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It is farther aſſerted in the concluding Lines, that the Horſe ſhall ſuck the Lion’s Blood. This is ſtill more obſcure than any of the reſt; and indeed the Difficulties I have met with ever ſince the firſt Mention of the Lion are ſo many and great, that I had, in utter deſpair of ſurmounting them, once deſiſted from my Deſign of publiſhing any Thing upon this Subject; but was prevailed upon by the Importunity of ſome Friends, to whom I can deny nothing, to reſume my Deſign; and I muſt own, that nothing animated me ſo much as the Hope they flattered me with, that my Eſſay might be inſerted in the Gazetteer, and ſo become of Service to my Country.
That a weaker Animal ſhould ſuck the Blood of a ſtronger without Reſiſtance is wholly improbable and inconſiſtent with the Regard for Self-preſervation, ſo obſervable in every Order and Species of Beings. We muſt therefore neceſſarily endeavour after ſome figurative Senſe not liable to ſo inſuperable an Objection.
Were
