Part 7 (1/2)

Sometimes he runs among a flock of sheep, To make the cunning hounds mistake their smell, And sometimes where earth-delving conies keep, To stop the loud pursuers in their yell, And sometimes sorteth with a herd of deer: Danger deviseth s.h.i.+fts; wit waits on fear:

For there his smell with others being mingled, The hot scent-snuffing hounds are driven to doubt, Ceasing their clamorous cry till they have singled With much ado the cold fault cleanly out: Then do they spend their mouths: Echo replies, As if another chase were in the skies.

By this, poor Wat, far off upon a hill, Stands on his hinder legs with listening ear, To hearken if his foes pursue him still: Anon their loud alarums he doth hear; And now his grief may be compared well To one sore sick that hears the pa.s.sing-bell.

Then shalt thou see the dew-bedabbled wretch Turn, and return, indenting with the way; Each envious brier his weary legs doth scratch, Each shadow makes him stop, each murmur stay: For misery is trodden on by many, And being low never relieved by any.

VII

For breeding purposes choose winter, and release the b.i.t.c.hes from hard work; (1) which will enable them to profit by repose and to produce a fine progeny towards spring, since that season is the best to promote the growth of the young dogs. The b.i.t.c.h is in heat for fourteen days, (2) and the moment at which to put her to the male, with a view to rapid and successful impregnation, is when the heat is pa.s.sing off. Choose a good dog for the purpose. When the b.i.t.c.h is ready to whelp she should not be taken out hunting continuously, but at intervals sufficient to avoid a miscarriage through her over-love of toil. The period of gestation lasts for sixty days. When littered the puppies should be left to ther own dam, and not placed under another b.i.t.c.h; foster-nursing does not promote growth in the same way, whilst nothing is so good for them as their own mother's milk and her breath, (3) and the tenderness of her caresses. (4)

(1) Or, ”Winter is the time at which to pair dogs for breeding, the b.i.t.c.hes to be released from hard work, so that with the repose so secured they may produce a fine litter in spring.”

(2) Lit. ”this necessity holds.” Cf. Aristot. ”H. A.” vi. 20; Arrian, xxvii., x.x.xi. 3.

(3) Cf. Eur. ”Tro.” 753, {o khrotos edu pneuma}.

(4) Cf. Arrian, x.x.x. 2; Pollux, v. 50; Columella, vii. 12, 12, ap.

Schneid.

Presently, when the puppies are strong enough to roam about, they should be given milk (5) for a whole year, along with what will form their staple diet in the future, but nothing else. A heavy diet will distort the legs of a young dog, engender disease in other limbs, and the internal mechanism will get out of order. (6)

(5) See Arrian, x.x.xi.; Stonehenge, p. 264.

(6) Or, ”the internal organs get wrong” ({adika}). Cf. ”Memorabilia,”

IV. iv. 5.

They should have short names given them, which will be easy to call out. (7) The following may serve as specimens:--Psyche, Pluck, Buckler, Spigot, Lance, Lurcher, Watch, Keeper, Brigade, Fencer, Butcher, Blazer, Prowess, Craftsman, Forester, Counsellor, Spoiler, Hurry, Fury, Growler, Riot, Bloomer, Rome, Blossom, Hebe, Hilary, Jolity, Gazer, Eyebright, Much, Force, Trooper, Bustle, Bubbler, Rockdove, Stubborn, Yelp, Killer, Pele-mele, Strongboy, Sky, Sunbeam, Bodkin, Wistful, Gnome, Tracks, Dash. (8)

(7) Cf. Arrian, x.x.xi. 2; Oppian, ”Cyn,” i. 443; ap. Schneid.

(8) The following is Xenophon's list:--

{Psukhe} = Soul {Thumos} = Spirit {Porpax} = Hasp of s.h.i.+eld {Sturax} = Spike of spear at the b.u.t.t end {Logkhe} = Lance {Lokhos} = Ambush, or ”Company”

{Phroura} = Watch {Phulax} = Guard {Taxis} = Order, Rank, Post, Brigade {Xiphon} = Swordsman {Phonax} = Slaughterer, cf. ”King Death”

{Phlegon} = Blazer {'Alke} = Prowess, Victory {Teukhon} = Craftsman {'Uleus} = Woodsman, ”Dashwood”

{Medas} = Counsellor {Porthon} = Spoiler, ”Rob Roy”

{Sperkhon} = Hastener, ”Rocket”

{'Orge} = Fury, Rage {Bremon} = Growler, Roarer {'Ubris} = Hybris, Riot, Insolence {Thallon} = Blooming, ”Gaudy”

{'Rome} = Strength, ”Romeo”

{'Antheus} = Blossom {'Eba} = Youth {Getheus} = Gladsome {Khara} = Joy {Leusson} = Gazer {Augo} = Daybeam {Polus} = Much {Bia} = Force {Stikhon} = Stepping in rank and file {Spoude} = Much ado {Bruas} = Gusher {Oinas} = (1) Vine, (2) Rockdove. See Aristot. ”H. A.” v. 13, 14; i. 3, 10; Ael. ”N. A.” iv. 58. = Columba livia = rockdove, the colour of ripening grapes; al. {oinas} = the vine.

{Sterros} = ”Stiff,” ”King St.u.r.dy”

{Krauge} = Clamour. Cf. Plat. ”Rep.” 607 B.

{Kainon} = Killer {Turbas} = ”Topsy-turvy”