THE STORY OF A FAMOUS HORSE

 

THE STORY OF A FAMOUS HORSE - BUCEPHALUS- THE HORSE OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT

ONE day there came to the court of Philip, king of Macedonia, a horsedealer with a wonderful horse to sell. Never before had there been seen such a horse. He was white as milk, all over, except that on his forehead there was a black mark in shape of a bull's head. Hence he was called Greek 'Bucephalus,' which would be 'Bull-head' in English. The knowing horsedealer, whilst vaunting the good qualities of the horse, said nothing some little ways that he had with him. So, when one young nobleman mounted him to try his paces, 'Bull-head' shied violently, sprang aside, and threw his rider! It was no easy matter in those days to keep your seat on an unruly horse, for stirrups were not yet invented, and there was no saddle, only 'pad.' covered with a cloth, and soon there were so many young gentlemen with broken ribs and collarbones, that no one would venture to mount an animal that seemed so vicious. 

All this time the king's son, the young Prince Alexander, had been watching Bull-head's proceedings, and he thought that he had discovered the reason of his behaviour. So gaining his father's permission to try his hand, he mounted the horse, and turning his head towards the sun, he went off at an easy gallop. It seemed like magic! And when the prince quietly dismounted, his father was so delighted with his skill and courage, that embracing him he exclaimed, 'Go, my son, and conquer a kingdom for thyself; Macedonia is too small for thee !'

At this time Alexander was chiefly remarkable among other brave young gentlemen of his age, for an ardent thirst for knowledge, and reverence for his tutor Aristotle. He had not yet achieved his title of 'the Great,' but being gifted with keen powers of Observation, he had found out that poor 'Bull-head' was simply frightened of his own shadow; like many a more rational being. frightened of a thing merely because he did not understand it!The poor animal took his shadow for some dark enemy who was to gain an unfair advantage over him by attacking him in flank; and when he was turned towards the sun, so that the shadow fell behind him, and he no longer saw his supposed adversary, he became as manageable as other high-spirited horses. From this time he became a great favourite with Alexander; and when that prince set out on his career of conquest, he made Bucephalus his war-horse, and rode him through all his campaigns. He was so attached to him. that when the brave steed fell in a battle with the Indians, Alexander buried him on the banks of the Hydaspes, and built a city in his honour, and called it 'Bucephalia'.

 A.R. 

References:

Chatterbox 1877