I08 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



the reins and saddle-bows; and companies of 

 Roman maidens march in front of them, singing 

 songs of the deeds of the dauntless heroes who 

 lived in the brave days of old. When they reach 

 the end of their route, the noblest men of Rome, 

 the patricians, senators, and consuls, welcome 

 them from the steps of the temple, and the entire 

 Forum echoes with the shouts of the people. 



There are also ceremonies, perhaps sacrifices, 

 being performed within the temple, but we do not 

 care to inquire about them — we only want to 

 know what is the meaning of this holiday. There 

 are multitudes of fine horses on exhibition, but 

 this is clearly no horse show. The flower of the 

 Roman cavalry is in the procession, but it is 

 plainly no grand review of troops. The — 



But let us ask the old veteran who sits sunning 

 himself in the portico of the temple of Saturn 

 across the way. 



He is astonished that we should make such an 

 inquiry, and he looks upon us with suspicion. 

 But he is a garrulous sort of fellow, and is glad 

 of any chance to use his tongue, and so he answers 

 us civilly. 



" You must be strangers in Rome," he says, 

 " or you would know that on this day every year 



