Part 13

Homer’s kindly and vivid description of the hunting excellencies of the faithful Argus, his keenness of sight and smell, and speed of foot, would lead us to place him amongst the swiftest of the sagacious class: and where can we assign him a more honourable station than in a Spartan kennel?—I am aware some ancient Greek writer (to whom I have lost my clue of reference) considers this far-famed hound an isolated variety of no particular family—ὅμως ἡ φύσις καὶ ἐν ἄλλοις καὶ ἅπασι τόποις διασπείρει κύνας ἀγαθοὺς, ὁποῖός τις καὶ ὁ Ἄργος—not reducible within the pale of a general classification founded on geographical distribution; but he has evidently all the characteristic qualities of a genuine Spartan, and I never heard of any breed peculiar to Ithaca.

[Sidenote: Odyss. L. +xvii.+ 292.]

Ἄργος Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὅν ῥά ποτ’ αὐτὸς θρέψε μὲν, οὐδ’ ἀπόνητο πάρος δ’ εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρὴν ᾤχετο τὸν δὲ πάροιθεν ἀγίνεσκον νέοι ἄνδρες αἶγας ἐπ’ ἀγροτέρας, ἠδὲ πρόκας, ἠδὲ λαγωούς.

[Sidenote: Pope’s Odyssey. B. +xvii.+ 348.]

Bred by Ulysses, nourish’d at his board, But ah! not fated long to please his lord! To him his swiftness and his strength were vain; The voice of glory call’d him o’er the main. Till then in every sylvan chase renown’d, With Argus, Argus, rung the woods around; With him the youth pursued the goat or fawn, Or traced the mazy lev’ret o’er the lawn.

The answer of Eumæus, in which he fondly dilates on the prowess of the old dog in the better days of his youth, throws farther light on his supposed connexion with a Spartan kennel:

[Sidenote: Odyss. L. +xvii.+ 316.]

οὐ μὲν γάρ τι φύγεσκε βαθείης βένθεσιν ὕλης κνώδαλον ὅττι ἴδοιτο καὶ ἴχνεσι γὰρ περιῄδη....

—evidently showing that he ran on sight of his game as well as scent: for the common reading ἴδοιτο is preferable to the δίοιτο of Eustathius, and is followed by Pope in his inimitable translation:

[Sidenote: Pope’s Odyssey. B. +xvii.+ 380.]

Oh! had you seen him, vig’rous, bold and young, Swift as a stag, and as a lion strong; Him no fell savage on the plain withstood, None ’scaped him, bosom’d in the gloomy wood; His eye how piercing, and his scent how true, To wind the vapour in the tainted dew!

[Sidenote: See Scott’s “Maida:” a Scene at Abbotsford.]

A Spartan huntsman might value such omnifarious qualifications; but we cannot allow such a hound, εἰ δὴ καὶ ταχὺς ἔσκε θέειν, within the precincts of a coursing kennel, where speed and keen-sightedness are essential properties, according to the modern canons of the leash; but to stoop to “the tainted green” with the sagacity of a harrier, or even of a Caledonian deer-hound, of which Argus has been deemed a prototype, invalidates the claim to εὐγένεια in the breed.

Diana having been particularly worshipped in Crete,

[Sidenote: Ovid. Fast. L. +iii.+]

Pallada Cecropiæ, Minoïa Creta Dianam, Vulcanum tellus Hypsipilæa, colit,...

we naturally look for a race of dogs deriving a local name from her favourite isle. And, accordingly, connected with the last-mentioned tribe of Canes Venatici, we have the Cretan and Carian, powerful, quick-scented, nimble hounds; whom it would be wrong unnaturally to dissever, as having no marked physical peculiarities. Indeed from their parity of character, and supposed identity of origin, the hounds of Crete, and its neighbouring continent of Caria, have generally been united in one family.

[Sidenote: De Naturâ Animal. L. +iii.+ c. +ii.+]

[Sidenote: De Venat. c. +iii.+]

Ælian describes the κύων Κρῆσσα κούφη, καὶ ἁλτικὴ, καὶ ὀρειβασίαις σύντροφος. By Seneca the Cretans are called pugnacious—“pugnaces Cressæ;” and by Claudian, wire-haired—“Hirsutæque fremunt Cressæ.” Arrian, when speaking of the Segusian hounds of Celtica, their unsightly aspect, their noisy howl, and extraordinary sagacity of nose, indirectly proves the speed and keen-scentedness of the Carian and Cretan. Oppian enjoins the hound of Crete to be crossed with that of Pannonia, and the Carian, as if different, with the Thracian,

[Sidenote: Cyneg. L. +i.+ vs. 394.]

ἐπιμίσγεο Παίοσι Κρῆτας, Κᾶρας Θρηϊκίοις....

but, it is probable, the Pannonian and Thracian resembled each other as much as the Cretan and Carian.

[Sidenote: Pollucis Onomast. L. +v.+ c. +v.+]

Two sub-varieties are recorded by Julius Pollux under the titles of διάπονοι and πάριπποι:—the former so called from their bustling, indefatigable character—τὰς νύκτας ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐν ταῖς πρὸς τὰ θηρία μάχαις ἐπιλαμβάνειν, καὶ πολλάκις παρευνασθέντας τοῖς θηρίοις μεθ’ ἡμέραν ἄρχεσθαι τῆς μάχης; the latter, from their running at the horse’s side—τοῖς ἵπποις συνθέουσιν οὔτε προθέοντες οὔτε μὴν ἀπολειπόμενοι.

[Sidenote: Natalis Comes de Venat. L. +i.+]

Cecropius catulus est quem dixêre parippum.

[Sidenote: Arriani de Venat. c. +iii.+]

[Sidenote: Ejusdem c. +ii.+]

To these the courser of Nicomedia adds a third sub-variety, seemingly produced by the union of the former two—αἱ διάπονοι ἀπὸ τοῦ φιλοπονεῖν, καὶ αἱ ἰταμαὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὀξέως, καὶ αἱ μικταὶ ἀπ’ ἀμφοῖν; the ἰταμαὶ probably answering to the πάριπποι of the philologist. On the authority of Arrian, we conclude the Cretan and Carian modes of hunting to have been the same as generally practised in Greece—such as are described at large by the elder Xenophon in his Cynegeticus. See Meursii Opera, Tom. +iii.+ c. +vii.+ Creta.

Though not used by the elder Xenophon in the common hare-chase, the Cretans are recommended for boar-hunting, and were sometimes employed in pursuit of deer.

[Sidenote: Incert. Auctor apud Stephani Schediasm. L. +v.+ sch. +xvii.+]

Κρῆσσα κύων ἐλάφοιο κατ’ ἴχνιον ἔδραμε γόργως—

[Sidenote: Hor. Lib. +i.+ Od. +vi.+]

How beautifully is their style of hunting described by the poet Varius, “Mæonii carminis ales,” in the fragment preserved by Macrobius!

Varius apud Macrob. L. +vi.+ c. +ii.+

Seu canis umbrosam lustrans Gortynia vallem, Si veteris poterit cervæ comprendere lustra, Sævit in absentem, et circum vestigia latrans Aëra per nitidum tenues sectatur odores: Non amnes illam medii, non ardua tardant, Perdita nec seræ meminit decedere nocti.

—affording the Cilician copyist one of a profusion of highly poetical similes, with which he depicts the polypus, or preke, searching for its beloved olive-tree:

[Sidenote: Oppian. Halieut. L. +iv.+ vs. 272.]

ἔνθα γὰρ ἀγλαόκαρπος ἁλὸς σχεδόν ἐστιν ἐλαίη γείτοσιν ἐν γουνοῖσιν ἐπακταίη τεθαλυῖα, κεῖθι δὲ πουλύποδος νόος ἕλκεται, ἠΰτ’ ἐπ’ ἴχνος Κνωσσίου εὐρίνοιο κυνὸς μένος, ὅστ’ ἐν ὄρεσσι θηρὸς ἀνιχνεύει σκολιὴν βάσιν ἐξερεείνων ῥινὸς ὑπ’ ἀγγελίῃ νημερτέϊ, καί τέ μιν ὦκα μάρψε, καὶ οὐκ ἐμάτησεν, ἑὸν δ’ ἐπέλασσεν ἄνακτα ὣς καὶ τηλεθόωσαν ἄφαρ μάθεν ἐγγὺς ἐλαίην πούλυπος, ἐκδύνει δὲ βυθῶν, καὶ γαῖαν ἀνέρπει καγχαλόων, πρέμνοισι δ’ Ἀθηναίης ἐπέλασσεν.

[Sidenote: See Wernsdorf in loco.]

In connexion with the kindred Spartans, the Cretans are briefly mentioned by Gratius,—an allusion being, probably, intended to an intermixture of the two allied breeds in order to produce the Metagon, whose praises are subsequently sung:

[Sidenote: Gratii Cyneg. vs. 211.]

At vestrum non vile genus, non patria vulgò, Sparta suos et Creta suos promittit alumnos.

[Sidenote: Wase’s Illustrations. c. 5. p. 38.]

To your high breed countries of dogs not base, Sparta and Creta do conferre their race.

Ovid specifies them by name in Actæon’s blood-thirsty pack,

[Sidenote: Ovid. Metam. L. +iii.+ 206.]

primusque Melampus Ichnobatesque sagax latratu signa dedêre; Gnossius Ichnobates, Spartanâ gente Melampus;

and subsequently a litter,

[Sidenote: Golding’s Ovid’s Metam. B. +iii.+]

that had a sire of Crete And dam of Sparta,

as sings Sir Arthur Golding:

[Sidenote: Ovid. Metam. vs. 223.]

Et patre Dictæo, sed matre Laconide nati, Labros et Agriodos, et acutæ vocis Hylactor.

Indeed almost all the Ovidian pack were of Cretan, Spartan, and Arcadian blood, well chosen by the poet for the fabled chase of the son of Autonoë, “falsi sub imagine cervi”—

[Sidenote: Nonni Dionysiac. L. +v.+]

εὖτε τανυπρέμνοιο καθήμενος ὑψόθι φηγοῦ, λουομένης ἐνόησεν ὅλον δέμας ἰοχεαίρης θηητὴρ δ’ ἀκόρητος ἀθηήτοιο θεαίνης ἁγνὸν ἀνυμφεύτοιο δέμας διεμέτρεε κούρης ἀγχιφανὴς, κ. τ. λ.

The whole of the Spartan family, inclusive of the Cretan and Carian, appear to have barked, as I have already observed, on scent of their game—a quality reprobated by Gratius (malignum officium!) when shown before the quarry was started from his lair.

The noisy bark of the Etolian breed Gratius contrasts with the mute cunning of its neighbour of Acarnania, already considered in the first class:

[Sidenote: Cyneg. vs. 186.]

At clangore citat, quos nondum conspicit, apros Ætolâ quæcunque canis de stirpe (malignum Officium) sive illa metus convicia rupit, Seu frustra nimius properat furor. Et tamen illud Ne vanum totas genus aspernere per artes, Mirum quàm celeres, et quantum nare merentur: Tum non est victi cui concessêre labori.

Too much addicted to gladdening, when near the lair of his game, the Etolian is not admitted into the class of Canes Bellicosi, whose general character was closeness till the game was started; at which time a cry, however loud, was not objected to by classic huntsmen,—but the dog, that roused the game by giving tongue beforehand, was strongly reprobated. Such was the faulty dog of Calydon, who needed all his other better qualities to counterbalance this latrant propensity. That he had some valuable properties Gratius allows, and recommends them to be turned to account by judicious commixture with the mute Molossian’s blood:

[Sidenote: Cynegeticus vs. 106.]

vanæ tantum Calydonia linguæ Exibit vitium patre emendata Molosso.

In consequence of the common Canes Venatici giving tongue or opening, before the game was roused, it was customary with classic sportsmen to employ Inductores, mute finders, “canes tacitæ,” (Senecæ Hippolyt.,) to search out the quarry by the trail;

[Sidenote: Sir W. Davenant, Cant. +ii.+ stanza 30.]

Dogs such whose cold secrecy was meant By nature for surprise— Wise temperate limehounds, that proclaim no scent, Nor harb’ring will their mouths in boasting spend.

[Sidenote: Wase, p. 79.]

These are the Metagontes of the Faliscian poet—so called from “drawing after their game”—μετάγοντες:

[Sidenote: Gratii Cyneg. vs. 207.]

maturo pressantes gaudia lusu Dissimulare feras tacitique accedere possent.

Steadiness and a close mouth are essential attributes of the limehound tribe. Gratius, Lucan, Seneca, Ælian, and others, insist on silence. And Oppian, seemingly forgetful of this negative quality in the Armenian bear-hound, (whom I consider a limehound,) inculcates closeness in sagacious dogs, generally, from their very puppyhood;

[Sidenote: Oppian. Cyneg. L. +i.+ 448.]

μηδ’ ὑλάειν ἐθέλοιεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα θηρευτῆρσι σιγὴ τέθμιός ἐστι, πανέξοχα δ’ ἰχνευτῆρσιν.

They are to be taught it with their names, and other matters of kennel discipline.

The limiers of classical antiquity, more numerous perhaps than the reader may suppose, are found widely distributed. We gather traces of them in Homer, Lucretius, Virgil, Pliny, Gratius, Ælian, Seneca, Nemesian, Oppian, Silius Italicus, and others. The Belgic hound of the poet of the Second Punic War is certainly an inductor or limier:

[Sidenote: Silii Italici de 2do B. P. L. +x.+ vs. 77.]

Ut canis ocultos agitat quum Belgicus apros, Erroresque feræ sollers per devia mersâ Nare legit, tacitoque premens vestigia rostro Lustrat inaccessos venantum indagine saltus: Nec sistit, nisi conceptum sectatus odorem, Deprendit spissis arcana cubilia dumis.

And it strikes me, that the Gelonian and Umbrian of Gratius, the Tuscan of Nemesian, and the Armenian bear-hound of Oppian, are all varieties of limehound. Of the Metagon, already mentioned, there can be no doubt—he is clearly of the class described by the Greek poet of the Halieutics:

[Sidenote: Oppian. Hal. L. +i.+ 18.]

σκύλακες δὲ συνέμποροι ἡγεμονῆες κνώδαλα σημαίνουσι, καὶ ἰθύνουσιν ἄνακτας εὐνὴν εἰς αὐτὴν—

The Homeric inductors occur in the boar-hunt of Mount Parnassus, in the van of which Ulysses, οὐτάμεναι μεμαὼς, distinguishes himself, with the sons of Autolycus:

[Sidenote: Odyss. L. +xix.+ 435.]

οἱ δ’ ἐς βῆσσαν ἵκανον ἐπακτῆρες πρὸ δ’ ἄρ’ αὐτῶν ἴχνη ἐρευνῶντες κύνες ἤϊσαν, κ. τ. λ.

and the abstract phraseology of Lucretius affords a second early notice of them:

[Sidenote: De Rerum Naturâ L. +iv.+ 684.]

tum fissa ferarum Ungula quo tulerit gressum, præmissa canum vis Ducit.

The first limehound in the annals of sporting was Glympicus, tutored in the art of harbouring by the Bœotian Hagnon, a huntsman immortalized by Gratius:

[Sidenote: Gratii Cyneg. vs. 213.]

Sed primum celsâ lorum cervice ferentem, Glympice, te silvis egit Bœotius Hagnon, Hagnon Astylides, Hagnon, quem plurima semper Gratia per nostros unum testabitur usus. Hic trepidas artes et vix novitate sedentes Vidit, quà propior patuit via: nec sibi turbam Contraxit comitem, nec vasa tenentia longè. Unus præsidium, atque operi spes magna petito, Assumptus Metagon lustrat per nota ferarum Pascua, per fontes, per quas trivêre latebras, Primæ lucis opus: tum signa vapore ferino Intemerata legens, si qua est, qua fallitur, ejus Turba loci, majore secat spatia extera gyro. Atque hic egressu jam tum sine fraude reperto Incubuit spatiis, qualis permissa Lechæis Thessalium quadriga decus, quam gloria patrum Excitat, et primæ spes ambitiosa coronæ. Sed ne qua ex nimio redeat jactura favore, Lex dicta officiis: ne voce lacesseret hostem, Neve levem prædam, aut propioris pignora lucri Amplexus, primos nequicquam effunderet actus. Jam vero impensum melior fortuna laborem Quum sequitur, juxtaque domus quæsita ferarum, Ut sciat, occultos et signis arguat hostes: Aut effecta levi testatur gaudia caudâ, Aut ipsa infodiens uncis vestigia plantis Mandit humum, celsasve apprensat naribus auras. Et tamen, ut ne prima faventem pignora fallant, Circa omnem, aspretis medius qua clauditur orbis, Ferre pedem, accessusque, abitusque, notâsse ferarum Admonet, et, si forte loci spes prima fefellit, (Rarum opus) incubuit spatiis ad prospera versis, Intacto repetens prima ad vestigia gyro.

[Sidenote: Hist. Nat. L. +viii.+ c. +xl.+]

[Sidenote: De Naturâ Animalium L. +viii.+ c. +ii.+]

We here see the limier’s style of harbouring portrayed to the life—falling on the trail—coming to a fault—recovering the scent—and following it up to the lair. The harbourer of more modern days is the inquisitor of Pliny’s short sketch; “Scrutatur vestigia atque persequitur, comitantem ad feram inquisitorem loro trahens: quâ visâ quàm silens et occulta, quàm significans demonstratio est!” But of all descriptions in the range of classical literature the most exquisitively beautiful is Ælian’s—no painter can surpass this graphic hunting-piece:—προηγεῖται τοῦ κυνηγέτου (ὁ κύων ὁ θηρατικὸς) ἱμάντι μακρῷ προσημμένος, καὶ ῥινηλατεῖ, τῆς φωνῆς ἔχων ἐγκρατῶς καἰ σιωπῶν, κ. τ. λ. The hound’s busy manner,—his steady search, even where there is no game,—his burst of silent joy at catching a scent,—his salutation of the harbourer as if sympathizing in his glee at being successful,—his drawing on up to the boar’s couch,—the start—and final pæan of exultation and victory, are all described in masterly style.

The Gelonian breed is very cursorily mentioned by Gratius, as timid and sagacious;

Arma negant contrà, martemque odêre Geloni, Sed natura sagax....

and is recommended to be crossed with the tigrine Hyrcanian; whence spiritless Gelonian bitches have derived that courage and pluck, of which they stood in need:

[Sidenote: Gratii Cyneg. vs. 195.]

traxêre animos de patre Gelonæ Hyrcano.

The Umbrian had much of the Gelonian character—timorous and soft—but remarkably keen of nose. Wishing to incorporate every good quality in the same mongrel breed, Gratius ejaculates—

[Sidenote: Gratii Cyneg. vs. 171.]

At fugit adversos idem quos reperit hostes Umber. Quanta fides, utinam et solertia naris, Tanta foret virtus, et tantum vellet in armis!

Silius Italicus notes the sagacity of the Umber, and seems to indicate his closeness of mouth in the contrasted barking of the Spartan,

[Sidenote: Silii Ital. de 2do Bello Punico L. +iii.+]

Ceu pernix cum densa vagis latratibus implet Venator dumeta Lacon, aut exigit Umber Nare sagax è calle feras perterrita latè Agmina præcipitant volucres formidine cervi.

But his habits are most vividly sketched in an elegant simile of Seneca’s Thyestes, where Atreus, exulting in his artful entrapping of his brother, (as a wild beast enveloped in the hunter’s toils—plagis.....clusa dispositis fera,—) exclaims in a strain of ill-dissembled self-gratulation,

[Sidenote: Senecæ Thyestes. Act. +iii.+ 493.]

venit in nostras manus Tandem Thyestes; venit, et totus quidem. Vix tempero animo, vix dolor frenos capit: Sic, cum feras vestigat, et longo sagax Loro tenetur Umber, ac presso vias Scrutatur ore; dum procul lento suem Odore sentit, paret, et tacito locum Rostro pererrat: præda cum propior fuit; Cervice totâ pugnat, et gestu vocat Dominum morantem, seque retinenti eripit.

The Virgilian Umbrian, to which Æneas in pursuit of Turnus is likened in the last book of the Æneid, may be taken to signify any Canis venaticus, and not that of Umbria particularly:

[Sidenote: Virgilii Æneid. L. +xii.+ 749.]

Inclusum veluti si quandò flumine nactus Cervum, aut puniceæ septum formidine pennæ, Venator cursu, canis et latratibus instat; Ille autem, insidiis et ripâ territus altâ, Mille fugit refugitque vias: at vividus Umber Hæret hians, jam jamque tenet, similisque tenenti Increpuit malis, morsuque elusus inani est.

The true Umbrian, I conceive, was mute—certainly so, until his game was on foot; as were all the other finders spoken of. But another reason against the dog of Maro being the native dog of Umbria is this—the poet would never have compared the brave and victorious Æneas to a notoriously timid animal, who “fugit adversos idem quos repperit hostes—” while the hero was dealing death and destruction on all sides of him;

[Sidenote: Virgil. Æneid. L. +xii.+ 760.]

Æneas mortem contrà præsensque minatur Exitium, si quisquam adeat; terretque trementes Excisurum urbem minitans; et saucius instat.

If the character of the hounds of Umbria be such as stated, on the authority of the ancient Cynegetica, the epithet “audaces” bestowed on them by the Latin poet of Barga must be unmerited;

[Sidenote: P. Angelii Bargæi Cyneg. L. +v.+]

——Celtis velocibus Umbros, Audaces Umbros, et odoris naribus acres.

Barthius, erroneously in my opinion, identifies the Tuscan dogs of Nemesian with the fierce Molossian-like animals of Oppian’s first Cynegetic (vs. 413.). To the passage already cited under the Canes Bellicosi, the reader is referred, for the purpose of comparison with the following from the Carthaginian poet:

[Sidenote: Nemesian. Cyneg. vs. 231.]

Quin et Tuscorum non est extrema voluptas Sæpè canum: sit forma illis licet obsita villo, Dissimilesque habeant catulis velocibus artus; Haud tamen injucunda dabunt tibi munera prædæ. Namque et odorato noscunt vestigia prato, Atque etiam leporum secreta cubilia monstrant.

Oppian’s boar and lion-killers have very little resemblance to these indices of the form or seat of the timorous hare. The latter poet recommends the Tuscans (whom he is also supposed to designate under the title of Ausonians in his first kennel-roll) to be crossed with the Spartan race;

[Sidenote: Oppian. Cyneg. L. +i.+ vs. 395.]

Τυρσηνὰ γένεθλα Λάκωσι—

The Armenian bear-dog was a sort of lyemmer used by sportsmen of the East for tracking bears;

[Sidenote: Oppian. Cyneg. L. +iv.+ vs. 356.]

πουλὺς ὄχλος βαίνουσι τανύσκια βένθεα δρυμῶν, ἴδριες, αὐτολύτοις σὺν ἐϋρίνεσσι κύνεσσιν, ἴχνια μεστεύσοντ’ ὀλοῶν πουλύπλανα θηρῶν. ἀλλ’ ὁπότ’ ἀθρήσωσι κύνες σημήϊα ταρσῶν, ἕσπονται, στιβέας τε ποδηγετέουσιν ὁμαρτῆ ῥῖνας μὲν ταναὰς σχεδόθεν χέρσοιο τιθέντες, ἐξοπίσω δ’ εἴπερ τι νεώτερον ἀθρήσειαν ἴχνος, ἐπειγόμενοι θόρον αὐτίκα καγχαλόωντες, ληθόμενοι τοῦ πρόσθεν ἐπὴν δ’ εἰς ἄκρον ἵκωνται εὐπλανέος στιβίης, θηρός τε παναίολον εὐνὴν, αὐτίχ’ ὁ μὲν θρώσκει παλάμης ἀπὸ θηρητῆρος, οἰκτρὰ μάλ’ ὑλακόων, κεχαρημένος ἔξοχα θυμόν.

The poet concludes this part of his description with a singularly beautiful simile of a bare-footed little damsel in joyful search of mountain violets, (discovered by their grateful odour, and plucked for the decoration of her head,) with which she returns singing to the home of her peasant parents:

ὣς κυνὸς ἰάνθη θυμὸς θρασύς. αὐτὰρ ἐπακτὴρ καὶ μάλα μιν θύνοντα βιησάμενος τελαμῶσι, καγχαλόων παλίνορσος ἔβη μεθ’ ὅμιλον ἑταίρων.

The δίκτυα and ἄρκυες, the δεῖμα πολύχροον of the feathered line, and the other instruments of the savage chase, combine to secure the ursine quarry. See Oppian. Cyneg. +iv.+ vs. 354 ad vs. 424.

Having already noticed the wary employment of the mute finder to search out the lair of animals obnoxious to the chase, let us look at the subsequent proceedings. When the nets and snares were set, the game found, and started by the Canes ductores, the attendants, it seems, slipped the latrant pack, which were held in couples at hand. That this was the ordinary routine is proved by Xenophon, Lucan, Seneca, and others. The Greek sportsman of Scillus does not, indeed, say that the dog first slipped should be mute, but merely quick-scented. Lucan, however, particularly states his quality of closeness in the lines of his Pharsalia, where he likens the naval tactics of Octavius, “Illyricæ custos Octavius undæ,” to the wily stratagems of a huntsman preparing for the attack of his game;

[Sidenote: Lucani Pharsal. L. +iv.+ 437.]

—Sic dum pavidos formidine cervos Claudat odoratæ metuentes aëra pennæ: Aut dum dispositis attollat retia varis Venator, tenet ora levis clamosa Molossi; Spartanos Cretasque ligat; nec creditur ulli Sylva cani, nisi qui presso vestigia rostro Colligit, et prædâ nescit latrare repertâ, Contentus tremulo monstrâsse cubilia loro.

—and Seneca implies the same,

[Sidenote: Senecæ Hippolyt. Act. +i.+ 30.]

at vos laxas Tacitis canibus mittite habenas: Teneant acres lora Molossos, Et pugnaces tendant Cressæ Fortia trito vincula collo. At Spartanos (genus est audax Avidumque feræ) nodo cautus Propriore liga. Veniet tempus Cum latratu cava saxa sonent: Nunc demissi nare sagaci Captent auras, lustraque presso Quærant rostro.

Hitherto we have said nothing of the race of sagacious hunting-dogs, most commonly known by the name of hounds, the Petronius of Gratius, the Ἀγασσεὺς of Oppian, and the Segusian of Arrian. The Petronius belongs to the family of fleet sagacious hounds;