44 



extinction of the chivalrous spirit. The age of chivalry was now no 

 more ! — and a writer, without any pretensions to the eloquence and 

 passion of Burke, has said, with as much simplicity as truth, ' that, un- 

 less in particular cases, men may, (now) be in love without fighting, 

 and light without being in love : and that such is the opinion of ouv 

 modern ladies.' 



The military chariots of the ancients— 



I'ractis'd alike to turn, to sto]), lo chace. 

 To dare the shock, or urge the rapid race. 



evince a very high and scientific degree of menage in their Horses. 

 According to Xenophon, a practical and professional Avriter, * they so 

 bitted their Horses, that their necks might be pliable and obedient to 

 the reins, teaching them to move by such measured steps, that the whole 

 equipage, when two, four, or six were yoked together, might move as 

 one body, Avithout confusion. They were trained and accustomed to 

 run with their utmost velocity in harness, and inured to fearlessness and 

 hardiness, either for making an attack with an impetuous shock, or 

 recovering in turn, such a shock with firmness. These Horses were 

 taught to execute the various evolutions of wheeling with docility, 

 activity and speed ; to run over all kinds of ground ; to stretch up the 

 steepest ascents, and rush down the sharpest declivities; in fine, they 

 were prepared for all the probable and trying occasions of actual service.' 

 The chariots formed a regular and established part of the military 

 force of the ancient inhabitants of this country, on the invasion of 

 Julius Ccesar ; and as in all probability they learned the use of chariots 

 from the eastern nations, with whom the}^ had commercial intercourse, 

 it seems equally probable that the southern Horse made his way into 

 this country with the chariot, at a very early period. 



It remains to notice the partiality of the ancients for white Horses, 

 a sentiment which has descended to modern times. Herodotus writes, 

 that the inhabitants of Cilicia paid an annual tribute of three hundred 

 and sixty white Horses to Darius, king of Persia: and in the expedi- 

 tion 



