Unicorns

THE LORE OF THE UNICORN--Odell Sliepard--H oughton Mifflin ($7.50).

Armed with pencil and paper Dr. Odell Shepard has been on a big game hunt. His search led him into no forests but into libraries, museums. Starting after the unicorn which, during 23 centuries, has been variously described as a fierce beast, combining the worst features of a rhinoceros -and a wild ass, and as a gentle little creature, the symbol of purity, Dr. Shepard discovered yet another version. His animal, a vague, almost holy myth comes c'oser to the heraldic unicorn which adorns the coat-of-arms of British rulers. This animal, kind, brave and beautiful, was a tragic figure, betrayed on every hand by his beneficiary, man.

The unicorn takes his place in the zoo which never existed as a sharp contrast to harpies, gorgons, sea serpents, lamias, werewolves, dragons. He is virtually the only one who did not harm man. Legend locates him in India, China, Florida, Africa, Canada, Germany, The Bronx. He was usually supposed to have the body of a horse (sometimes an ass, a goat) with a sharp horn (from a few inches to seven feet long) protruding from his forehead. In combat he could destroy a lion. He refused to allow man to capture him alive. His horn, said the alchemists, would act as an antidote for'poison, would cure convulsions, the holy disease (epilepsy).

First entry into literature of the unicorn was in 399 B.C. when a Greek physician at the court of Darius described him. Subsequently Aristotle, Pliny the Elder, Julius Caesar, though they had never seen the animal, described him. The Old Testament gives backbone to the legend by mentioning the unicorn seven times.

The reign of greatest popularity of the unicorn came during the Middle Ages. At this time a favorite pastime of Italian politicians was serving lethal wine to unwary rivals. During this era an office seeker's only hope of becoming the incumbent was to poison his rivals or to fortify himself with unicorn's horn powder.

Shrewd traffickers in this early potent medicine waxed fat. Going further than mere powder-selling they purveyed unicorn horn cups, elaborately carved, which would guarantee living to a ripe old age. Horn walking sticks or wands were still more powerful. The latter, which in today's money were worth well over $100,000, were manufactured from walrus and elephant tusks. Most great cathedral treasuries owned one; they were necessary adjuncts to a monarch's wardrobe.

The unicorn, early writers said, was unconquerable by ordinary huntsman's methods. The best method was virgin-baiting. A maiden, preferably pretty, necessarily young, was undressed, turned loose in a field. The "vapours" of her virginity, explained zoologists, were what attracted the animal, dissipated his fighting spirit. Docilely the unicorn would approach the maiden, fondle her. Putting his head in her lap he would go to sleep. Then she would summon the huntsmen who would dispatch him. Also, claimed authorities, this was a valuable test 'for virginity. The unicorn, on discovering a hoax, would summarily run the lady through with his sharp horn.

This practice, a product of Italian commercial ingenuity, is stoutly condemned by Dr. Shepard. Says he: "The girl always plays her detestable role, drawing the unicorn to his death by acting on his highest nature, without the slightest compunction. . . . One feels that the supernal charm of chastity might be dispensed with if we could have a little more sense of fair play in its place."

Besides his ability to purify wine, which was the unicorn's greatest function in man's eye, he could also purify water for the forest animals. Upon discovering that a snake had poisoned a pool by spraying it with venom, all animals would await the arrival of a unicorn. He would touch the water with his horn, cleanse it.

Late in his life the unicorn entered Christian symbolism, suffered anatomical changes. Of this Author Shepard says: "A creature imagined nobly as terrible, solitary, with the beauty of power, was transformed under Christian influence into a little goatlike animal . . . serving as -the symbol of virginity." The unicorn in Britain's arms is pagan, imported by James I from Scottish heraldry.

The Author. Odell Shepard, 46, is critic, poet, essayist. He has written eight books, many poems for the Christian Science Monitor. His activities have included: reporting for a Chicago newspaper, church organist, 21 years teaching. Several years ago he told friends he was working on a new book, The Natural History of Hobby Horses. For the past 13 years he has been a professor of English at Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. He may be found during his off hours, walking, bicycling, fishing in the unicornless country about Hartford.

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