Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

NEMESIANUSwide enough on their smooth back, an enormousextent of side, and neat belly for their huge size, aforehead uplifted, quick ears, high pride of comelyhead, and eyes sparkling with restless gleam ; anample neck falls back on powerful shoulders ; moistbreath steams from hot nostrils, and, while the footdoes not maintain its duty to stand still, the hoofrepeatedly strikes the earth and the horse's spiritedmettle tires its limbs. Moreover, beyond the soaringpeaks of Calpe " lies a vast country, productive farand \\'ide of fine coursers. For they have thestrength to make long runs across the prairies,^ andtheir beauty is no less than that in a Grecian bodypanting they roll forth terrifying snorts, a flood ofbreath ; they shoot out spirited glances ; all a-quiverthey raise whinnyings and fight against the bridle,never giving their ears smooth rest nor their legsrepose. Besides, you may select the courser sentby Mauretania (if he be a stout descendant of goodstock), or the horse which the dusky Mazax tribesman^ has reared in desert fields and taught to undergoceaseless toil. No need to repine at their uglyhead and ill-shapen bellv, or at their lack of bridles,or because both breeds have the temper of freedom,or because the neck lashes the sloping shoulderswith its mane. For he is an easy horse to guide,and, following the turn of an unconfined neck, compliesobediently under the control of a limber switch :its strokes are the orders for speed, its strokes are^ The commendation of Spanish horses is supported byMartial I. xlix. 21-25 :cf. XIV. excix. But, according toOppian, Cytieg. I. 284—286, the Iberian horses, although fleet{dooi), were found wanting in staying power {5p6fMov iv TravpoiaiviKcyXO/J-ivoi (TrabioKTU')." Belonging to the Numidian tribe of Mazaees in Africa.