NATURAL HISTORY. 



135 



THE HORSE. 



THE noblest conquest ever made by man, is that 

 of this spirited animal, which shares with him the fa- 

 tigues of the war, and the glory of the combat. 

 Equally intrepid as his master, the horse sees the dan- 

 ger, and braves it, Inspired at the clash of'arms, he 

 loves it, lie seeks it, and is animated with the same 

 ardour. He feels pleasure also in the chase, in tour- 

 naments, in the course. He is all fire, but equally 

 tractable as courageous, does not give way to his im- 

 petuosity, and knows how to check his inclinations. 

 He not only submits to the arm which guides him, 

 but even seems to consult the desires of his rider; 

 and, always obedient to the impressions which he re- 

 ceives from him, presses on, moves gently, or stops, 

 as Us rider pleases. The horse is a creature which 

 renounces his being, to exist only by the will of ano- 

 ther, which he even knows how to anticipate, and ex- 

 ecute by the promptitude and exactness of his move- 

 ments. He feels as much as we desire, does only 

 what we wish, gives himself up without reserve, and 



