OF HORSEMANSHIP. 25 



are fuch, that it is hard to fay to what a degree of obe- 

 dience and cxaiflnefs he may not be reduced. It is 

 faid that the manner in which the ftick operated, was 

 by flriking the horfe with it on the right fide of his face, 

 to make him turn to the left, on the left' to dire<5l him 

 to the right, and full upon the griftle of his nofe, when 

 he was required to flop * : 



Paret in obfeqniuin lento: modermn'me virga, 

 Verbera funt pracepta fuga, funt verbera frceni. 



All ncedlefs here the bit's coercive force 

 To guide the motions of the pliant horfe ; 

 Form'd by the rod alone, its aids they know, 

 And flop, and turn, obedient to the blow. 



AufoniuG confirms this account, and defcribing this 

 method of riding in very exaft terms, celebrates the 

 emperor Gratian for his fkill and addrefs in it. Mira- 

 bamur (fays he) -poetam "j" qui infrcenos dixerat Numidas, et 

 alterum qui coUegerat ita, ut diceret in equitando verbera ^ pra- 

 cepta eJJ'e fuga, & prcecepta Jtjiendi : obfcurum hoc nobis legentibus 

 erat. Intelleximus te videntes, quum idem arcum intenderes, ^ 

 habenas rcmitteres ; aut equum fegnius euntein verbere concitarest 

 vel eodem verbere intemperentiam coerceres %. 



* Nemefian. 



-}- Et numida infrceni eingunt, et inhofptn fyrtis. 



Virg. ^n. 4. 

 X Aufon. Grat. Adio. p. 546, Delph. Edit. 4to 



Vol. I. E This 



