INTRODtJCTION". 15 



costliness, that dangle from their bits are adorned with 

 gold and silver ornaments, costly jewels and delicate 

 workmanship, of which not only the rider but the horse 

 seems proud, and, while wondering at its power and 

 romantic history, we grant the bit the symbolic palm. 



Under the restraint of the bit ''the horse 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- 

 fridited, neither turneth he back from the sword ; the 

 quiver rattleth against him, the quivering spear and tlie 

 shield." Thus anterior to and since the days of Xenophon 

 on the plains of Babylon, vast legions of men from remote 

 ages have been manoeuvred and led by generals and mon- 

 archs, who held the bit in one hand and the destinies of 

 nations in the other. 



Empires and nations rise, decay and fall. 



But still the bit survives and rules and conquers all. 



