The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
Fourthly, What Horns soever they be which pass amongst us, they are not
surely the Horns of any one kind of Animal, but must proceed from
several sorts of _Unicorns_. For some are wreathed, some not: That
famous one which is preserved at St. _Dennis_ near _Paris_, hath wreathy
spires, and chocleary turnings about it, which agreeth with the
description of the _Unicorns_ Horn in _Ælian_. Those two in the treasure
of St. _Mark_ are plain, and best accord with those of the _Indian_ Ass,
or the descriptions of other _Unicorns_: That in the Repository of the
electour of Saxone is plain and not hollow, and is believed to be a true
Land _Unicorns_ Horn. _Albertus Magnus_ describeth one ten foot long,
and at the base about thirteen inches compass: And that of _Antwerp_
which _Goropius Becanus_ describeth, is not much inferiour unto it;
which best agree unto the descriptions of the _Sea-Unicorns_; for these,
as _Olaus_ affirmeth, are of that strength and bigness, as able to
penetrate the ribs of ships. The same is more probable, because it was
brought from Island, from whence, as _Becanus_ affirmeth, three other
were brought in his days: And we have heard of some which have been
found by the Sea-side, and brought unto us from _America_. So that while
we commend the _Unicorns_ Horn, and conceive it peculiar but unto one
animal; under apprehension of the same vertue, we use very many; and
commend that effect from all, which every one confineth unto some one he
hath either seen or described.
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