GYNEGETICA, I. 281-307 



eagle " speeding over the vales of air, or the hawk 

 hasting with long pinions spread, or the dolphin 

 gliding over the grey waves. So fleet are the Iberian 

 horses of wind-swift feet ; but they are small and 

 weak of spirit and unvahant of heart and in a few 

 furlongs are found wanting * in speed ; and though 

 clothed in fair form and glorious shape, yet the hoof 

 is lacking in strength, bred to soft ground and broad. 

 The dappled breed of Moorish horses are far the best 

 of all for extended courses and laborious toil. And 

 next to these for accomplishing a long course come 

 the Libyan horses, even those which dwell in many- 

 pebbled Cyrene. Both are of similar type, save only 

 that the strong Libyan horses are larger to look at ; 

 but these latter are long of body, having in their 

 sides more space of broad rib than others, and hence 

 are stouter to look at and superior in a charge and 

 good at enduring the fiery force of the sun and the 

 keen assault of noontide thirst. The Tuscan horses 

 and the immense Cretan breeds are both swift in 

 running and long of body. The Sicilian are swifter 

 than the Moorish horses, while the Parthian are 

 swifter than the Sicihan, grey-eyed*^ also and emin- 

 ently handsome, and they alone abide ** the loud roar 

 of the Uon. For verily against different wild beasts 

 different breeds of horses are fitting in many cases, 

 as the eyes declare. Against the deer of spotted 

 feet thou shouldst array dark-eyed horses ; blue- 



xxi. -252); the dolphin (Pind. P. ii. ol, X. vi. 12); the hawk 

 (Horn. //. XV. -237, Od. xiii. 86) are types of swiftness. 



* But Nemes. 253 says Spanish horses *' valent longos 

 intendere cursus " ; Mart. i. 49, xiv, 199. 



* Xaporoi may here mean merely " bright-eyed." For 

 the sense of the word when appUed to colour see note on 308. 



* Of. C. iv. 116. 



D 8S 



