The beast was sturdy, large, and tall,
With mouth of meal, and eyes of wall;
I would say eye, for h' had but one, 425
As most agree, though some say none.
He was well stay'd, and in his gait,
Preserv'd a grave, majestic state.
At spur or switch no more he skipt.
Or mended pace, than Spaniard whipt:[1] 430
And yet so fiery, he would bound,
As if he grieved to touch the ground:
That Cæsar's horse, who, as fame goes,
Had corns upon his feet and toes,[2]
Was not by half so tender-hooft, 435
Nor trod upon the ground so soft:
And as that beast would kneel and stoop,
Some write, to take his rider up:[3]
So Hudibras his, 'tis well known.
Would often do, to set him down. 440
We shall not need to say what lack
Of leather was upon his back:
For that was hidden under pad,
And breech of Knight gall'd full as bad.
His strutting ribs on both sides show'd 445
Like furrows he himself had plow'd:
For underneath the skirt of pannel,
'Twixt every two there was a channel.
His draggling tail hung in the dirt,
Which on his rider he would flirt, 450
Still as his tender side he prickt,
With arm'd heel, or with unarm'd, kickt:
For Hudibras wore but one spur.
As wisely knowing, could he stir
- ↑ This alludes to Sir Roger l'Estrange's story of a Spaniard, who was condemned to run the gauntlet, and disdained to avoid any part of the punishment by mending his pace.
- ↑ Suetonius relates, that the hoofs of Cæsar's horse were divided like human toes. See also Montfaucon, Antiquité expliquée, vol. ii. p. 58.
- ↑ Stirrups were not in use in the time of Caesar. Common persons, who were active and hardy, vaulted into their seats; and persons of distinction had their horses taught to hend down towards the ground, or else they were assisted by their equerries.
