OF HORSEMANSHIP. 75 



Strabo, Nemefianus, Juftin, Vegetius, and many 

 other writers of paft times, celebrate the merit of the 

 Spanifh horfes ; and modern times have feconded them 

 in all their commendations. Vegetius ranks them 

 equally, or next in value to the Cappadocian, and fays, 

 that the African mixed with the Spanifli blood, pro- 

 duces moil adive and fleet horfes, and the fitteft for 

 the faddle. According to Strabo, they excel all others 

 in fpeed and nimblenefs. Oppian fays, that they were 

 fleeter than the Parthians ; and after comparing them 

 in this refpedl to hawks and eagles, affirms that they 

 might vie with the winds in fwiftnefs. Juftin, guarded 

 with the fobriety and difcretion of an hiftorian, beftows 

 upon them equal, if not fuperior commendation ; and 

 fays, that they and the Lufitanian or Portugal horfes, 

 were endowed with fuch fwiftnefs, that they might 

 juftly be faidto be born of the winds j in this manner 

 naturally and properly explaining the fiftion of the 

 poets and fabulifts, who reported, that the mares of 

 this country were wont to conceive by the fouth 

 wind, without the afliftance of an horfe. In fliort, the 

 characfler given "of thefe horfes by various writers 

 ftands juflified by the unanimous confent of all anti- 

 quity, and diftinguiflies them for their beauty, fpeed, 

 courage, and generofity, in fo eminent a degree, as 

 to fl:amp them for the beft and moft accompliflied of 

 their kind. Succeeding times have confirmed their 

 character, and they fl:and now, as of old, moft valued, 

 and moft admired. 



L 2 The 



