Clorinde

If you find yourself face to face with Clorinde, it would be better to accept your decision immediately." Whether you hear this from someone who has had the misfortune of facing Clorinde or from someone who has only watched her from the safety of the stands, it is very unlikely that this was said in jest. Take, for example, some of those who lost their duels with her in less than a minute. A young lady who tried to prepare by wrapping her hand tightly in pieces of cloth so as not to lose the hilt of her sword. Before she knew it, the pieces of cloth had been cut with precision one by one and her weapon had been thrown into the air with such ease that it resembled a sewing needle. Or the flustered "gentlemen" of a sort who appeared from head to toe with all sorts of hidden devices, such as pistols stuffed into their hats, daggers in their shoes, flasks of gunpowder up their sleeves. When their tricks were finished, they were invariably thrown on their butts to the ground and now faced with the additional charge of "contempt of court." And this was even before the duel had even begun, in order to please themselves.? not to mention the desperate individuals who use their resources to portray themselves as victims in a vain attempt to gain public sympathy. But that doesn’t change the inevitability of their defeat in the dueling ring. After all, a sword smeared in a scabbard covered in lies won’t cut anything. But there is a benefit to the existence of this motley crew of failed tricksters and slapstick comedians — namely, they serve as counterexamples that help the crowd recognize others who volunteer to duel with real honor, and that there really is some truth to the “justice” they proclaim. Even if such a person ends up losing, people will listen to what he has to say — because they see that this is someone who stands firmly for her beliefs and has the courage to draw a sword in their defense. Some say that when Miss Clorinde fought such individuals...