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1823–1902

THE BULL-FIGHT.

Elizabeth Stoddard

Eleven o'clock: Here are our cups of chocolate. Montez will fight the bulls to-day — All Madrid knows that:

Queen Christina is going in state: Dolores will go with her little fan! Lace up my shoe; Put on my Basquina;

Can you see my black eyes? I am Manuel's duchess. In front of the box of the Queen and the Duke Dolores sits, flirting her fan;

The church of St. Agnes stands on the right, And its shadow falls on the picadors; On their lean steeds they prance in the ring, Hidalgo-fashion, their hands on their hips.

“Ha! Toro! Toro!” Hoh! the horses are gored; Now for the men. “Ha! Toro! Toro!”

Every man over the barrier! Not so; for there the bull-fighter stands; Some little applause from the royal box, And “Montez! Montez!” from a thousand throats!

The bull bows fine, though snorting with rage, His fore-leg makes little holes in the ground; But Montez stands still; his ribbons do n't flutter! Saints, what a leap!

His rosette is on the bull's black horn; Montez is pale; but his great eye shines When Dolores cries — “Kisses for Montez!” Fie! Manuel's duchess!

A minute longer the fight is done, The mule-bells tinkle, the bull rides off; Montez twirls a new diamond ring, And Dolores goes home for chocolate.

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THE BULL-FIGHT. · Elizabeth Stoddard · Poetry Cove