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'Then you are all right； master； there's no fear。 Trust him for
not hurting a young gentleman； an officer's son； who can't ride。
If you were a blackguard dragoon； indeed； with long spurs； 'twere
another thing； as it is； he'll treat you as if he were the elder
brother that loves you。 Ride！ He'll soon teach you to ride if you
leave the matter with him。 He's the best riding…master in all
Ireland； and the gentlest。'
The cob was led forth； what a tremendous creature！ I had
frequently seen him before； and wondered at him； he was barely
fifteen hands； but he had the girth of a metropolitan dray…horse；
his head was small in comparison with his immense neck； which
curved down nobly to his wide back： his chest was broad and fine；
and his shoulders models of symmetry and strength； he stood well
and powerfully upon his legs； which were somewhat short。 In a
word； he was a gallant specimen of the genuine Irish cob； a species
at one time not uncommon； but at the present day nearly extinct。
'There！' said the groom； as he looked at him； half admiringly； half
sorrowfully； 'with sixteen stone on his back； he'll trot fourteen
miles in one hour； with your nine stone； some two and a half more
ay； and clear a six…foot wall at the end of it。'
'I'm half afraid；' said I； 'I had rather you would ride him。'
'I'd rather so； too； if he would let me； but he remembers the blow。
Now； don't be afraid； young master； he's longing to go out himself。
He's been trampling with his feet these three days； and I know what
that means； he'll let anybody ride him but myself； and thank them；
but to me he says； 〃No！ you struck me。〃'
'But；' said I； 'where's the saddle？'
'Never mind the saddle； if you are ever to be a frank rider； you
must begin without a saddle； besides； if he felt a saddle； he would
think you don't trust him； and leave you to yourself。 Now； before
you mount； make his acquaintance … see there； how he kisses you and
licks your face； and see how he lifts his foot； that's to shake
hands。 You may trust him … now you are on his back at last； mind
how you hold the bridle … gently； gently！ It's not four pair of
hands like yours can hold him if he wishes to be off。 Mind what I
tell you … leave it all to him。'
Off went the cob at a slow and gentle trot； too fast and rough；
however； for so inexperienced a rider。 I soon felt myself sliding
off； the animal perceived it too； and instantly stood stone still
till I had righted myself； and now the groom came up： 'When you
feel yourself going；' said he； 'don't lay hold of the mane； that's
no use； mane never yet saved man from falling； no more than straw
from drowning； it's his sides you must cling to with your calves
and feet； till you learn to balance yourself。 That's it； now
abroad with you； I'll bet my comrade a pot of beer that you'll be a
regular rough…rider by the time you come back。'
And so it proved； I followed the directions of the groom； and the
cob gave me every assistance。 How easy is riding； after the first
timidity is got over； to supple and youthful limbs； and there is no
second fear。 The creature soon found that the nerves of his rider
were in proper tone。 Turning his head half round； he made a kind
of whining noise； flung out a little foam； and set off。
In less than two hours I had made the circuit of the Devil's
Mountain； and was returning along the road； bathed with
perspiration； but screaming with delight； the cob laughing in his
equine way； scattering foam and pebbles to the left and right； and
trotting at the rate of sixteen miles an hour。
Oh； that ride！ that first ride！ … most truly it was an epoch in my
existence； and I still look back to it with feelings of longing and
regret。 People may talk of first love … it is a very agreeable
event； I daresay … but give me the flush； and triumph； and glorious
sweat of a first ride； like mine on the mighty cob！ My whole frame
was shaken； it is true； and during one long week I could hardly
move foot or hand； but what of that？ By that one trial I had
become free； as I may say； of the whole equine species。 No more
fatigue； no more stiffness of joints； after that first ride round
the Devil's Hill on the cob。
Oh； that cob！ that Irish cob！ … may the sod lie lightly over the
bones of the strongest； speediest； and most gallant of its kind！
Oh！ the days when； issuing from the barrack…gate of Templemore； we
commenced our hurry…skurry just as inclination led … now across the
fields … direct over stone walls and running brooks … mere pastime
for the cob！ … sometimes along the road to Thurles and Holy Cross；
even to distant Cahir！ … what was distance to the cob？
It was thus that the passion for the equine race was first awakened
within me … a passion which； up to the present time； has been
rather on the increase than diminishing。 It is no blind passion；
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'