Date: 1840
retorted the offended dra gon, " setting aside your knighthood, I hold myself as well bora a man as thyself."  The knight made no answer in words, but bestow ed two such blows with the butt of his lance on the petulant dragon, that had not the hoops which con stituted the ribs of the machine been pretty strong, they would hardly have saved those of the actor from being broken.  In all haste the masquer crept out of his disguise, unwilling to abide a third bullet from the lance ofthe enraged knight.