THE SCENE: The passage below, written by a medieval Scottish historian, provides some insight into why the unicorn became Scotland’s national animal.
THE TEXT: Long ago in the time of our grandfathers and recently also in our own time the courage of the Scots exceeded the valour of the lion or unicorn. It is the nature of the first of these to fear no attack; of the second never to fall alive into man’s power. It can be killed but never subdued alive. And if ever by the exertion of hunters it happens to be taken alive, it immediately dies.
– Scotichronicon, Walter Bower, 15th Century AD
