Chap. 65.] HOESES. 319 



that Centaretus/® the Galatian, after he had slain Antiochus 

 in battle, took possesion of his horse, and mounted it in tri- 

 umph ; upon which the animal, inflamed with indignation, 

 regardless of the rein and become quite ungovernable, threw 

 itself headlong down a precipice, and they both perished to- 

 gether. Philistus relates, that Dionysius having left his horse 

 stuck fast in a morass, the animal, as soon as it disengaged 

 itself, followed the steps of its master, with a swarm of bees, 

 which had settled on its mane ; and that it was in consequence 

 of this portent, that Dionysius gained possession of the king- 

 dom.^' 



CHAP. 65. — THE DISPOSITION OF THE HOKSE ; EEMAEKABLE FACTS 

 CONCERNING CHAEIOT HOESES. 



These animals possess an intelligence which exceeds all de- 

 scription.'*'^ Those who have to use the javelin are well 

 aware how the horse, by its exertions and the supple move- 

 ments of its body, aids the rider in any difficulty he may have 

 in throwing his weapon. They will even present to their 

 master the weapens collected on the ground. The horses too, 

 that are yoked to the chariots in the Circus, beyond a doubt, 

 display remarkable proofs how sensible they are to encourage- 

 ment and to glory. In the Secular games, which were cele- 

 brated in the Circus, under the Emperor Claudius, when the 

 charioteer Corax, who belonged to the white party,*^ was 

 thrown from his place at the starting-post, his horses took the 

 lead and kept it, opposing the other chariots, overturning them, 

 and doing every thing against the other competitors that could 

 have been done, had they been guided by the most skilful 

 charioteer; and while we quite blushed to behold the skill of 

 man excelled by that of the horse, they arrived at the goal, 

 after going over the whole of the prescribed course. Our 

 ancestors considered it as a still more remarkable portent, that 



^8 -S^lian calls him Centoarates. Antiochus I., or Soter, is here alluded 

 to. He was killed in battle with the Galli or Galatians, b.c. 261. 



39 Mentioned by Cicero, De Divin. B. i. c. 33.— B. 



''o Hardouin refers to the works of Busbequius, in which we meet with 

 nearly the same account of the sagacity of the horse, as in Pliny ; Le- 

 maire, iii. 489. 



*^ As already mentioned in the Note to c. 54 of the last Book, there 

 were four parties or factions of the charioteers who were named from the 

 colour of their dress. 



