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the horse being a noble and generous creature； intended by the All…
Wise to be the helper and friend of man； to whom he stands next in
the order of creation。 On many occasions of my life I have been
much indebted to the horse； and have found in him a friend and
coadjutor； when human help and sympathy were not to be obtained。
It is therefore natural enough that I should love the horse； but
the love which I entertain for him has always been blended with
respect； for I soon perceived that； though disposed to be the
friend and helper of man； he is by no means inclined to be his
slave； in which respect he differs from the dog； who will crouch
when beaten； whereas the horse spurns； for he is aware of his own
worth and that he carries death within the horn of his heel。 If；
therefore； I found it easy to love the horse； I found it equally
natural to respect him。
I much question whether philology； or the passion for languages；
requires so little of an apology as the love for horses。 It has
been said； I believe； that the more languages a man speaks； the
more a man is he； which is very true； provided he acquires
languages as a medium for becoming acquainted with the thoughts and
feelings of the various sections into which the human race is
divided； but； in that case； he should rather be termed a
philosopher than a philologist … between which two the difference
is wide indeed！ An individual may speak and read a dozen
languages； and yet be an exceedingly poor creature； scarcely half a
man； and the pursuit of tongues for their own sake； and the mere
satisfaction of acquiring them； surely argues an intellect of a
very low order； a mind disposed to be satisfied with mean and
grovelling things； taking more pleasure in the trumpery casket than
in the precious treasure which it contains； in the pursuit of
words； than in the acquisition of ideas。
I cannot help thinking that it was fortunate for myself； who am； to
a certain extent； a philologist； that with me the pursuit of
languages has been always modified by the love of horses； for
scarcely had I turned my mind to the former； when I also mounted
the wild cob； and hurried forth in the direction of the Devil's
Hill； scattering dust and flint…stones on every side； that ride；
amongst other things； taught me that a lad with thews and sinews
was intended by nature for something better than mere word…culling；
and if I have accomplished anything in after life worthy of
mentioning； I believe it may partly be attributed to the ideas
which that ride； by setting my blood in a glow； infused into my
brain。 I might； otherwise； have become a mere philologist； one of
those beings who toil night and day in culling useless words for
some OPUS MAGNUM which Murray will never publish； and nobody ever
read； beings without enthusiasm； who； having never mounted a
generous steed； cannot detect a good point in Pegasus himself； like
a certain philologist； who； though acquainted with the exact value
of every word in the Greek and Latin languages； could observe no
particular beauty in one of the most glorious of Homer's
rhapsodies。 What knew he of Pegasus？ he had never mounted a
generous steed； the merest jockey； had the strain been interpreted
to him； would have called it a brave song！ … I return to the brave
cob。
On a certain day I had been out on an excursion。 In a cross…road；
at some distance from the Satanic hill； the animal which I rode
cast a shoe。 By good luck a small village was at hand； at the
entrance of which was a large shed； from which proceeded a most
furious noise of hammering。 Leading the cob by the bridle； I
entered boldly。 'Shoe this horse； and do it quickly； a gough；'
said I to a wild grimy figure of a man； whom I found alone；
fashioning a piece of iron。
'Arrigod yuit？' said the fellow； desisting from his work； and
staring at me。
'Oh yes； I have money；' said I； 'and of the best'； and I pulled out
an English shilling。
'Tabhair chugam？' said the smith； stretching out his grimy hand。
'No； I shan't；' said I； 'some people are glad to get their money
when their work is done。'
The fellow hammered a little longer； and then proceeded to shoe the
cob； after having first surveyed it with attention。 He performed
his job rather roughly； and more than once appeared to give the
animal unnecessary pain； frequently making use of loud and
boisterous words。 By the time the work was done； the creature was
in a state of high excitement； and plunged and tore。 The smith
stood at a short distance； seeming to enjoy the irritation of the
animal； and showing； in a remarkable manner； a huge fang； which
projected from the under jaw of a very wry mouth。
'You deserve better handling；' said I； as I went up to the cob and
fondled it； whereupon it whinnied； and attempted to touch my face
with its nose。
'Are ye not afraid of that beast？' said the smith； showing his
fang。 'Arrah； it's vicious that he looks！'
'It's at you； then！ … I don't fear him'； and thereupon I passed
under the horse； between its hind legs。
'And is that all you can do； agrah？' said the smith。
'No；' said I； 'I can ride him。'
'Ye can ride him； and what else； agrah？'
'I can leap him over a six…foot wall；' said I。
'Over a wall； and what more； agrah？'
'Nothing more；' said I； 'what more would you have？'
'Can you do this； agrah？' said the smith； and he uttered a word
which I had never heard before； in a sharp pungent tone。 The
effect upon myself was somewhat extraordinary； a strange thrill ran
through me； but with regard to the cob it was terrible； the animal
forthwith became like one mad； and reared and kicked with the
utmost desperation。
'Can you do that； agrah？' said the smith。
'What is it？' said I； retreating； 'I never saw the horse so
before。'
'Go between his legs； agrah；' said the smith； 'his hinder legs'；
and he again showed his fang。
'I dare not；' said I； 'he would kill me。'
'He would kill ye！ and how do ye know that； agrah？'
'I feel he would；' said I； 'something tells me so。'
'And it tells ye truth； agrah； but it's a fine beast； and it's a
pity to see him in such a state： Is agam an't leigeas' … and here
he uttered another word in a voice singularly modified； but sweet
and almost plaintive； the effect of it was as instantaneous as that
of the other； but how different！ … the animal lost all its fury；
and became at once calm and gentle。 The smith went up to it；
coaxed and patted it； making use of various sounds of equine
endearment； then turning to me； and holding out once more the grimy
hand； he said； 'And now ye will be giving me the Sassannach
tenpence； agrah？'
CHAPTER XIV
A fine old city … Norman master…work … Lollards' Hole … Good blood
… The Spaniard's sword … Old retired officer … Writing to a duke