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thoui^lit, of the filtering of water, distinctly drop by drop, The meta- 

 phor, however, was of Greek origin. This majestic and lofty pace 

 was also known among the Romans, by the term triimdiiim, which 

 signifies a striking against the ground, and to which the modern French 

 term j^/V/z/er applies, literally signifies to strut and swagger, which terms, 

 indeed, Avell describe the proud and lofty gait of the Horses here in- 

 tended. The trepigner of the French school, according to Berengcr, 

 is derived from the latin word tripudium, but it is always used in a de- 

 grading sense, being expressive of a low, indistinct and racking motion 

 of the legs, and as a contrast to the measured, graceful and lofty action 

 displayed in the piaffer, or cadenced pace. 



The cadenced pace naturally introduces the voluptuous custom of 

 the Syharitides of Calabria, a people proverbial for their excess of deli- 

 cacy and of refinement. They are recorded to have taught their troop 

 Horses to dance in exact unison with the sound of musical instru- 

 ments ; and this luxurious custom prevailed to so late a period, that 

 there are actually extant, in the Italian language, books of notes for 

 Horse music. To compass this measure of discipline, may, indeed, 

 have been easier than appears at first sight, since the composer may 

 have set to music the cadence of steps acquired by the Florses, the 

 music afterwards accompanying their motions. It is not improbable, 

 however, that Horses which had an ear, might in the course of time 

 and practice, acquire the habit of following the music. 



That pleasant and easy pace the canter, was Avell known, and indeed 

 in common use with the ancient Romans on their journies; and it is 

 understood, that their cantlierii, or saddle geldings, were generally dis- 

 ciplined to the short gallop, or canter. The etymology of this word, 

 so often the case with etymologies, is extremelj- vague, since the Greek 

 original denotes a Pack-horse, but they being always geldings, the 

 Romans afterwards called all their geldings cantlierii. Berenger inclines 

 to deriA^e our canter, from the latin cantherius, and very rationally re- 

 marks on Dr. Johnson's confused etymology and definition, which he 

 says, ' must certainly puzzle all who are horsemen, and all who are 

 not.' The Doctor, in his dictionarj^ styles the canter a Canterbury 



gallop, 



