18 RIVERSIDE LETTERS in 



panionable as poor Rosie. To thoroughly 

 enjoy and appreciate the full truth and 

 beauty of the relation between Sancho and 

 his Dapple, you should keep a donkey your- 

 self and make a pet of it. 



I was reminded of my loss by a letter I 

 have just received from an anonymous corre- 

 spondent, a reader of my letters, enclosing 

 Buffon's description of the Ass. I suppose 

 Buffon would not now be looked upon as 

 much of an authority, but for graphic power 

 and truth the enclosed would be very hard to 

 beat. My obliging correspondent says of it : 

 " If it is not already known to you, you will, 

 I feel sure, enjoy it immensely ; if you do 

 know it, like all good things it will be none 

 the less good for being tasted again." 



LAnc. 



" L'ane est un ane, et n'est point un cheval 

 degenere, un cheval a queue nue : il n'est 

 ni etranger, ni intrus, ni batard ; il a commc 



