...standing in the valley, has raised one hand to his eyes to focus the solar rays and make his sight keener, while his other hand palpates the bosom of space, arm horizontal and immobile. Leaning forward (the statue of friendship) he watches (with eyes mysterious as the sea) the gaiters of the traveller (aided by his iron-shod staff) climbing up the gradient of the hill. The earth seems to give way beneath his feet and even had he so wished he could not have held back his tears and his feelings:
"He is far away. I see his silhouette mounting a narrow path. Where's he going with that heavy step? He himself does not know.... Yet I am convinced I am not sleeping. What is it approaching and going to meet ******* ? How huge this dragon is. . .bigger than an oak! You would say that its whitish wings, jointed by tough ligaments, had nerves of steel so easily do they smite the air. Its body starts with a tiger's torso and ends in a long serpent's tail. I have not been accustomed to such sights. What is that on its brow? I see written there in a symbolic language a word I cannot decipher. With a final wingbeat it draws close to hime whose tone of voice I know well. And says: 'I was awaiting you, and you me. The hour is come. Here I am. Read on my brow my name writ in hieroglyphics.' But no sooner had ******* seen the enemy than he turned into an enormous eagle, and now he prepares for battle, contentedly clacking his curved beak as if to say that singlehanded he undertakes to devour the dragon's hindquarters. See how they describe ever-diminishing concentric circles, sounding out each other's tactics before fighting. They're wise to do so. The dragon seems stronger to me. I would like him to win victory over the eagle. I shall undergo strong emotions during this spectacle in which a part of my own being is involved. Potent dragons, I shall spur you on with my cries if necessary, since it is in the eagle's own interest that he be defeated. Why are they waiting to attack? I am in mortal dread. Come, dragon, you first, begin the onslaught. You've just struck him a hard blow with your talons: not at all bad. I assure you the eagle must have felt it -- the wind bears off some of his beautiful feathers, bloodstained now. Ah! The eagle tears out one of your eyes with his beak, and you, you had only ripped his skin. You should have paid heed to that. Bravo, take your revenge, break one of his wings! If only you could get near the eagle while he wheels in space,,,"