BOOK VIII.] History of Nature. 75 



Horses and Cavalry. A Chieftain of theirs happening in 

 Combat on a Challenge to be slain by his Enemy, when the 

 Conqueror came to take the Spoil, he was killed by the 

 Kicks and Biting of the Horse of the conquered. There was 

 another Horse, that when the Covering was removed from 

 his Eyes, and he knew that he had served as a Stallion to his 

 own Dam, rushed to a Precipice, and threw himself down 

 and died. We find, also, that in the Territory of Reate, an 

 Horsekeeper was torn upon the same Occasion of a Mare. 

 For surely these Animals understand their Relationship ; 

 and therefore Colts will in the Flock more willingly keep 

 Company with their Sisters of the former Year, than with 

 the Mare their Mother. Horses are so docile, that we 

 find in the Army of the Sybaritani, the whole Troop of Horse- 

 men had their Horses accustomed to be moved to a certain 

 Dance at the Sound of Music. They have an Anticipation 

 of a Battle, and mourn the Loss of their Masters; some- 

 times also, they shed tears for Love of them. When King 

 Nicomedes was slain, his Horse starved itself to Death. 

 Philarchus reporteth, that King Antiochus having in Battle 

 slain Centaretus, a Galatian, became possessed of his Horse, 

 and mounted him in a triumphant manner ; but the Horse, 

 seized with Indignation, would not be restrained by the 

 Bridle, but ran furiously to a Precipice, and threw itself 

 down ; where both Horse and Man perished together. Phi- 

 listus writeth, that when Dionysius left his Horse stickng 

 fast in the Mire that he might save himself, the Animal 

 followed the Tracks of his Master, with a Swarm of Bees 

 settling in his Mane ; which was the first Presage that in- 

 duced Dionysius to usurp the Tyranny. The variety of their 

 Skill cannot be expressed ; and those who throw Darts 

 have Proof of their entire Obedience, in urging them to the 

 most difficult Attempts with great Dexterity and striving of 

 the Body. They even gather up Darts from the Ground, 

 and reach them to the Horseman ; and when they are fast- 

 ened to the Chariots in the Circus they display beyond a 

 doubt their Consciousness of Encouragement and Glory. At 

 the Secular Circensian Games exhibited bv Claudius Ccesar, 



