Sleipnor.—Odin’s grey horse, that had eight legs, and could traverse either land or sea. He typifies the wind, which blows over land and water from eight principal points.
Sorrel.—The horse of William the Third, that used to catch his foot in a mole-trap, and ultimately caused his death. He was blind of one eye and mean of stature. Is ill-fitted to carry a king.
Strymon.—Named from the River Strymon in Thrace, and immolated by Zerxes before he invaded Greece.
Vegliantino.—The famous steed of Orlando, meaning “the little vigilant one.”
Zanthos.—The chestnut coloured. One of the horses of Achilles that announced his approaching death when unjustly chidden by him.
O’Donoghue’s White Horse.—Denotes the waves, which come on a windy day, crested with foam. The spirit of the hero appears every May-day, and glides to sweet yet unearthly music over the lakes of Killarney on his white horse, preceded by groups of young men and maidens, flinging spring flowers in his path.
We have the phrases: “A dark horse”—one whose merits are unknown. “Flogging a dead horse.” “Riding the wooden horse”—a military punishment, a sort of flogging stool, now abolished. “I will win the horse or lose the saddle”—neck or nothing.
“They cannot set horses together.” That is, they cannot agree.
“The Trojan horse” is a deception, a hidden danger.
“It is a good horse that never stumbles.” Every one has his faults.