And there are two sorts of this motion proper to generous horses.1 The one, in which standing upon two feet only, either the hinder or the forefeet, the other part of their body is lifted up on high from the ground; which motion (being very dangerous to the Rider) we call bounding or to bound. The other sort of saltatory motion, is that, whereby the horse lifts up himself, with his four feet quite off the ground, and goeth as it were leaping, or intermingles saltation or leaping with his going. There is a twofold leaping. First, When a horse raiseth himself over a bar, hedge or ditch, this is of daily use. The other, is only for pomp, when a horse raiseth his body upon plain ground to show his activity, this we call curveting, as the proud stately gate of a horse is by us called prancing. Now of these two motions, bounding and curveting, the latter is rather to be understood in this place; that being most like the saltation, the leaping or skipping motion of a Grass-hopper;2 and the other to be reckoned rather among the ill qualities, than the commendations of a horse, which are here only taken notice of. Canst thou make him leap or move like a Grass-hopper? The Grass-hopper moves with a kind of leap. Naturalists tells us, that the hinder-legs of Grass-hoppers are much longer than their fore-legs, to fit them for leaping; the Horse in his leaping and curveting motion, clearly represents the motion of a Grass-hopper. According to this exposition, the ⟨p. 437⟩great agility and nimbleness of the horse is set forth,3 as before his strength and courage. Hast thou made the horse so agile or active, that like a Grasshopper he doth as it were, leaping fly, and flying leap. A horse will do strange seats of activity if well managed. This interpretation is much urged by several of the learned; yet I conceive the purpose of these words, is rather to set forth the boldness, than the nimbleness of the horse. Our Translation carries this sense clearly.
And there are two sorts of this motion proper to generous horses.1 The one, in which standing upon two feet only, either the hinder or the forefeet, the other part of their body is lifted up on high from the ground; which motion (being very dangerous to the Rider) we call bounding or to bound. The other sort of saltatory motion, is that, whereby the horse lifts up himself, with his four feet quite off the ground, and goeth as it were leaping, or intermingles saltation or leaping with his going. There is a twofold leaping. First, When a horse raiseth himself over a bar, hedge or ditch, this is of daily use. The other, is only for pompe, when a horse raiseth his body upon plain ground to shew his activity, this we call curveting, as the proud stately gate of a horse is by us called praunsing. Now of these two motions, bounding and curveting, the latter is rather to be understood in this place; that being most like the saltation, the leaping or skipping motion of a Grass-hopper;2 and the other to be reckoned rather among the ill qualities, than the commendations of a horse, which are here only taken notice of. Canst thou make him leap or move like a Grass-hopper? The Grass-hopper moves with a kind of leap. Naturallists tells us, that the hinder-legs of Grass-hoppers are much longer than their fore-legs, to fit them for leaping; the Horse in his leaping and curveting motion, clearly represents the motion of a Grass-hopper. According to this exposition, the ⟨p. 437⟩great agility and nimbleness of the horse is set forth,3 as before his strength and courage. Hast thou made the horse so agile or active, that like a Grashopper he doth as it were, leaping fly, and flying leap. A horse will do strange seats of activity if well managed. This interpretation is much urged by several of the learned; yet I conceive the purpose of these words, is rather to set forth the boldness, than the nimbleness of the horse. Our Translation carries this sense clearly.
- 1Bootius animad. sacrae.
- 2•osteriora locustae crura mediis longiora sunt, ut ambulet melius, & ottollatur facilius de terra. Arist. l. 4. de part. Animal. c. 6.
- 3Numquid effecisti ut equùs motitet ese instar Locustae? i. e. Fecistine equum agilem sicut Locustam? Vatabl Tunc illi agilitatem dare possis qualem ostendit, cum Locustae modo substultat. Grot. Tremesacere. Jun. Pisc. Locustae sunt fugacissimae, & facile aguntur ventis. Ad levem aliquem strepitum aut motum aufugiunt Sanct. [Greek or Hebrew] Locusta, quae magna multitudine volitat. Latinis Locustae videntur dictae quod locos urant, nam segates morsu erodunt & tactu adurant. Rivet. Locustae equi cataphracti speciem habent.Numquid effecisti ut equùs motitet ese instar Locustae? i. e. Fecistine equum agilem sicut Locustam? Vatabl Tunc illi agilitatem dare possis qualem ostendit, cum Locustae modo substultat. Grot. Tremesacere. Jun. Pisc. Locustae sunt fugacissimae, & facile aguntur ventis. Ad levem aliquem strepitum aut motum aufugiunt Sanct. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Locusta, quae magna multitudine volitat. Latinis Locustae videntur dictae quod locos urant, nam segates morsu erodunt & tactu adurant. Rivet. Locustae equi cataphracti speciem habent.
