Books: 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.