CHAPTER XVIII. 



General History of the Horse, with an Account of 

 Different Breeds. 



PLUTARCH says a good man will take care of his horses 

 and dogs, not only while they are useful to him, but 

 also after age renders them unfit for service. A 

 beautiful illustration of this benevolent maxim is 

 recorded of the Athenians, who, when they had 

 completed the building of the Hecatompedon, set at 

 liberty the animals employed in its erection. It is 

 related that one of these at the head of his fellow- 

 labourers some time after the completion of the temple, 

 led the way to the citadel, which so highly pleased the 

 people that a decree was made by the senate, enacting 

 that these faithful and willing servants should be 

 kept the remainder of their lives at the public ex- 

 pense. 



Near the tomb of Cimon were placed the graves of 

 the mares who bore him, on three several occasions, 

 victorious at the Olympic games. 



Every humane mind must feel sensibly alive and 

 indignant at the brutal treatment to which that noble 

 and generous animal, the horse, is but too frequently 

 exposed in Europe. The ass, also an animal of great 

 sagacity and gentleness, is almost invariably treated 

 with savage barbarity. Let these unprincipled and 

 unfeeling wretches look to the mutual love which 



