Rudolf Erich Raspe

“ I was at Count Przobosky’s noble country-seat in Lithuania; and being at tea, I remained with the ladies in the drawing-room, while the gentlemen were down in the yard, to see a young horse of blood, which was just arrived from the stud. — We heard a noise! I hastened down stairs, and found the horse so unruly, that nobody durst approach or mount him. ”

“ I could make no defence but held out both my hands, when it rushed on me, and seized that on which the hedge hog was fixed. — My hand being soon relieved. I ran to some distance, where I saw the creature suddenly drop down and expire, with the hedge hog in its throat! — As soon as day appeared, the eagle fled off and I travelled to the town, intending for Rome. — I travelled post, and finding myself in a narrow lane, bade the postillion give a signal with his horn, that other travellers might not meet us in the narrow passage. ”

“ At this time the moon, far distant in the west, and obscured by dark clouds, but just afforded light sufficient to discover a kind of shrubbery all around — The eagle began to stagger against the shrubs; I endeavoured to keep my seat, but was soon thrown to some distance among the bushes. — In attempting to rise, I put my hand on a large hedge hog which happened to lie among the grass upon its back: It instantly closed round my hand, so that I found it impossible to shake it off. ”