DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42851#0164
70
Spectacle de la Nature. “ If custom had not dignified the lion with the title of
king of beasts, reason, in my judgment, would confer it on the horse. The lion is
any thing rather than the king of animals : he is their tyrant, since he is only capable
of devouring, or inspiring them with terror. The horse, on the contrary, never injures
any other creature; he discovers no dispositions that can expose him to their aver-
sion ; he possesses no bad qualities, and enjoys all that are good : of all animals, he
has the finest turn of shape, is the most generous in his disposition, the most liberal
of his services, and the most frugal in his food: look around on the rest of the brute
creation, do you see any animal whose head displays so much beauty and graceful-
ness ? Can we discover any eye that sparkles with more fire ? Where do we bebold
so stately a chest, so fine a body, a main that floats so majestically in the wind, or limbs
of such complete flexibility ? Let him be managed by his rider, or, divested of his
bridle, suffer him to ramble at full liberty through the fields, you will observe in all
his attitudes a majestic deportment, and a noble mien, which attract the attention
and admiration even of those least acquainted with his virtues. He may with pro-
priety be said to have but one ruling desire, which is to serve his master. Is he re-
quired to cultivate his land, or to carry his baggage ? he is always ready, and will
sink under the weight of his labours, rather than decline them. Is he to convey his
master to distant places ? he seems sensible of the honour, studies how to please him,
Spectacle de la Nature. “ If custom had not dignified the lion with the title of
king of beasts, reason, in my judgment, would confer it on the horse. The lion is
any thing rather than the king of animals : he is their tyrant, since he is only capable
of devouring, or inspiring them with terror. The horse, on the contrary, never injures
any other creature; he discovers no dispositions that can expose him to their aver-
sion ; he possesses no bad qualities, and enjoys all that are good : of all animals, he
has the finest turn of shape, is the most generous in his disposition, the most liberal
of his services, and the most frugal in his food: look around on the rest of the brute
creation, do you see any animal whose head displays so much beauty and graceful-
ness ? Can we discover any eye that sparkles with more fire ? Where do we bebold
so stately a chest, so fine a body, a main that floats so majestically in the wind, or limbs
of such complete flexibility ? Let him be managed by his rider, or, divested of his
bridle, suffer him to ramble at full liberty through the fields, you will observe in all
his attitudes a majestic deportment, and a noble mien, which attract the attention
and admiration even of those least acquainted with his virtues. He may with pro-
priety be said to have but one ruling desire, which is to serve his master. Is he re-
quired to cultivate his land, or to carry his baggage ? he is always ready, and will
sink under the weight of his labours, rather than decline them. Is he to convey his
master to distant places ? he seems sensible of the honour, studies how to please him,