SHEEP. 
275 
times offers to oppose. But these feeble attempts 
rather incite than repress the insult of every 
enemy ; and the dog follows the flock with greater 
delight upon seeing them fly,, and attacks them 
with more fierceness upon their unsupported at- 
tempts at resistance. Indeed they run together in 
flocks rather with the hopes of losing their single 
danger in the crowd, than of uniting to repress the 
attack by numbers. The sheep, therefore, were it 
exposed in its present state to struggle with its 
natural enemies of the forest, would soon be ex- 
tirpated. Loaded with a heavy fleece, deprived 
of the defence of its horns, and rendered heavy, 
slow, and feeble, it can have no other safety than 
what it finds from man. This animal is now, 
therefore, obliged to rely solely upon that art for 
protection, to which if originally owes its degra- 
dation. 
cc But we are not to impute to nature the form- 
ation of an animal so utterly unprovided against 
its enemies, and so unfit for defence. The mouf- 
flon, which is the sheep in a savage state, is a 
hold, fleet creature, able to escape from the 
greater animals by its swiftness, or to oppose the 
smaller kinds with the arms it has received from 
nature. It is by human art alone that the sheep 
has become the tardy, defenceless creature we find 
it. Every race of quadrupeds might easily be 
corrupted by the same allurements, by which the 
sheep has been thus debilitated and depressed. 
While undisturbed, and properly supplied, none 
are found to set any bounds to their appetite. 
They all pursue their food while able, and con- 
tinue to graze till they often die of disorders oc- 
casioned by too much fatness. But it is very dif- 
ferent with them in a state of nature ; they are in 
the forest, surrounded by dangers, and alarmed 
with unceasing hostilities ; they are pursued every 
