l8o THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



fineness, sparkled like sunbeams in the clear air 

 of a frosty morning. Their eyes were like the 

 eyes of eagles, their feet were light as the air, 

 their speed was that of the west wind, and they 

 understood the language of men. 



Perhaps it would be unfair to say that King 

 Peleus was prouder of these horses than he ever 

 expected to be of his fair young wife. He had 

 a fine suite of rooms fitted up for them in his 

 palace at Phthia, and the best grooms in Hellas 

 were employed to take care of them day and night. 

 The fame of the steeds soon spread into foreign 

 lands, and many were the princes and heroes that 

 came from beyond the sea to look at and admire 

 them. But the harness that belonged to them 

 hung unused in its place upon the wall. For old 

 King Peleus, who in his younger days had been 

 a famous rider and driver, and had won the title 

 of Lord of Horses, was too feeble ever to mount 

 the war chariot again, and Swift and Old-Gold 

 were too noble and precious to be driven by any 

 common mortal. Every day they were bathed in 

 wine and washed in the clearest spring water, 

 their manes were oiled and combed and plaited in 

 tresses, and they were allowed to gambol for an 

 hour in the king's orchard. Otherwise they stood 



