THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 10 7 



in the shape of good fellowship, and social harmony. The 

 art of riding well to hounds is one of those in which the 

 *' suaviter m modo" may be so happily blended with the 

 "fortiter in re." A degree of physical power is requisite, 

 and this is the only way in which we can account for 

 the fact, that men of twelve, and fourteen stone weight, 

 have always "held their own" with the light weights ; but 

 muscular strength is not absolutely indispensable. Any 

 one who wishes for an apt illustration of the knack of 

 holding a horse, as compared with power, has only to 

 look at some urchins, amongst the stable children at 

 Newmarket, riding the gallops. In an old triplet, older 

 than the hills, these words are supposed to be addressed 

 by a horse to his rider : — 



" Up the hill, spare me ; 

 Down the hill, bear me ; 

 On the flat, never fear me !" 



A man may lay worse counsel to heart than is 

 contained in this doggerel maxim. The necessity for 

 easing a horse in an ascent, by sparing to urge, by 

 raising one's self over the withers, and by a timely pull on 

 gaining the summit, — the assistance which one may 

 afford by bearing him, instead of abandoning him, on the 

 descent, are sufficiently obvious. The conclusion is 

 rather more comprehensive : " On the flat, never fear 

 me.'' This conveys not only a willingness to exert his 

 utmost speed, a desire to do his best, if fairly dealt with, 

 but a hint that he may be trusted. You must have 



