As he did so he noticed that the horse was
afraid of his own shadow dancing on the grass before him.
Turning the frightened animal with his face to the sun, the boy leaped
lightly on his back, and using every means to soothe him, soon brought
him under complete control.
Bucephalus became Alexander's constant companion. The horse was once
taken prisoner by the barbarians against whom Alexander was fighting,
but the concern shown by the great soldier was so serious that his
favorite was promptly restored to him.
[Illustration: A NORMAN SIRE. By Rosa Bonheur.]
This famous horse died when he was thirty years old from wounds received
on the field of battle. Alexander mourned his death as that of a dear
friend and built a city as a monument to his memory.
Swift and Spurred On were horses that belonged to two Roman emperors.
These horses were fed on almonds and raisins; they had ivory mangers and
marble stalls; and one of them drank wine out of a golden pail. But I am
sure they were too sensible to like such a life and would have preferred
a handful of fresh grass and a drink of cold water.
There are many other horses whose names are known in history. There was
Copenhagen, the Duke of Wellington's favorite charger, that carried him
for ten hours through the battle of Waterloo.
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