POETIC DESCRIPTION OE TWO PONIES. 57 



that we should say had not timber to carry her body : 

 it would be more in character to say her body was too 

 big for her legs. In fact, though, as I ascertained, 

 she was thorough-bred, her back, loins, and thighs 

 were equal to 20st., but her legs to look at were 

 tobacco pipes. They reminded me of a beautifully 

 poetic description of two ponies I once saw under a 

 print at the Stag and Hounds on Binfield Common, a 

 " meet " of her Majesty's hounds. The print possibly 

 hangs there still ; if so, many, who like me on that 

 occasion have met the hounds there, may have seen 

 it. The ponies were drawing in a phaeton a lady 

 and gentleman ; I forget the costume of either, but I 

 conclude it was the gentleman in a lightish blue coat, 

 fully displayed gilt buttons, canary coloured pantaloons, 

 and Hessian boots ; the lady, a crimson riding habit, 

 large bouquet, hat and feathers. But for the eulogy 

 on the ponies : — 



Sure never were seen two such beautiful ponies ! 

 Other horses are brutes to these Macaronies : 

 To give them this title I think is no sin, 

 Their tails are so thick, and their legs are so thin ! 



Shades of Byron as a poet, or Lonsdale as a sports- 

 man, turn not towards me while perpetuating this 

 eifusion ! — But let us perpetuate the mare. 



I had often admired the springy action of the to- 

 bacco-pipe legged mare ; but these said legs, though 

 looking scarce equal to carry her weight, could and 

 did carry it, and, with the saddle, about 18st. to boot 

 in a way few men were carried. She stepped as if 

 she went on India rubber. She had carried the gen- 

 tleman five years when I first knew her : I saw her 

 carry him for five years afterwards ; she had not a 



