EARLY WORKS 9 



study there some early treatises on equine litera- 

 ture. They will astonish him, I'll guarantee ! ! ! 



There is a peculiar charm about the sporting 

 writings of ancient Greek authors. The most 

 apt expressions are almost invariably chosen ; 

 moreover, there is a dignity in the style, a 

 marvellous insight into the habits of horses. 

 As you eagerly read you are compelled to 

 admit that this writer — thouQ^h he lived so lono- 

 ago — was unmistakably a gentleman who under- 

 stood his subject. "I'll guarantee he could ride," 

 you say to yourself Of cotcrse he could ! Had 

 he not ridden for his life many a time ? As quite 

 a youngster he had been in action ; not riding on 

 the modern kind of saddle, but on "Ephippia" 

 — described further on under the heading of 

 " Saddles." 



The Greek author in his day had ridden in 

 sunshine and bad weather. Had climbed moun- 

 tains on horseback, slept near his horse in an 

 enemy's country, had forded rivers. And was, in 

 fact, as much at home on his favourite charger as 

 the average modern man feels when sitting in an 

 easy-chair. No wonder, therefore, he could write 

 clearly and brightly on a subject he loved, and was 

 so thoroughly familiar with. Moreover, he did not 

 write for a living. He jotted down his thoughts 

 out of sheer pleasure, producing a treatise which 

 was appreciated by his contemporaries and sub- 

 sequently by posterity. Thank goodness, there- 

 fore, that many of these treatises are preserved, 

 though many have perished ; equally as good, 

 doubtless, as those which have been preserved. 



