But his armoury is not fixed like that of the woodland hedgehog. He can take the offensive and also protect himself at a distance by the frequent discharge of these darts of his, hurling through the air the flying missiles which his own back supplies. At times like the flying Parthian he wounds his pursuers; at times he entrenches himself and strikes his foe by the discharge of a storm of these terrible weapons which bristle on his shoulders out of which they grow. He fights with his whole body, and his back, as it moves, emits a raucous sound. You would think it was the trumpet’s note stirring an army to close with the foe and fight. Small is the animal but great the din. Besides his arms he displays cunning and a cold, calculated fury that never wastes its weapons but cautiously contents itself with threats, for he never expends a dart but in defence of his life. His aim is sure; the blow, such is his skill, unerring, nor can distance delude his range. The motion of his skin in the act of discharging ensures the speed, and accurately directs the flight, of the weapon. Has human endeavour, with reason to guide it, ever done the like? Men rob of their horns the wild goats of Crete, then they force them to become pliant over the fire[66]; they use the guts of cattle to string their bows; they tip their arrows with iron and wing them with feathers. But here is a small animal whose arms are contained in his own body [66] In the making of bows. * * * * * Page 184 externam nec quaerit opem; fert omnia secum: se pharetra, sese iaculo, sese utitur arcu. unum animal cunctas bellorum possidet artes. Quodsi omnis nostrae paulatim industria vitae fluxit ab exemplis, quidquid procul appetit hostem, hinc reor inventum, morem hinc traxisse Cydonas 46 bellandi Parthosque retro didicisse ferire prima sagittiferae pecudis documenta secutos. X. (XCII.) _De birro castoreo._ Nominis umbra manet veteris; nam dicere birrum, si Castor iuret, castoreum nequeo. sex emptus solidis! quid sit, iam scire potestis: si mihi nulla fides, credite vel pretio. XI. (XCI.) _In sepulchrum speciosae._ Pulchris stare diu Parcarum lege negatur. magna repente ruunt; summa cadunt subito. hic formosa iacet: Veneris sortita figuram egregiumque decus invidiam meruit. XII. (LXXXIV.) _De balneis Quintianis quae in via posita erant._ Fontibus in liquidis paulum requiesce, viator, atque tuum rursus carpe refectus iter. * * * * * Page 185 and who needs no external defence. He carries all his own arms; himself his own quiver, arrow, and bow. Alone he possesses all the resources of war.