~ Ctesias. Greek physician and historian, Indica (c. 400 BC)
 here are in India certain wild asses which are so large as horses, and larger. Their bodies are white, their heads dark red, and their eyes dark blue. They have a horn on the forehead which is about a foot and a half in length. The dust filed from this horn is administered in a potion as a protection against deadly drugs. The base of this horn, for some two hands'-breadth above the brow, is pure white, the upper part is sharp and of a vivid crimson, and the remainder or middle portion, is black. The animal is exceedingly swift and powerful, so that no creature, neither the horse nor any other, can overtake it.
~ Marianna Mayer ~ Author he unicorn is the only fabulous beast that does not seem to have been conceived out of human fears. In even the earliest references he is fierce yet good, selfless yet solitary, but always mysteriously beautiful. He could be captured only by unfair means, and his single horn was said to neutralize poison."
~ Andrea Bacci, 16th Century botanist and physician
he unicorn legend is different from most superstitions in that it has lasted longer and has been shared by the most enlightened minds of all nations.
~ Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass (1946)  t this moment, the Unicorn sauntered by them with his hands in his pockets . . . when his eye happened to fall upon Alice; he turned around instantly, and stood for some time looking at her with an air of the deepest disgust.
"What—is—this?" he said at last.
"This is a child," Haigha replied eagerly, coming in front of Alice to introduce her . . . "We only found it today. It's as large as life and twice as natural!"
"I always thought they were fabulous monsters!" said the Unicorn. "Is it alive?"
"It can talk," said Haigha solemnly.
The Unicorn looked dreamily at Alice, and said "Talk child."
Alice could not help her lips curling up into a smile as she began: "Do you know, I always thought Unicorns were fabulous monsters too? I never saw one alive before!"
"Well, now that we have seen each other," said the Unicorn, "if you'll believe in me, I'll believe in you. Is that a bargain?"
"If you like," said Alice.
~ Marco Polo
here are wild elephants in the country, and numerous unicorns which are nearly as big...
~ Paul and Karin Johnsgard, Dragons and Unicorns: A Natural History
 nicorns are among those rare and recalcitrant beings that refuse to be tamed or exploited. They insist on living out their own lives in those special places that must remain wild, and they can only be brought into the dominion of man through deception.
~ Odell Shepherd, The Lore of the Unicorn (1982)
he question of historicity and actuality with regard to gods and unicorns is a relatively trifling matter which may be left to antiquarians and biologists, for both the god and the unicorn had a business to perform greater than any mere existence in the flesh could explain or provide a basis for.
~ Paul and Karin Johnsgard, Dragons and Unicorns: A Natural History
 hould the last of the gentle unicorns also perish, they will continue to haunt our dreams and those of our children, who will not forgive us for letting such beauty disappear from the earth.
~ Friar Faber, 1438
oward noon we spotted an animal gazing down at us from a sterile mountain peak of red and black rocks... Our guide stated that the animal must certainly be a unicorn, and he pointed out to us the single horn which jutted from its forehead. With great caution we gazed back at this most noble creature, regretting it was no closer for us to examine still more minutely.
~ Nancy Hathaway - The Unicorn
 hen God created the earth, He made a river which flowed from the Garden of Eden... Then God told Adam to name the animals... And the first animal he named was the unicorn. When the Lord heard the name Adam had spoken, he reached down and touched the tip of the single horn growing from the animal's forehead. From that moment on, the unicorn was elevated above other beasts.
~ Samuel Johnson (Translator); A Voyage to Abyssinia, Father Lobo (1735)
 n the Province of Argaus, has been seen the Unicorn, that Beast so much talk'd of, and so little known.
~ Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: or, enquiries into very many received tenets and commonly presumed truths (1646; 6th ed., 1672)
 REAT account and much profit is made of Unicorns horn, at least of that which beareth the name thereof; wherein notwithstanding, many I perceive suspect an Imposture, and some conceive there is no such Animal extant. Herein therefore to draw up our determinations; beside the severall places of Scripture mentioning this Animal (which some may well contend to be only meant of the Rhinoceros) we are so far from denying there is any Unicorn at all, that we affirm there are many kinds thereof. In the number of Quadrupedes, we will concede no less then five; that is, the Indian Ox, the Indian Ass, the Rhinoceros, the Oryx, and that which is more eminently termed Monoceros, or Unicornis. Some in the list of fishes; as that described by Olaus, Albertus and others: and some Unicorns we will allow even among Insects; as those four kinds of nasicornous Beetles described by Muffetus.
Secondly, Although we concede there be many Unicorns, yet are we still to seek; for whereunto to affix this Horn in question... |
