Brydone, Patrick; Beckford, William: A Tour Through Sicily And Malta: in a series of letters to William Beckford ; in 2 vol. (Band 2) (1775)

SICILY AND MALTA. 89
prodigious martial feats, that were then
necessary to win them.—The attacking of
a mad bull, or a wild boar, was reckoned
the handsomest compliment a lover could
pay to his mistress ; and the putting these
animals to death ibftened her heart much
more than all the sighing love sick tales
that could be invented. This has been hu-
moroussy ridiculed by one of their poet?.
He says that Cupid's little golden dart was
now changed into a many spear, which an-
swered a doable purpose; for at the same
time that it pierced the tough bull's hide,
it likewise pierced the tender lady's heart.—
But these Gothic customs are now consined
to Spain, and the gentle Sicilians have re-
assumed their softness. To tell you the
truth,«gallantry is pretty much upon the same
footing here as in Italy, the establishment
of Ciccisbees is pretty general, though not
quite so universal as on the continent. How-
ever, a breach of the marriage vow is no
longer looked upon as one of the deadly sins j
?nd