The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-03-24
rhe Poet Bryant at Bull Fight.

| 'huS uVeCilDcS Duil-uBut WHICH ue at
tended at Burgos
ave found the place, which they told
us was capable of containing six thousand
persons, already full OF people, inpatient
ly drumming with their feet, to hint that
it was high time for the sport to begin.
Nine-tenths or more of them were of the
laboring class, and their bright-colored
costumes, particularly those of the women,
gave the crowd gay appearance. Many
children of various ages were among them,
and some of these, showily dressed and
attended by nurses, were evidently Of op-
ulent families. We took our places in
the uppermost circle, under narrow sort
| OF a roof, which sheltered us from the
sun; below us was range after range Of
seats open to the sky, descending to the
central circle, the arena, in which the
combats were to take place.
"An alguazil, in black. first rode round
the arena, proclaiming the regulations Of
the day. He was followed by process
sion of the performers, in their gay dress
es; the picalores-glittering with gold
and silver lace-on horseback with their
broad-brimmed hats and long lances the
chuios on foot, with their red cloaks the
banleriH9os, with their barbed shafts,
wrapped in strips of white paper the
ntatadoreS, with their swords and lastly
three mules, gaily caparisoned, with strings
| of little bells on their necks, who were to
| drag out the slain bulls. Loud shouts
lose from the crowd, and then door was
opened and an enormous bull, jet black,
with massive chest and glaring eyes,
bounded into the arena. He ran first at
the chuioS, who shook their cloaks at him,
but his rage appeared soon to subside. A
picadoy put his lance against the ami
mails forehead, but he shook it off and
turned away. The chuioS again came
capering about him and trying to provoke
him, but he pursued them only few steps.
Then rose the cry of, An, que es manSo'
q,te es mans0 cotlarde, codaytiep (Ah,
how tame he is how tame he is II cow
ard a coward y
Finally, the people began to call for
the dogs. Los perrOs los yerros" rose
from thousand throats. Three large
dogs were brought, which barking loudly,
flew at the bull with great fury. He took
them one after another on his horns, and
threw them up in the air; one Of them
he caught in his fall, and tossed him again
The dogs tore his ears into strings, but
they were soon either disabled or cowed,
and only attacked him warily. while he
kept them off by presenting to them first
one horn and then the other. Then the
dogs were Withdrawn and the chul0S tried
him again, but he would not chase them
far; the picadores poked at him with
their lances, but he declined to gore their
horses. The crowd shouted vigorously,
Away with him ! away with him = and
at length the door by which the bull had
entered was set wide open that he might
make his retreat But the bull would
not go; he was not minded either to fight
or to quit the field Kill him kill him "
exclaimed thousand throats-and the
signal was given, in obedience to which
| one of the niatadoreS-the prlmerd es
oada, as the Spaniards call him, just as
the Italians say Prima donnd-made his
appearance, with red cloak on his left
arm, and long glittering, straight sword
in his right hand. He shook the cloak at
the bull, who made rush at it, while the
| niatadoye at the same moment attempted
| to pierce the animal to the heart through
the chine. Three times he sought to make
the fatal pass at the third he was sue
cessfI, burying the blade up to the hit.
A torrent of blood flowed from the crea-
ture's mouth (; he staggered and fell a
sound of little bells was heard ; the three
mules, harnessed abreast, came in, and
dragged out the lifeless carcass.
"Another bull, of smaller size, but of
more savage temper, was then let into the
arena. He ran fercely at the chuios,
chasing him into the places of shelter built
for them beside the barrier and the crowd
shouted, 'Es mug brar0, ese mHy tra-
40 > A picadOr touched with his lance
the forehead of the animal, who instantly
rushed towards him, raised with his horns
the horse he rode, and laid him on the
ground, ripping open his bowels. | then
perceived, with sort Of horror, that the
horse had been blindfolded, in order that
he might not get out of the way OF the
bull. The chni0S came up with their red
cloaks, and diverted the attention of the
bull from his victim, while the picddOr