126 



Quadrupeds. 



The Horse feeds upon grass, either fresh or dry, and 

 corn : he is liable to many diseases, and often dies sud- 

 denly. In the state of nature he is a gregarious animal, 

 and even when domesticated, his debased situation of 

 slavery has not entirely destroyed his love of society and 

 friendship ; for Horses have been known to pine at the 

 loss of their masters, their stable fellows, and even at 

 the death of a dog which had been bred near the manger. 

 Virgil, in his beautiful description of this noble animal, 

 seems to have imitated Job : 



" The fiery courser, when he hears from far 

 The sprightly trumpets, and the shouts of war, 

 Pricks up his ears, and trembling with delight, 

 Shifts place, and paws, and hopes the promised fight. 

 On his right shoulder his thick mane reclined, 

 Buffies at speed, and dances in the wind. 

 His horny hoofs are jetty black and round, 

 His chine is double ; starting with a bound, 

 He turns the turf and shakes the solid ground. 

 Fire from his eyes, clouds from his nostrils flow ; 

 He bears his rider headlong on the foe." 



