Cruelty to an animal, even when not intended for food, entails so much
disgrace that it is an offence of the rarest occurrence. My laws provide
various punishments according to the grade of the offender and the
nature of the offence.
If a common man were really cruel to his horse he would be compelled to
draw his merchandise by hand. If the offence were committed by a man of
high position the punishment would be more severe, and not only would he
be treated as though he were unworthy of exercising power over good
animals and consequently deprived of all his horses, but he would be
supplied with a vicious horse, which, perhaps, he would be obliged to
ride along a dangerous path, that he might thus be made to appreciate
the superior gentleness of the one he had maltreated. If the offence
were repeated, he would be degraded from his position or condemned
during a certain period to wear "the dress of shame."