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6 Etext prepared by John Bickers, jbickers@templar.actrix.gen.nz.
The Sportsman
by Xenophon
Translation by H. G. Dakyns
Xenophon the Athenian was born 431 B.C. He was a
pupil of Socrates. He marched with the Spartans,
and was exiled from Athens. Sparta gave him land
and property in Scillus, where he lived for many
years before having to move once more, to settle
in Corinth. He died in 354 B.C.
The Sportsman is a manual on hunting hares, deer
and wild boar, including the topics of dogs, and
the benefits of hunting for the young.
PREPARER'S NOTE
This was typed from Dakyns' series, "The Works of Xenophon," a
four-volume set. The complete list of Xenophon's works (though
there is doubt about some of these) is:
Work Number of books
The Anabasis 7
The Hellenica 7
The Cyropaedia 8
The Memorabilia 4
The Symposium 1
The Economist 1
On Horsemanship 1
The Sportsman 1
The Cavalry General 1
The Apology 1
On Revenues 1
The Hiero 1
The Agesilaus 1
The Polity of the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians 2
Text in brackets "{}" is my transliteration of Greek text into
English using an Oxford English Dictionary alphabet table. The
diacritical marks have been lost.
ON HUNTING
A Sportsman's Manual
Commonly Called
CYNEGETICUS
I
To the gods themselves is due the discovery, to Apollo and Artemis,
patrons of the chase and protectors of the hound.[1] As a guerdon they
bestowed it upon Cheiron,[2] by reason of his uprightness, and he took
it and was glad, and turned the gift to good account. At his feet sat
many a disciple, to whom he taught the mystery of hunting and of
chivalry[3]--to wit, Cephalus, Asclepius, Melanion, Nestor,
Amphiaraus, Peleus, Telamon, Meleager, Theseus and Hippolytus,
Palamedes, Odysseus, Menestheus, Diomed, Castor and Polydeuces,
Machaon and Podaleirius, Antilochus, Aeneas and Achilles: of whom each
in his turn was honoured by the gods. And let none marvel that of
these the greater part, albeit well-pleasing to the gods, nevertheless
were subject to death--which is the way of nature,[4] but their fame
has grown--nor yet that their prime of manhood so far differed. The
lifetime of Cheiron sufficed for all his scholars; the fact being that
Zeus and Cheiron were brethren, sons of the same father but of
different mothers--Zeus of Rhea, and Cheiron of the nymph Nais;[5] and
so it is that, though older than all of them, he died not before he
had taught the youngest--to wit, the boy Achilles.[6]
[1] Or, "This thing is the invention of no mortal man, but of Apollo
and Artemis, to whom belong hunting and dogs." For the style of
exordium L. Dind. cf (Ps.) Dion. "Art. rhet." ad in.; Galen,
"Isagog." ad in.; Alex. Aphrodis. "Probl." 2 proem.
[2] The wisest and "justest of all the centaurs," Hom. "Il." xi. 831.
See Kingsley, "The Heroes," p. 84.
[3] Or, "the discipline of the hunting field and other noble lore."
[4] Lit. "since that is nature, but the praise of them grew greatly."
[5] According to others, Philyra. Pind. "Pyth." iii. 1, {ethelon
Kheirona ke Philuridan}; cf. "Pyth." vi. 22; "Nem." iii. 43.
[6] See Paus. iii. 18. 12.
Thanks to the careful heed they paid to dogs and things pertaining to
the chase, thanks also to the other training of their boyhood, all
these greatly excelled, and on the score of virtue were admired.
If Cephalus was caught into the arms of one that was a goddess,[7]
Asclepius[8] obtained yet greater honour. To him it was given to raise
the dead and to heal the sick, whereby,[9] even as a god among mortal
men, he has obtained to himself imperishable glory. Melanion[10] so
far excelled in zest for toil that he alone of all that flower of
chivalry who were his rivals[11] obtained the prize of noblest wedlock
with Atalanta; while as to Nestor, what need to repeat the well-known
tale? so far and wide for many a day has the fame of his virtue
penetrated the ears of Hellas.[12]
[7] Hemera (al. Eos). For the rape of Cephalus see Hes. "Theog." 986;
Eur. "Ion," 269; Paus. i. 3. 1; iii. 18. 7.
[8] Lat. Aesculapius. Father of Podaleirius and Machaon, "the noble
leech," "Il." ii. 731, iv. 194, 219, xi. 518; "Od." iv. 232.
[9] Cf. "Anab." I. ii. 8; Lincke, "z. Xen. Krit." p. 299.
[10] Melanion, s. Meilanion, Paus. iii. 12. 9; v. 17. 10; v. 19. 1.
[11] "Which were his rival suitors." As to Atalanta see Paus. viii.
45. 2; iii. 24. 2; v. 19. 2; Grote, "H. G." i. 199 foll.
[12] Lit. "the virtue of Nestor has so far penetrated the ears of
Hellas that I should speak to those who know." See Hom. "Il." i.
247, and passim.
Amphiaraus,[13] what time he served as a warrior against Thebes, won
for himself the highest praise; and from heaven obtained the honour of
a deathless life.[14]
[13] Amphiaraus. Pind. "Nem." ix. 13-27; "Olymp." vi. 11-16; Herod. i.
52; Paus. ix. 8. 2; 18. 2-4; ii. 23.2; i. 34; Liv. xlv. 27; Cic.
"de Div." i. 40. See Aesch. "Sept. c. Th." 392; Eur. "Phoen." 1122
foll.; Apollod. iii. 6; Strab. ix. 399, 404.
[14] Lit. "to be honoured ever living."
Peleus kindled in the gods desire to give him Thetis, and to hymn
their nuptials at the board of Cheiron.[15]
[15] For the marriage of Peleus and Thetis see Hom. "Il." xxiv. 61;
cf. Pope's rendering:
To grace those nuptials from the bright abode
Yourselves were present; when this minstrel god
(Well pleased to share the feast) amid the quire
Stood proud to hymn, and tune his youthful lyre
("Homer's Il." xxiv.)
Prof. Robinson Ellis ("Comment on Catull." lxiv.) cites numerous
passages: Eur. "I. in T." 701 foll., 1036 foll.; Pind. "Isthm." v.
24; "Pyth." iii. 87-96; Isocr. "Evag." 192. 6; Apoll. Rh. iv. 791;
"Il." xxiv. 61; Hes. "Theog." 1006, and "Epithal." (ap. Tsetz,
"Prol. ad Lycophr.):
{tris makar Aiakide kai tetrakis olbie Peleu
os toisd' en megarois ieron lekhos eisanabaineis}.
The mighty Telamon[16] won from the greatest of all states and wedded
her whom he desired, Periboea the daughter of Alcathus;[17] and when
the first of Hellenes,[18] Heracles[19] the son of Zeus, distributed
rewards of valour after taking Troy, to Telamon he gave Hesione.[20]
[16] See "Il." viii. 283l Paus. i. 42. 1-4.
[17] Or Alcathous, who rebuilt the walls of Megara by Apollo's aid.
Ov. "Met." viii. 15 foll.
[18] Reading {o protos}; or if with L. D. {tois protois}, "what time
Heracles was distributing to the heroes of Hellas (lit. the first
of the Hellenes) prizes of valour, to Telamon he gave."
[19] See Hom. "Il." v. 640; Strab. xiii. 595.
[20] See Diod. iv. 32; i. 42.
Of Meleager[21] be it said, whereas the honours which he won are
manifest, the misfortunes on which he fell, when his father[22] in old
age forgot the goddess, were not of his own causing.[23]
[21] For the legend of Meleager see "Il." ix. 524-599, dramatised by
both Sophocles and Euripides, and in our day by Swinburne,
"Atalanta in Calydon." Cf. Paus. iii. 8. 9; viii. 54. 4; Ov.
"Met." viii. 300; Grote, "H. G." i. 195.
[22] i.e. Oeneus. "Il." ix. 535.
[23] Or, "may not be laid to his charge."
Theseus[24] single-handed destroyed the enemies of collective Hellas;
and in that he greatly enlarged the boundaries of his fatherland, is
still to-day the wonder of mankind.[25]
[24] See "Mem." II. i. 14; III. v. 10; cf. Isocr. "Phil." 111; Plut.
"Thes." x. foll.; Diod. iv. 59; Ov. "Met." vii. 433.
[25] Or, "is held in admiration still to-day." See Thuc. ii. 15;
Strab. ix. 397.
Hippolytus[26] was honoured by our lady Artemis and with her
conversed,[27] and in his latter end, by reason of his sobriety and
holiness, was reckoned among the blest.
[26] See the play of Euripides. Paus. i. 22; Diod. iv. 62.
[27] Al. "lived on the lips of men." But cf. Eur. "Hipp." 85, {soi kai
xeneimi kai logois s' ameibomai}. See Frazer, "Golden Bough," i.
6, for the Hippolytus-Virbius myth.
Palamedes[28] all his days on earth far outshone those of his own
times in wisdom, and when slain unjustly, won from heaven a vengeance
such as no other mortal man may boast of.[29] Yet died he not at their
hands[30] whom some suppose; else how could the one of them have been
accounted all but best, and the other a compeer of the good? No, not
they, but base men wrought that deed.
[28] As to Palamedes, son of Nauplius, his genius and treacherous
death, see Grote, "H. G." i. 400; "Mem." IV. ii. 33; "Apol." 26;
Plat. "Apol." 41; "Rep." vii. 522; Eur. fr. "Palam."; Ov. "Met."
xiii. 56; Paus. x. 31. 1; ii. 20. 3.
[29] For the vengeance see Schol. ad Eur. "Orest." 422; Philostr.
"Her." x. Cf. Strab. viii. 6. 2 (368); Leake, "Morea," ii. 358;
Baedeker, "Greece," 245.
[30] i.e. Odysseus and Diomed. (S. 11, I confess, strikes me as
somewhat in Xenophon's manner.) See "Mem." IV. ii. 33; "Apol." 26.
Menestheus,[31] through diligence and patient care, the outcome of the
chase, so far overshot all men in love of toil that even the chiefs of
Hellas must confess themselves inferior in the concerns of war save
Nestor only; and Nestor, it is said,[32] excelled not but alone might
rival him.
[31] For Menestheus, who led the Athenians against Troy, cf. Hom.
"Il." ii. 552; iv. 327; Philostr. "Her." ii. 16; Paus. ii. 25. 6;
i. 17. 6; Plut. "Thes." 32, 35.
[32] Or, "so runs the tale," e.g. in "The Catalogue." See "Il." ii.
l.c.: {Nestor oios erizen}, "Only Nestor rivalled him, for he was
the elder by birth" (W. Leaf).
Odysseus and Diomedes[33] were brilliant for many a single deed of
arms, and mainly to these two was due the taking of Troy town.[34]
[33] The two heroes are frequently coupled in Homer, e.g. "Il." v.
519; x. 241, etc.
[34] Or, "were brilliant in single points, and broadly speaking were
the cause that Troy was taken." See Hygin. "Fab." 108; Virg.
"Aen." ii. 163.
Castor and Polydeuces,[35] by reason of their glorious display of arts
obtained from Cheiron, and for the high honour and prestige therefrom
derived, are now immortal.
[35] Castor, Polydeuces, s. Pollux--the great twin brethren. See
Grote, "H. G." i. 232 foll.
Machaon and Podaleirius[36] were trained in this same lore, and proved
themselves adepts in works of skill, in argument and feats of
arms.[37]
[36] As to the two sons of Asclepius, Machaon and Podaleirius, the
leaders of the Achaeans, see "Il." ii. 728; Schol. ad Pind.
"Pyth." iii. 14; Paus. iii. 26; iv. 3; Strab. vi. 4 (284); Diod.
iv. 71. 4; Grote, "H. G." i. 248.
[37] Or, "in crafts, in reasonings, and in deeds of war."
Antilochus,[38] in that he died for his father, obtained so great a
glory that, in the judgment of Hellas, to him alone belongs the title
"philopator," "who loved his father."[39]
[38] Antilochus, son of Nestor, slain by Memnon. "Od." iv. 186 foll.;
Pind. "Pyth." vi. 28; Philostr. "Her." iv.; "Icon." ii. 281.
[39] Lit. "to be alone proclaimed Philopator among the Hellenes." Cf.
Plat. "Laws," 730 D, "He shall be proclaimed the great and perfect
citizen, and bear away the palm of virtue"; and for the epithet
see Eur. "Or." 1605; "I. A." 68.
Aeneas[40] saved the ancestral gods--his father's and his
mother's;[41] yea, and his own father also, whereby he bore off a
reputation for piety so great that to him alone among all on whom they
laid their conquering hand in Troy even the enemy granted not to be
despoiled.
[40] As to Aeneas see Poseidon's speech, "Il." xx. 293 foll.; Grote,
"H. G." i. 413, 427 foll.
[41] Cf. "Hell." II. iv. 21.
Achilles,[42] lastly, being nursed in this same training, bequeathed
to after-days memorials so fair, so ample, that to speak or hear
concerning him no man wearies.
[42] "The highest form that floated before Greek imagination was
Achilles," Hegel, "Lectures on the Philosophy of History" (Eng.
tr. p. 233); and for a beautiful elaboration of that idea, J. A.
Symonds, "Greek Poets," 2nd series, ch. ii.
Such, by dint of that paintstaking care derived from Cheiron, these
all proved themselves; of whom all good men yet still to-day are
lovers and all base men envious. So much so that if throughout the
length and breadth of Hellas misfortunes at any time befell city or
king, it was they who loosed the knot of them;[43] or if all Hellas
found herself confronted with the hosts of the Barbarians in strife
and battle, once again it was these who nerved the arms of Hellenes to
victory and rendered Hellas unconquered and unconquerable.
[43] Reading {eluonto autous}, or if as L. D., {di autous}, transl.
"thanks to them, they were loosed."
For my part, then, my advice to the young is, do not despise hunting
or the other training of your boyhood, if you desire to grow up to be
good men, good not only in war but in all else of which the issue is
perfection in thought, word, and deed.
II
The first efforts of a youth emerging from boyhood should be directed
to the institution of the chase, after which he should come to the
rest of education, provided he have the means and with an eye to the
same; if his means be ample, in a style worthy of the profit to be
derived; or, if they be scant, let him at any rate contribute
enthusiasm, in nothing falling short of the power he possesses.
What are the aids and implements of divers sorts with which he who
would enter on this field must equip himself? These and the theory of
each in particular I will now explain. With a view to success in the
work, forewarned is forearmed. Nor let such details be looked upon as
insignificant. Without them there will be an end to practical
results.[1]
[1] Or, "The question suggests itself--how many instruments and of
what sort are required by any one wishing to enter this field? A
list of these I propose to give, not omitting the theoretical side
of the matter in each case, so that whoever lays his hand to this
work may have some knowledge to go upon. It would be a mistake to
regard these details as trivial. In fact, without them the
undertaking might as well be let alone."
The net-keeper should be a man with a real passion for the work, and
in tongue a Hellene, about twenty years of age, of wiry build, agile
at once and strong, with pluck enough to overcome the toils imposed on
him,[2] and to take pleasure in the work.
[2] {toutous}, "by this, that, or the other good quality."
The ordinary small nets should be made of fine Phasian or
Carthaginian[3] flax, and so too should the road nets and the larger
hayes.[4] These small nets should be nine-threaded [made of three
strandes, and each strand of three threads],[5] five spans[6] in
depth,[7] and two palms[8] at the nooses or pockets.[9] There should
be no knots in the cords that run round, which should be so inserted
as to run quite smoothly.[10] The road net should be twelve-threaded,
and the larger net (or haye) sixteen. They may be of different sizes,
the former varying from twelve to twenty-four or thirty feet, the
latter from sixty to one hundred and twenty or one hundred and eighty
feet.[11] If larger they will be unwieldy and hard to manage. Both
should be thirty-knotted, and the interval of the nooses the same as
in the ordinary small nets. At the elbow ends[12] the road net should
be furnished with nipples[13] (or eyes), and the larger sort (the
haye) with rings, and both alike with a running line of twisted cord.
The pronged stakes[14] for the small nets should be ten palms
high,[15] as a rule, but there should be some shorter ones besides;
those of unequal length will be convenient to equalise the height on
uneven ground, and those of equal length on level. They should be
sharp-tipped so as to draw out easily[16] and smooth throughout. Those
for the road nets should be twice the height,[17] and those for the
big (haye) nets five spans long,[18] with small forks, the notches not
deep; they should be stout and solid, of a thickness proportionate to
their length. The number of props needed for the nets will vary--many
or few, according to circumstances; a less number if the tension on
the net be great, and a larger number when the nets are slack.[19]
[3] Phasian or Carchedonian. Cf. Pollux, v. 26.
[4] {arkus, enodia, diktua}.
[5] [L. Dind. brackets.] See Pollux, v. 27, ap. Schn.
[6] {spithame}, a span (dodrans) = 7 1/2 inches. Herod. ii. 106;
{trispithamos}, Hes. "Op." 424; Plat. "Alc." i. 126 C; Aristot.
"H. A." viii. 28. 5; Polyb. v. 3-6.
[7] {to megethos}.
[8] Or, "eight fingers' breadth +" = 6 inches +. {palaiste} or
{palaste}, a palm or four fingers' breadth = 3 inches +.
[9] {tous brokhous}, a purse or tunnel arrangement with slip loop.
[10] Reading {upheisthosan de oi peridromoi anammatoi}. Lit. "the
cords that run round should be inserted without knots." See
Pollux, v. 28 foll.
[11] Lit. "2, 4, 5 fathoms; 10, 20, 30 fathoms."
[12] {akroleniois}, elbows, Pollux, v. 29; al. {akroliniois}, L. & S.,
"on the edges or borders."
[13] {mastous}, al. "tufts."
[14] {skhalides}, forks or net props. Cf. Pollux, v. 19. 31.
[15] i.e. 30 + inches = 2 1/2 + ft., say 36 inches = 3 ft.
[16] {euperispastoi ta akra}, al. "they should be made so that the
nets can be fitted on and off easily, with sharp points"; or "off
the points easily."
[17] {siplasiai}, i.e. 20 palms = 60 + inches, say 72, or 6 ft.
[18] {pentespithamoi}, i.e. 5 x 7 1/2 inches = 37 1/2 inches = 3 ft. 1
1/2 inch; al. 5 x 9 inches = 45 inches = 3 ft. 9 inches.
[19] Or, "if in the particular position the nets are taut, a larger if
they lie slack."
Lastly, for the purpose of carrying the nets and hayes, for either
sort[20] there must be a bag of calf-skin; and billhooks to cut down
branches and stop gaps in the woods when necessary.[21]
[20] Reading, with Lenz, {ekaterois}, or if, as C. Gesner conj., {e
ekatera}, transl. "or either separately."
[21] Or, "for the purpose of felling wood and stopping up gaps where
necessary."
III
There are two breeds of sporting dogs: the Castorian and the fox-
like.[1] The former get their name from Castor, in memory of the
delight he took in the business of the chase, for which he kept this
breed by preference.[2] The other breed is literally foxy, being the
progeny originally of the dog and the fox, whose natures have in the
course of ages become blent.[3]
[1] {Kastoriai}, or Laconian, approaching possibly the harrier type;
{alopekides}, i.e. vulpocanine, hybrid between fox and dog.
[2] Or, "get their appellation from the fact that Castor took delight
in the business of the chase, and kept this breed specially for
the purpose." Al. {diephulaxen}, "propagated and preserved the
breed which we now have." See Darwin, "Animals and Plants under
Domestication," ii. 202, 209.
[3] Or, "and through lapse of time the twofold characteristics of
their progenitors have become blent." See Timoth. Gaz. ap.
Schneid. ad loc. for an ancient superstition as to breeds.
Both species present a large proportion of defective animals[4] which
fall short of the type, as being under-sized, or crook-nosed,[5] or
gray-eyed,[6] or near-sighted, or ungainly, or stiff-jointed, or
deficient in strength, thin-haired, lanky, disproportioned, devoid of
pluck or of nose, or unsound of foot. To particularise: an under-sized
dog will, ten to one, break off from the chase[7] faint and flagging
in the performance of his duty owing to mere diminutiveness. An
aquiline nose means no mouth, and consequently an inability to hold
the hare fast.[8] A blinking bluish eye implies defect of vision;[9]
just as want of shape means ugliness.[10] The stiff-limbed dog will
come home limping from the hunting-field;[11] just as want of strength
and thinness of coat go hand in hand with incapacity for toil.[12] The
lanky-legged, unsymmetrical dog, with his shambling gait and ill-
compacted frame, ranges heavily; while the spiritless animal will
leave his work to skulk off out of the sun into shade and lie down.
Want of nose means scenting the hare with difficulty, or only once in
a way; and however courageous he may be, a hound with unsound feet
cannot stand the work, but through foot-soreness will eventually give
in.[13]
[4] Or, "defective specimens (that is to say, the majority) are to be
noted, as follows."
[5] {grupai}.
[6] {kharopoi}. Al. Arrian, iv. 4, 5.
[7] Or, "will probably retire from the chase and throw up the business
through mere diminutiveness."
[8] Or, "a hook-nosed (? pig-jawed, see Stonehenge, "The Dog," p. 19,
4th ed.) dog has a bad mouth and cannot hold."
[9] Or, "a short-sighted, wall-eyed dog has defective vision."
[10] Or, "they are weedy, ugly brutes as a rule."
[11] Or, "stiffness of limbs means he will come off." Cf. "Mem." III.
xiii. 6.
[12] Lit. "a weak, thinly-haired animal is incapable of severe toil."
[13] Or, "Nor will courage compensate for unsound feet. The toil and
moil will be too great to endure, and owing to the pains in his
feet he will in the end give in."
Similarly many different modes of hunting a line of scent are to be
seen in the same species of hound.[14] One dog as soon as he has found
the trail will go along without sign or symptom to show that he is on
the scent; another will vibrate his ears only and keep his tail[15]
perfectly still; while a third has just the opposite propensity: he
will keep his ears still and wag with the tip of his tail. Others draw
their ears together, and assuming a solemn air,[16] drop their tails,
tuck them between their legs, and scour along the line. Many do
nothing of the sort.[17] They tear madly about, babbling round the
line when they light upon it, and senselessly trampling out the scent.
Others again will make wide circuits and excursions; either
forecasting the line,[18] they overshoot it and leave the hare itself
behind, or every time they run against the line they fall to
conjecture, and when they catch sight of the quarry are all in a
tremor,[19] and will not advance a step till they see the creature
begin to stir.
[14] Or, "Also the same dogs will exhibit many styles of coursing: one
set as soon as they have got the trail pursue it without a sign,
so there is no means of finding out that the animal is on the
track."
[15] "Stern."
[16] Or "with their noses solemnly fixed on the ground and sterns
lowered."
[17] Or, "have quite a different action"; "exhibit quite another
manner."
[18] i.e. "they cast forwards to make short cuts," of skirters too
lazy to run the line honestly.
[19] Reading {tremousi}, "fall a-trembling"; al. {atremousi}, stand
stock-still"; i.e. are "dwellers."
A particular sort may be described as hounds which, when hunting or
pursuing, run forward with a frequent eye to the discoveries of the
rest of the pack, because they have no confidence in themselves.
Another sort is over-confident--not letting the cleverer members of
the pack go on ahead, but keeping them back with nonsensical clamour.
Others will wilfully hug every false scent,[20] and with a tremendous
display of eagerness, whatever they chance upon, will take the lead,
conscious all the while they are playing false;[21] whilst another
sort again will behave in a precisely similar style out of sheer
ignorance.[22] It is a poor sort of hound which will not leave a stale
line[23] for want of recognising the true trail. So, too, a hound that
cannot distinguish the trail leading to a hare's form, and scampers
over that of a running hare, hot haste, is no thoroughbred.[24]
[20] Al. "seem to take pleasure in fondling every lie."
[21] Or, "fully aware themselves that the whole thing is a make-
believe."
[22] Or, "do exactly the same thing because they do not know any
better."
[23] {ek ton trimmon}. Lit. "keep away from beaten paths," and
commonly of footpaths, but here apparently of the hare's habitual
"run," not necessarily lately traversed, still less the true line.
[24] Lit. "A dog who on the one hand ignores the form track, and on
the other tears swiftly over a running track, is not a well-bred
dog." Al. {ta eunaia}, "traces of the form"; {ta dromaia}, "tracks
of a running hare." See Sturz. s.v. {dromaios}.
When it comes to the actual chase, some hounds will show great ardour
at first starting, but presently give up from weakness of spirit.
Others will run in too hastily[25] and then balk; and go hopelessly
astray, as if they had lost the sense of hearing altogether.
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