54 THE HISTORY AND ART 



was much danger in the performance, efpecially in 

 the chariot- race, where it fometimes happened, that 

 they were forced upon it, and broken to pieces, at the 

 manifeft rifque of limbs and life. To this, it is very 

 well known, Horace alludes in his expreffion, Meta 

 fervidis evitata roiis ; it being necefTu^y that the adven- 

 turers (liould go as clofe as poflible to the goal, to 

 prevent any lofs of ground or time, and yet to take 

 care not to ftrike again fl. it, for fear of receiving an in- 

 jury. 



Beyond this goal another difficulty was to be en- 

 cotrntered. This was a figure, by which the horfes 

 were to pafs, placed on purpofe to alarm and frighten 

 them, as the name imports, being called Tarax/ppus, or 

 the terrifier of horfes. 



The ftiape and form of this ftrange deity (for fo he 

 was called) is not defcribed, but he certainly anfwcrcd 

 the end for which he was defigncd ; it frequently hap- 

 pening, that the horfes were fo feared and alarmed at 

 his appearance, as to run away with the utmoll 

 violence, and expofe their riders, or drivers lives, to 

 the moll imminent dangers. Many conjectures have 

 been formed concerning this ftrange deity, and the 

 means which he ufed to frighten the horfes in fo ex- 

 traordinary a manner ; but the mod probable conclu- 

 fion will be, perhaps, to fuppofe, that fome tricks and 

 artifices were practifed under the difguife of this 

 figure ; either with a defign to render the vi(5tory more 

 honourable, in proportion to its being more difficult to 



be 



