THE HORSE. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In all nations, and in all ages, tlie horse has been 

 esteemed as one of the noblest and most valuable ani- 

 mals of the brute creation. It is unnecessary for the 

 object of the present work to make any particular allu- 

 sion to the pride and admiration in which he was held 

 in ancient Greece and Rome, and indeed among every 

 warlike people. Caligula, it is recorded, invested 

 his horse with the dignity of a consul. Innumerable 

 passages might be quoted from the poets descriptive 

 and illustrative of the qualities of this beautiful 

 quadruped ; but we shall confine ourselves, in this 

 introductory matter, to a citation from the Book of 

 Job. The following verses are so applicable to our 

 subject, and so sublime in conception and expression, 

 that it would be almost an unpardonable omission 

 not to lay them before the reader, who need not be 

 told that the apostrophe is to the Deity. 



" Hast thou given the horse strength 1 Hast thou 

 clothed his neck with thunder] Canst thou make 

 him afraid as a grasshopper 1 The glory of his 

 nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and 

 rejoiceth in* his strength : he goeth on to meet the 

 armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not af- 

 frighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. 

 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear 

 and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with 



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