 the
whole Race. For, a Stranger from the remotest Part, is equally treated with the
nearest Neighbour, and where-ever he goes, looks upon himself as at home. They
preserve Decency and Civility in the highest Degrees, but are altogether
ignorant of Ceremony. They have no Fondness for their Colts or Foles; but the
Care they take in educating them proceedeth entirely from the Dictates of
Reason. And, I observed my Master to shew the same Affection to his Neighbour's
Issue that he had for his own. They will have it that Nature teaches them to
love the whole Species, and it is Reason only that maketh a Distinction of
Persons, where there is a superior Degree of Virtue.
    When the Matron Houyhnhnms have produced one of each Sex, they no longer
accompany with their Consorts, except they lose one of their Issue by some
Casualty, which very seldom happens: But in such a Case they meet again; or when
the like Accident befalls a Person, whose Wife is past bearing, some other
Couple bestows on him one of their own Colts, and then go together a second
Time, until the Mother be pregnant. This Caution is necessary to prevent the
Country from being over-burthened with Numbers. But the Race of inferior
Houyhnhnms bred up to be Servants is not so strictly limited upon this Article;
these are allowed to produce three of each Sex, to be Domesticks in the Noble
Families.
    In their Marriages they are exactly careful to chuse such Colours as will
not make any disagreeable Mixture in the Breed. Strength is chiefly valued in
the Male, and Comeliness in the Female; not upon the Account of Love, but to
preserve the Race from degenerating: For, where a Female happens to excel in
Strength, a Consort is chosen with regard to Comeliness. Courtship, Love,
Presents, Joyntures, Settlements, have no Place in their Thoughts; or Terms
whereby to express them in their Language. The young Couple meet and are joined,
merely because it is the Determination of their Parents and Friends: It is what
they see done every Day; and they look upon it as one of the necessary Actions
in a reasonable Being. But the Violation of Marriage, or any other Unchastity,
was never heard of: And the married Pair pass their Lives with the same
Friendship, and mutual Benevolence that they bear to all others of the same
Species, who come in their Way; without Jealousy, Fondness, Quarrelling, or
Discontent.
    In educating the Youth of both Sexes, their Method is admirable, and highly
deserveth our Imitation. These are not suffered
