To breed him, break him, back him, are required Experienced masters; and, in sundry ways, Their labours equal, and alike their praise. But, once again, the battered horse beware: The weak old stallion will deceive thy care. Though famous in his youth for force and speed, } Or was of Argos or Epirian breed, } Or did from Neptune's race, or from himself, proceed. } These things premised, when now the nuptial time Approaches for the stately steed to climb, With food enable him to make his court; Distend his chine, and pamper him for sport: Feed him with herbs, whatever thou canst find, Of generous warmth, and of salacious kind: Then water him, and (drinking what he can) Encourage him to thirst again, with bran. Instructed thus, produce him to the fair, And join in wedlock to the longing mare. For, if the sire be faint, or out of case, He will be copied in his famished race, And sink beneath the pleasing task assigned: (For all's too little for the craving kind.) As for the females, with industrious care Take down their mettle; keep them lean and bare: When conscious of their past delight, and keen To take the leap, and prove the sport again, With scanty measure then supply their food; And, when athirst, restrain them from the flood; Their bodies harass; sink them when they run; And fry their melting marrow in the sun. Starve them, when barns beneath their burden groan, And winnowed chaff by western winds is blown; For fear the rankness of the swelling womb Should scant the passage, and confine the room; Lest the fat furrows should the sense destroy Of genial lust, and dull the seat of joy. But let them suck the seed with greedy force, And close involve the vigour of the horse. The male has done:[16] thy care must now proceed To teeming females, and the promised breed. First let them run at large, and never know The taming yoke, or draw the crooked plough. Let them not leap the ditch, or swim the flood, Or lumber o'er the meads, or cross the wood; But range the forest, by the silver side Of some cool stream, where Nature shall provide Green grass and fattening clover for their fare, } And mossy caverns for their noontide lair, } With rocks above, to shield the sharp nocturnal air. } About the Alburnian groves, with holly green, Of winged insects mighty swarms are seen: This flying plague (to mark its quality) Œstros the Grecians call--Asylus, we-- A fierce loud-buzzing breeze.--Their stings draw blood, And drive the cattle gadding through the wood. Seized with unusual pains, they loudly cry: Tanagrus hastens thence, and leaves his channel dry. This curse the jealous Juno did invent, And first employed for Iö's punishment. To shun this ill, the cunning leach ordains, In summer's sultry heats (for then it reigns)