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Show 65 ORIGIN OF SOCIETY. CANTO II. With rustling pinions meet, and swelling chests, And seize with closing beaks their bleeding crests; Rise on quick wing above the struggling foe, And aim in air the death-devoting blow·. 320 There the hoarse stag his croaking rival scorns, And butts and parries with his branching horns; Contending Boars with tusk enamell'd strike, And guard with shoulder-shield the blo'v oblique; There t!te hoarse stag, 1. S2 I. A great want of on~ part of ~he anima,l world has consisted in the desire of the exclusive possessiOn of the females; and these have acquired weapons to com?at each other for this purpose, as the very thick shield-like horny skm on the shoulder of the boar is a defence only against animals of his own species, who strike obliquely upwards, nor are his tushes for other purposes, except to defend himself, as he is not naturally a carnivorous animal. So the horns of the stag are sharp to offend his ad versary, but are branched for the purpose of parrying or receiving the thrusts of horns similar to his own, and hav~ therefore been formed for the purpose of combating other stags for the exclusive possession of the females, who are observed, like the ladies in the times of chivalry, to attend the car of the victor. The birds, which do not carry food to their young, and do not therefore marry, are armed with spurs for the purpose of fighting· for the exclusive possession of the females, as cocks and quails. It is certain that these weapons are not provided for their defence against other adversaries, because the females of these species are without this armour; Zoonomia, Sect, XXXIX. 4, 8. CXNTO II. REPRODUCTION OF LIFE. While female bands attend in mute surprise, And view the victor with admiring eyes.- " So Knight on Knight, recorded in ro1nance 69 ' Urged the proud steed, and couch' d the extended lance; He, whose dread prowess with resistless force 0' erthrew the opposing warrior and his horse, Bless' d, as the golden guerdon of his toils, Bow'd to the Beauty, and receiv'd her smiles. ' " So when fair HELEN with ill-fated charms, By PARis wooed, provoked the world to arms, Left her vindictive Lord to sigh in vain For broken vows, lost love, and cold disdain; Fired at his wongs, associate to destroy The realms unjust of proud adulterous Troy, Unnumber'd Heroes braved the dubious fight, 330 And sunk lamented to the shades of night. 340 |