Trafika Europe 1 - Northern Idyll

“In the Year of Our Lord 1512 on the first day of May, a living beast which they call the rhinoceros was brought from India to Manuel, Great King of Portugal, in Lisbon. Its colouration is like the shell of the turtle and it is covered wholly in thick scales. Before upon its nose is a stout horn which the creature, finding itself in the vicinity of rocks, sharpens on every occasion. The beast is the mortal enemy of the elephant which greatly fears it for, upon an encounter, it will thrust its head between the front legs of the elephant and, ripping open its belly, despatch it, against which the latter has no defence. They say also that the rhinoceros is a swift, joyous and agile beast.” – Albrecht Dürer WHEN YOU ARE AMONG WELL-OFF, not anti-social, people, you often find yourself talking to a kid and you think (without any sarcasm), what a neat little rabbit he is, – just so fine and decent, so sorted and ready to turn out right, into a good man, without being a doormat – someone capable of working well and girls are going to think (or at least, should think): “a perfect husband, I’ll take him and live happily ever after” and then, less than an hour later, you come across someone else and now you feel you are the bunny rabbit, the puppy, the greenhorn, but you don’t mind; quite the opposite: what I like is this pendulum swing, this alternation of people, moods and images, as restless as the sea, as if you are in your element walking on water, preferably choppy.

I was brimming with joy, all the more brilliant for having no cause, as I marched down the street wanting to jump

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