72 SUAVITER IN MODO, FORTITER IN RE. 



ticular point perhaps excel, while in another they 

 fall short : but, taking them all in all, it would be 

 very difficult if not impossible, and certainly invidious, 

 to give the preference to any one among the truly 

 excellent. One coachman will hustle along a heavy 

 lazy team that another equally good can scarcely 

 keep his time with : but give a team of regular larking 

 fly-away devils to the latter, he will keep them to- 

 gether, in temper and pace, better than the former, 

 who would perhaps be too rude with them. He could 

 drive all sorts ; so they both could, but neither of 

 them all sorts equally well. So in riding, one man 

 excels on a light-mouthed nervous fidgety horse ; he 

 will coax him across country and prevent his taking 

 too much out of himself. This can only be done by 

 sitting quite still on him, having fine delicate hands, 

 patience, and temper that nothing can disturb. 

 Another shines on a violent restive determined horse : 

 here a man must have a seat firm as a Centaur, arms 

 and shoulders of cast-iron, and resolution and courage 

 that nothing can daunt. He must also keep his 

 temper, or, what is bad to begin with, he will ren- 

 der quite unmanageable before his business is done. 

 Temper is also a sine qua non in a coachman ; it is 

 even more necessary than in a horseman, for the sake 

 of others. An irritated horse bolts off with his rider, 

 or throws him, or both ; he alone pays the penalty of 

 his fault : but an irritated horse in harness, particu- 

 larly in light private carriages, is perfectly awful. 

 AVe may and can manage him as wheeler to a coach ; 

 the weight and his companions will hold him : but in 

 a light carriage, let me tell very young coachmen 

 who may think they are in little danger, that no man 

 living can hold two horses determined to run away ; 

 and as to four all in the same mind, they are no 



