It was, in fact, a medieval corselet of finest steel mesh, capable of turning an elephant bullet.

535 And as on glorious ground he draws his breath, Where Freedom oft, with Victory and Death, Hath seen in grim array amid their Storms Mix'd with auxiliar Rocks, three [X] hundred Forms; While twice ten thousand corselets at the view 540 Dropp'd loud at once, Oppression shriek'd, and flew.

Then from his limbs they took the mighty greaves, And loosed the woven corselet from his side, And bathed his feet and brought him to himself.

In the centre stood a sturdy young Uhlan gaudy in full dress which I fancied he had only lately assumed, his stature was increased by his lofty horse-hair plume and he wore his corselet over a uniform in which there was many a dye.