365 On the origin of Greek cock-fighting, see Ælian, _Hist. Var._ ii. 28. Many particulars about it are given by Athenæus. Chrysippus maintained that cock-fighting was the final cause of cocks, these birds being made by Providence in order to inspire us by the example of their courage. (Plutarch, _De Repug. Stoic._) The Greeks do not, however, appear to have known “cock-throwing,” the favourite English game of throwing a stick called a “cock-stick” at cocks. It was a very ancient and very popular amusement, and was practised especially on Shrove Tuesday, and by school-boys. Sir Thomas More had been famous for his skill in it. (Strutt’s _Sports and Pastimes_, p. 283.) Three origins of it have been given:—1st, that in the Danish wars the Saxons failed to surprise a certain city in consequence of the crowing of cocks, and had in consequence a great hatred of that bird; 2nd, that the cocks (_galli_) were special representatives of Frenchmen, with whom the English were constantly at war; and 3rd, that they were connected with the denial of St. Peter. As Sir Charles Sedley said:— “Mayst thou be punished for St. Peter’s crime, And on Shrove Tuesday perish in thy prime.” Knight’s _Old England_, vol. ii. p. 126. _ 366 De Natura Rerum_, lib. ii. _ 367 Life of Marc. Cato._ 368 “Quid meruere boves, animal sine fraude dolisque, Innocuum, simplex, natum tolerare labores? Immemor est demum nec frugum munere dignus. Qui potuit curvi dempto modo pondere aratri Ruricolam mactare suum.”— _Metamorph._ xv. 120-124. 369 “Cujus Turbavit nitidos extinctus passer ocellos.” Juvenal, _Sat._ vi. 7-8. There is a little poem in Catullus (iii.) to console his mistress upon the death of her favourite sparrow; and Martial more than once alludes to the pets of the Roman ladies. Compare the charming description of the Prioress, in Chaucer:— “She was so charitable and so pitous, She wolde wepe if that she saw a mous Caught in a trappe, if it were ded or bledde. Of smale houndes had she that she fedde With rosted flesh and milke and wastel brede, But sore wept she if one of them were dede, Or if men smote it with a yerde smert: And all was conscience and tendre herte.” _Prologue to the __“__Canterbury Tales.__”_ 370 Philost. _Apol._ i. 38. 371 See the curious chapter in his Κυνηγετικός, xvi. and compare it with No. 116 in the _Spectator_.