I Have Heard Wellington Calumniated In This Proud
Scene Of His Triumphs, But Never By The Old Soldiers Of Aragon And
The Asturias, Who Assisted To Vanquish The French At Salamanca And
The Pyrenees.
I have heard the manner of riding of an English
jockey criticized, but it was by the idiotic heir of Medina Celi,
and not by a picador of the Madrilenian bull ring.
Apropos of bull-fighters:- Shortly after my arrival, I one day
entered a low tavern in a neighbourhood notorious for robbery and
murder, and in which for the last two hours I had been wandering on
a voyage of discovery. I was fatigued, and required refreshment.
I found the place thronged with people, who had all the appearance
of ruffians. I saluted them, upon which they made way for me to
the bar, taking off their sombreros with great ceremony. I emptied
a glass of val de penas, and was about to pay for it and depart,
when a horrible looking fellow, dressed in a buff jerkin, leather
breeches, and jackboots, which came half way up his thighs, and
having on his head a white hat, the rims of which were at least a
yard and a half in circumference, pushed through the crowd, and
confronting me, roared:-
"Otra copita! vamos Inglesito: Otra copita!"
"Thank you, my good sir, you are very kind, you appear to know me,
but I have not the honour of knowing you."
"Not know me!" replied the being. "I am Sevilla, the torero.
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