300 The Poets Beasts. 



train them, for the horse is a native of Central Asia, and 

 the early Aryan is hardly likely to have wasted such a 

 useful beast. At any rate, the perfection to which the 

 extremely ancient Assyrian monuments show us that 

 the breeding had attained some eighteen hundred years 

 before Christ, must certainly have taken a long time in 

 development. 



The poets, therefore, do not take more than their usual 

 license when they describe a primitive race catching the 

 wild horse and breaking it into their use. Thus in *' Before 

 the Flood "— 



" With flying forelock and dishevelled mane, 

 They caught the wild steed prancing o'er the plain, 

 For war or pastime reined his fiery force ; 

 Fleet as the wind he stretched along the course, 

 Or, loudly neighing at the trumpet's sound, 

 With hoofs of thunder smote the indented ground." 



The colt "with heels undipped and shaggy mane 

 promiss," and "nothing conscious of his future toils," 

 "approving all pastures but his own" (Hurdis), grows up, 

 and for a while longer retains his liberty. 



" Wanton 

 He skims the spacious meadows, 

 Then stops and snorts, and tlirowing up his heels, 

 Starts to tlie voluntary race again." 



But in due time he becomes a full-grown horse. 



" Then think how short the time, since, joyous, free, 

 lie roamed the mead, or, by his mother's side. 

 Attended jilougli or harrow, scampering gay ; 

 And think how soon his years of youth and strength 

 Will fly, and leave him to that wretched doom 

 Which ever terminates the horse's life. 

 Toil more and more severe, as age, decay, 

 Disease, unnerve his limbs, till sinking faint 

 Upon the ruad, the brutal stroke resounds." 



