d feminine
grace with manly vigor.

As, hat in hand, he swung himself from the saddle, unassisted, to
greet the fair duchess of Medina Celi, there was such a charm in his
movements, that the young artist felt inclined to believe all the tales
related of the successful love affairs of this favorite of fortune, who
was the son of the Emperor Charles, by a German washerwoman.

Don Juan graciously requested his companion to retire to the back of the
manege, assisted the ladies from their saddles and, offering his hand to
the duchess, led her to the dais, then returning to the ring, he issued
some orders to the mounted officers in his train, and stood conversing
with the ladies, Alexander Farnese, and the grandees near him.

Loud shouts and the tramp of horses hoofs were now heard outside of the
picadero, and directly after nine bare-backed horses were led into the
ring, all selected animals of the best blood of the Andalusian breed,
the pearls of all the horses Don Juan had captured.

Exclamations and cries of delight echoed through the building, growing
louder and warmer, when the tenth and last prize, a coal-black young
stallion, dragged the sinewy Moors that led him, into the ring, and
rearing lifted them into the air with him.

The brown-skinned young fellows resisted bravely; but Don Juan turning
to Alexander Farnese, said: "What a superb animal! but alas, alas, he
has a devilish temper, so we have called him Satan. He will bear neither
saddle nor rider. How dare I venture... there he rears again.... It is
quite impossible to offer him to His Majesty. Just look at those eyes,
those crimson nostrils. A perfect monster!"

"But there cannot be a more beautiful creature!" cried the prince,
warmly. "That shining black coat, the small head, the neck, the croup,
the carriage of his tail, the fetlocks and hoofs. Oh, oh, that was
serious!" The vicious stallion had reared for the third time, pawing
wildly with his fore-legs, and in so doing struck one of the Moors.
Shrieking and wailing, the latter fell on the ground, and directly after
the animal released itself from the second groom, and now dashed freely,
with mighty leaps, around the course, rushing hither and thither as if
mad, kicking furiously, and hurling sand and dust into the faces of
the ladies on the dais. The latter shrieked loudly, and their screams
increased the animal's furious excitement. Several gentlemen drew back,
and the master of the horse loudly orde