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the arena on his hind legs； which no live bull ever dreams of
doing。 he made a splendid fight of it too； and the children got so
excited that they stood up upon the benches； and waved their lace
handkerchiefs and cried out： bravo toro！ bravo toro！ just as
sensibly as if they had been grown…up people。 at last； however；
after a prolonged bat； during which several of the hobby…horses
were gored through and through； and； their riders dismounted； the
young count of tierra…nueva brought the bull to his knees； and
having obtained permission from the infanta to give the coup de
grace； he plunged his wooden sword into the neck of the animal with
such violence that the head came right off； and disclosed the
laughing face of little monsieur de lorraine； the son of the french
ambassador at madrid。
the arena was then cleared amidst much applause； and the dead
hobbyhorses dragged solemnly away by two moorish pages in yellow
and black liveries； and after a short interlude； during which a
french posture…master performed upon the tightrope； some italian
puppets appeared in the semi…classical tragedy of sophonisba on the
stage of a small theatre that had been built up for the purpose。
they acted so well； and their gestures were so extremely natural；
that at the close of the play the eyes of the infanta were quite
dim with tears。 indeed some of the children really cried； and had
to be forted with sweetmeats； and the grand inquisitor himself
was so affected that he could not help saying to don pedro that it
seemed to him intolerable that things made simply out of wood and
coloured wax； and worked mechanically by wires； should be so
unhappy and meet with such terrible misfortunes。
an african juggler followed； who brought in a large flat basket
covered with a red cloth； and having placed it in the centre of the
arena； he took from his turban a curious reed pipe； and blew
through it。 in a few moments the cloth began to move； and as the
pipe grew shriller and shriller two green and gold snakes put out
their strange wedge…shaped heads and rose slowly up； swaying to and
fro with the music as a plant sways in the water。 the children；
however； were rather frightened at their spotted hoods and quick
darting tongues； and were much more pleased when the juggler made a
tiny orange…tree grow out of the sand and bear pretty white
blossoms and clusters of real fruit； and when he took the fan of
the little daughter of the marquess de las…torres； and changed it
into a blue bird that flew all round the pavilion and sang； their
delight and amazement knew no bounds。 the solemn minuet； too；
performed by the dancing boys from the church of nuestra senora del
pilar； was charming。 the infanta had never before seen this
wonderful ceremony which takes place every year at maytime in front
of the high altar of the virgin； and in her honour； and indeed none
of the royal family of spain had entered the great cathedral of
saragossa since a mad priest； supposed by many to have been in the
pay of elizabeth of england； had tried to administer a poisoned
wafer to the prince of the asturias。 so she had known only by
hearsay of our ladys dance； as it was called； and it certainly
was a beautiful sight。 the boys wore old…fashioned court dresses
of white velvet； and their curious three…cornered hats were fringed
with silver and surmounted with huge plumes of ostrich feathers；
the dazzling whiteness of their costumes； as they moved about in
the sunlight； being still more accentuated by their swarthy faces
and long black hair。 everybody was fascinated by the grave dignity
with which they moved through the intricate figures of the dance；
and by the elaborate grace of their slow gestures； and stately
bows； and when they had finished their performance and doffed their
great plumed hats to the infanta； she acknowledged their reverence
with much courtesy； and made a vow that she would send a large wax
candle to the shrine of our lady of pilar in return for the
pleasure that she had given her。
a troop of handsome egyptians … as the gipsies were termed in those
days … then advanced into the arena； and sitting down cross…legs；
in a circle； began to play softly upon their zithers； moving their
bodies to the tune； and humming； almost below their breath； a low
dreamy air。 when they caught sight of don pedro they scowled at
him； and some of them looked terrified； for only a few weeks before
he had had two of their tribe hanged for sorcery in the market…
place at seville； but the pretty infanta charmed them as she leaned
back peeping over her fan with her great blue eyes； and they felt
sure that one so lovely as she was could never be cruel to anybody。
so they played on very gently and just touching the cords of the
zithers with their long pointed nails； and their heads began to nod
as though they were falling asleep。 suddenly； with a cry so shrill
that all the children were startled and don pedros hand clutched
at the agate pommel of his dagger； they leapt to their feet and
whirled madly round the enclosure beating their tambourines； and
chaunting some wild love…song in their strange guttural language。
then at another signal they all flung themselves again to the
ground and lay there quite still； the dull strumming of the zithers
being the only sound that broke the silence。 after that they had
done this several times； they disappeared for a moment and came
back leading a brown shaggy bear by a chain； and carrying on their
shoulders some little barbary apes。 the bear stood upon his head
with the utmost gravity； and the wizened apes played all kinds of
amusing tricks with two gipsy boys who seemed to be their masters；
and fought with tiny swords； and fired off guns； and went through a
regular soldiers drill just like the kings own bodyguard。 in
fact the gipsies were a great success。
but the funniest part of the whole mornings entertainment； was
undoubtedly the dancing of the little dwarf。 when he stumbled into