_Publius Horatius_, the surviving son of “the Roman father.” He pretended flight, and as the Curiatii pursued, “but not with equal speed,” he slew them one by one as they came up.—Whitehead, _The Roman Father_, (1741). =Horatius= [=Cocles=], captain of the bridge-gate over the Tiber. When Por´sĕna brought his host to replace Tarquin on the throne, the march on the city was so sudden and rapid that the consul said, “The foe will be upon us before we can cut down the bridge.” Horatius exclaimed, “If two men will join me, I will undertake to give the enemy play till the bridge is cut down.” Spurius Lartius and Herminius volunteered to join him in this bold enterprise. Three men came against them and were cut down. Three others met the same fate. Then the lord of Luna came with his brand, “which none but he could wield,” but the Tuscan was also despatched. Horatius then ordered his two companions to make good their escape, and they just crossed the bridge as it fell in with a crash. The bridge being down, Horatius threw himself into the Tiber and swam safe to shore, amidst the applauding shouts of both armies.—Lord Macaulay, _Lays of Ancient Rome_ (“Horatius,” 1842). =Horn= (_King_), hero of a French metrical romance, the original of our _Childe Horne_ or _The Geste of Kyng Horn_. The French romance is ascribed to Maistre Thomas; and Dr. Percy thinks the English romance is of the twelfth century, but this is probably at least a century too early. =Horn of Chastity and Fidelity=. Morgan la Faye sent King Arthur a drinking-horn, from which no lady could drink who was not true to her husband, and no knight who was not feal to his liege lord. Sir Lamorake sent this horn as a taunt to Sir Mark, king of Cornwall.—Sir T. Malory, _History of Prince Arthur_, (1470). Ariosto’s enchanted cup. _The cuckold’s drinking-horn_, from which “no cuckold could drink without spilling the liquor.” =Horner= (_Jack_), the little boy who sat in a corner to eat his Christmas pie, and thought himself wondrously clever because he contrived to pull out a plum with his thumb. Little Jack Horner sat in a corner, Eating a Christmas pie; He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum, Saying, “What a good boy am I!” _Nursery Rhyme_. In _Notes and Queries_, xvi. 156, several explanations are offered, ascribing a political meaning to the words quoted—Jack Horner being elevated to a king’s messenger or king’s steward, and “the plum” pulled out so cleverly being a valuable deed which the messenger abstracted. =Horse.= The first to ride and tame a horse for the use of man was Melizyus, king of Thessaly. (See MELIZYUS). _Horse_ (_The Black_), the 7th Dragoon Guards (_not_ the 7th Dragoons). They have black velvet facings, and their plume is black and white. At one time they rode black horses.