surprising, and in search of young tigers in
their dens, watching when the old ones went forth to forage for
prey; and oftentimes we have been in great danger, and have fled apace
for our lives, when surprised by the dams. But once, above all other
times, we went on this design, and Caesar was with us; who had no
sooner stolen a young tiger from her nest, but going off, we
encountered the dam, bearing a buttock of a cow, which she had torn
off with her mighty paw, and going with it towards her den: we had
only four women, Caesar, and an English gentleman, brother to Harry
Martin, the great Oliverian; we found there was no escaping this
enraged and ravenous beast. However, we women fled as fast as we could
from it; but our heels had not saved our lives if Caesar had not
laid down his club, when he found the tiger quit her prey to make more
speed towards him; and taking Mr. Martin's sword, desired to stand
aside, or follow the ladies. He obeyed him; and Caesar met this
monstrous beast of mighty size and vast limbs, who came with open jaws
upon him; and fixing his awful stern eyes full upon those of the
beast, and putting himself into a very steady and good aiming
posture of defense, ran his sword quite through her breast down to her
very heart, home to the hilt of the sword: the dying beast stretched
forth her paw, and going to grasp his thigh, surprised with death in
that very moment, did him no other harm than fixing her long nails
in his flesh very deep, feebly wounded him, but could not grasp the
flesh to tear off any.
Pages:
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74