BOOK VI. II. 9-II 



we follow on our own farm is more expeditious and 

 safer. For when we are accustoming the young 

 bullock to the wagon or plough, we yoke with the un- 

 trained animal the strongest and at the same time 

 quietest of the trained oxen, which both keeps it 

 back if it rushes forward and makes it advance if it 

 lags behind. Indeed, if we have no objection to 10 

 constructing a yoke to which three animals can be 

 fastened, we shall by this device achieve the result 

 that even obstinate oxen do not refuse the heaviest 

 tasks. For when an idle bullock is yoked between 

 two veteran oxen and forced to till the ground with 

 the plough which is put upon them, he has no 

 opportunity of refusing to obey the order which has 

 been given him ; for, if he has become savage and 

 rushes forward, he is checked by the controlling power 

 of the other two ; or, if he stands still when the other 

 two pace along, he also follows even against his will ; 

 or, if he tries to lie down, he is upheld and dragged 

 along by his more powerful companions. Hence he 

 is forced from all sides to lay aside his obstinacy, and 

 it takes very few blows to induce him to submit to 

 hard work. 



There is also an ox of a softer kind after it has been 11 

 broken in, which lies down in the furrow ; in my 

 opinion he should be made to mend his ways by 

 reasoning rather than by cruelty. Those who think 

 that the vice is better eradicated by means of goads, 

 fire or other forms of torture, do not know how to 

 reason aright ; for the animal's stubborn obstinacy 

 usually wears out the angry ploughman. Hence it 

 is more expedient to cure the ox which has the habit 

 of lying down by hunger and thirst without having 

 recourse to doing it bodily hurt ; for its natural desires 



^33 



