60 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



posed power of preservation, and perhaps equally 

 symbolical of his power, to preserve or punish. 



The knowledge of the ancients regarding these 

 animals was confined to a few of the more powerful 

 species exhibited to the old world, and which became 

 celebrated by the parts they were made to take in 

 the triumphs and games. 



These were sometimes sent as presents from the 

 conquered nations ; but, in general, animals were 

 collected from the shores of Africa and India in such 

 numbers and variety, that we are at a loss to con- 

 ceive how they were overcome, or afterwards trans- 

 ported to the utmost limits of the Roman empire. 



All that with potent teeth command the plain, 



All that run horrid with erected mane ; 



Or, proud of stately horns or bristling hair, 



At once the forests ornament or fear ; 



Torn from their deserts by the Roman power, 



Nor strength can save, nor craggy den secure 



is the account given of their variety by CLAUDIAN. 



Those belonging to the tribe we are now about 

 to describe were chiefly lions, and the larger spotted 

 African and Asiatic cats, which then went under 

 different appellations of varii, pardi, pantherse, &c. 

 Lynxes were occasionally exhibited, but tigers only 

 once or twice. At the triumphs, they were either 

 *d in procession, as trophies from the vanquished 

 nation, or, in a few instances having been tamed, 

 they were made to draw tlie chariot of the conqueror, 

 symbolical of his prowess. But the most frequent 



