The Sportsman
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[49] Reading {katophere [stenen ek tou emprosthen]}. See Lenz ad loc.
pp. 23, 24. Pollux, v. 69.
[50] Reading {[lepton, periphere]}.
[51] {sugkola}, al. "compactly knit."
[52] Lit. {ou barutonon}, "not deep sounding" = {ou sarkodes}, Pollux,
ib.
[53] Reading {lagonas ugras lagaras ikanos}.
[54] {trikhona}, "the coat."
I say an animal so happily constructed must needs be strong and
pliant; the perfection of lightness and agility. If proof of this
lightness and agility be needed, here is a fact in illustration. When
proceeding quietly, its method of progression is by leaps; no one ever
saw or is likely to see a hare walking. What it does is to place the
hind-feet in front of the fore-feet and outside them, and so to run,
if running one can call it. The action prints itself plainly on snow.
The tail is not conducive to swiftness of pace, being ill adapted by
its stumpiness to act as a rudder to direct the body. The animal has
to do this by means of one or other ear;[55] as may be seen, when she
is on the point of being caught by the hounds.[56] At that instant you
may see her drop and shoot out aslant one of her ears towards the
point of attack, and then, apparently throwing her full weight on that
pivot, turn sharp round and in a moment leave her assailants far
behind.
[55] So Ael. "N. A." xiii. 14.
[56] Pollux, v. 71. For punctuation, see Lenz ad loc. p. 25.
So winsome a creature is it, that to note the whole of the proceedings
from the start--the quest by scent, the find, the pack in pursuit full
cry, the final capture--a man might well forget all other loves.[57]
[57] See Arrian, xvi. 6, his criticism. Schneid. cf. Plut. "Mor." 1096
C. Hermog. iii. 319, 11, ed. Walz.
Here it should be added that the sportsman, who finds himself on
cultivated lands, should rigidly keep his hands off the fruits of the
season, and leave springs and streams alone. To meddle with them is
ugly and base, not to speak of the bad example of lawlessness set to
the beholder. During the close season[58] all hunting gear should be
taken down and put away.
[58] Al. "wahrend der Jagdferien," Lenz; "on Sundays," as we might
say. See some remarks on S. 34 in "Hellenica Essays," "Xenophon,"
p. 349.
VI
The equipment of the dogs consists of collar straps, leashes, and
surcingles,[1] and the collar should be broad and soft so as not to
rub the dog's coat; the leash should have a noose for the hand,[2] and
nothing else. The plan of making collar and leash all in one is a
clumsy contrivance for keeping a hound in check.[3] The surcingle
should be broad in the thongs so as not to gall the hound's flanks,
and with spurs stitched on to the leather, to preserve the purity of
the breed.[4]
[1] {stelmoniai}, al. {telamonias}, broad belts or girths, corselets.
Pollux, v. 55.
[2] Pollux, v. 56.
[3] Lit. "since those who make the collar out of the leash do not keep
hold (al. take care) of their hounds well."
[4] See "A Day with Xenophon's Harriers," "Macmillan's Mag." Jan.
1895, p. 183.
As to taking the hounds out to hunt, no hound ought to be taken out
which refuses its food, a conclusive proof that the animal is ailing.
Nor again, when a violent wind is blowing, for three good reasons: the
scent will not lie, the hounds cannot smell,[5] neither the nets nor
hayes will stand. In the absence, however, of any of these hindrances,
take them out every other day.[6] Do not let your hounds get into the
habit of hunting foxes. Nothing is so ruinous; and just at the moment
when you want them, they will not be forthcoming. On the other hand,
vary the hunting-ground in taking them out; which will give the pack a
wider experience in hunting and their master a better knowledge of the
country. The start should be early in the morning, unless the scent is
to fail the hounds entirely.[7] The dilatory sportsman robs the pack
of finding and himself of profit.[8] Subtle and delicate by nature,
scent will not last all day.
[5] "You cannot trust the hound's nose."
[6] "Every third day," {dia trites tes emeras}.
[7] Lit. "in order that they may not be deprived of following up the
scent."
[8] Or, "a late start means the hounds will be robbed of a find and
the huntsman of his reward."
The net-keeper should wear a light costume. His business is to fix the
nets about the runs,[9] paths, bends, and hollows, and darksome spots,
brooks, dry torrents, or perennial mountain streams. These are the
places to which the hare chiefly betakes itself for refuge; though
there are of course endless others. These, and the side passages into,
and exits from them, whether well marked or ill defined, are to be
stopped just as day breaks; not too early, so that, in case the line
of nets be in the neighbourhood of covert to be searched for game,[10]
the animal may not be scared at hearing the thud close by.[11] If, on
the contrary, there should be a wide gap between the two points, there
is less to hinder making the net lines clear and clean quite early, so
that nothing may cling to them. The keeper must fix the forked props
slantwise, so as to stand the strain when subjected to tension. He
must attach the nooses equally on the points; and see that the props
are regularly fixed, raising the pouch towards the middle;[12] and
into the slip-rope he must insert a large, long stone, to prevent the
net from stretching in the opposite direction, when it has got the
hare inside. He will fix the rows of poles with stretches of net
sufficiently high to prevent the creature leaping over.[13] In
hunting, "no procrastination" should be the motto, since it is
sportsmanlike at once and a proof of energy by all means to effect a
capture quickly. He will stretch the larger (haye) nets upon level
spaces; and proceed to plant the road nets upon roads and at
converging points of tracks and footpaths;[14] he must attach the
border-ropes to the ground, draw together the elbows or side ends of
the nets, fix the forked props between the upper meshes,[15] adjust
the skirting ropes upon the tops, and close up gaps.
[9] See Pollux, v. 35.
[10] Al. "of the game to be hunted up."
[11] {omou}, "e propinquo." Schn. cf. "Cyrop." III. i. 2; VI. iii. 7.
[12] Or, "giving the funnel or belly a lift in the middle."
{kekruphalon}, Pollux, v. 31.
[13] This sentence according to Lenz is out of its place, referring
solely to the haye nets; the order of the words should be {ta de
diktua teineto en apedois stoikhizeto de, k.t.l.} If so, transl.
"He should stretch the hayes on level ground and fix, etc.; The
road nets should be planted . . . etc."
[14] Al. "at convenient points or where paths converge." See Schneid.
s.v. {sumpheronta}.
[15] {sardonion}, Pollux, v. 31. Al. "fixing the stakes between the
edges."
Then he will play sentinel and go his rounds; if a prop or funnel
wants supporting, he will set it up; and when the hare comes with the
hounds behind her he will urge her forwards to the toils, with shout
and halloa thundering at her heels. When she is fairly entangled, he
is to calm the fury of the hounds, without touching them, by soothing,
encouraging tones. He is also to signal to the huntsman with a shout,
that the quarry is taken, or has escaped this side or that, or that he
has not seen it, or where he last caught sight of it.[16]
[16] Or, "'caught,' 'escaped,' (this side or that), 'not seen,'
'marked.'"
The sportsman himself should sally forth in a loose, light hunting
dress,[17] and footgear[18] to match; he should carry a stout stick in
his hand, the net-keeper following. They should proceed to the
hunting-field in silence, to prevent the hare, if by chance there
should be one close by, from making off at the sound of voices. When
they have reached the covert, he will tie the hounds to trees, each
separately, so that they can be easily slipped from the leash, and
proceed to fix the nets, funnel and hayes, as above described. When
that is done, and while the net-keeper mounts guard, the master
himself will take the hounds and sally forth to rouse the game.[19]
Then with prayer and promise to Apollo and to Artemis, our Lady of the
Chase,[20] to share with them the produce of spoil, he lets slip a
single hound, the cunningest at scenting of the pack. [If it be
winter, the hour will be sunrise, or if summer, before day-dawn, and
in the other seasons at some hour midway.] As soon as the hound has
unravelled the true line[21] he will let slip another; and then, if
these carry on the line, at rapid intervals he will slip the others
one by one; and himself follow, without too great hurry,[22]
addressing each of the dogs by name every now and then, but not too
frequently, for fear of over-exciting them before the proper moment.
[17] {emelemenen} = neglige, plain, unpretentious.
[18] Pollux, v. 18.
[19] Al. "intent on the working of the pack."
[20] "To thee thy share of this chase, Lord Apollo; and thine to thee,
O Huntress Queen!"
[21] Or, "carries a line straight away from the many that interlace."
[22] Or, "without forcing the pace."
Meanwhile the hounds are busily at work; onwards they press with eager
spirit, disentangling the line, double or treble, as the case may
be.[23] To and fro they weave a curious web,[24] now across, now
parallel with the line,[25] whose threads are interlaced, here
overlapped, and here revolving in a circle; now straight, now crooked;
here close, there rare; at one time clear enough, at another dimly
owned. Past one another the hounds jostle--tails waving fast, ears
dropt, and eyes flashing.
[23] "Discovering two or three scents, as the case may be";
"unravelling her line, be it single or double."
[24] {prophoreisthai} = {diazesthai}, Pollux, vii. 52. Schneid. cf.
Aristoph. "Birds," 4, {apoloumeth' allos ten odon prophoroumeno}.
Still up and down, old sinner, must we pace;
'Twill kill us both, this vain, long, wearing race (Kennedy).
[25] See Arrian, xx. 2.
But when they are really close to the hare they will make the matter
plain to the huntsman by various signs--the quivering of their bodies
backwards and forwards, sterns and all; the ardour meaning business;
the rush and emulaton; the hurry-scurry to be first; the patient
following-up of the whole pack; at one moment massed together, and at
another separated; and once again the steady onward rush. At last they
have reached the hare's form, and are in the act to spring upon her.
But she on a sudden will start up and bring about her ears the barking
clamour of the whole pack as she makes off full speed. Then as the
chase grows hot, the view halloo! of the huntsman may be heard: "So
ho, good hounds! that's she! cleverly now, good hounds! so ho, good
hounds!"[26] And so, wrapping his cloak[27] about his left arm, and
snatching up his club, he joins the hounds in the race after the hare,
taking care not to get in their way,[28] which would stop
proceedings.[29] The hare, once off, is quickly out of sight of her
pursuers; but, as a rule, will make a circuit back to the place where
she was found.[30]
[26] Reading {io kunes, io kunes, sophos ge o kunes, kalos ge o
kunes}. Al. {io kunes, io kakos} = "To her, dogs! that won't do!"
"Ho, ho, Hunde! Ho, ho, falsch! Recht so, Hunde! schon so, Hunde!"
(Lenz).
[27] {o ampekhetai}, "the shawl or plaid which he carries on his
shoulders." See Pollux, v. 10.
[28] "Not to head the chase." Sir Alex. Grant, "Xen." p. 167.
[29] {aporon}, "which would be awkward" (see Arrian, xxv. 8).
[30] "Where the nets are set," Sir A. Grant. See his comment, l.c.
He must shout then to the keeper, "Mark her, boy, mark her! hey, lad!
hey, lad!" and the latter will make known whether the hare is caught
or not. Supposing the hare to be caught in her first ring, the
huntsman has only to call in the hounds and beat up another. If not,
his business is to follow up the pack full speed, and not give in, but
on through thick and through thin, for toil is sweet. And if again
they chance upon her in the chevy,[31] his cheery shout will be heard
once more, "Right so! right so, hounds! forward on, good hounds!"
[31] {apantosi diokousai auton}, al. "come across the huntsman again."
But if the pack have got too long a start of him, and he cannot
overtake them, however eagerly he follows up the hunt--perhaps he has
altogether missed the chase, or even if they are ranging close and
giving tongue and sticking to the scent, he cannot see them--still as
he tears along he can interrogate the passer-by: "Hilloa there, have
you seen my hounds?" he shouts, and having at length ascertained their
whereabouts, if they are on the line, he will post himself close by,
and cheer them on, repeating turn and turn about the name of every
hound, and pitching the tone of his voice sharp or deep, soft or loud;
and besides all other familiar calls, if the chase be on a
hillside,[32] he can keep up their spirits with a constant "Well done,
good hounds! well done, good hounds! good hounds!" Or if any are at
fault, having overshot the line, he will call to them, "Back, hounds!
back, will you! try back!"
[32] Or, "if the chase sweeps over a mountain-side."
As soon as the hounds have got back to (where they missed) the
line,[33] he must cast them round, making many a circle to and fro;
and where the line fails, he should plant a stake[34] as a sign-post
to guide the eye, and so cast round the dogs from that point,[35] till
they have found the right scent, with coaxing and encouragement. As
soon as the line of scent is clear,[36] off go the dogs, throwing
themselves on to it, springing from side to side, swarming together,
conjecturing, and giving signs to one another, and taking bearings[37]
they will not mistake--helter-skelter off they go in pursuit. Once
they dart off along the line of scent thus hotly, the huntsman should
keep up but without hurrying, or out of zeal they will overshoot the
line. As soon as they are once more in close neighbourhood of the
hare, and once again have given their master clear indications of the
fact, then let him give what heed he can, she does not move off
farther in sheer terror of the hounds.
[33] {prosstosi}, al. "whenever they check."
[34] Al. (1) "take a stake or one of the poles as a sign-post," (2)
"draw a line on the ground."
[35] {suneirein}. Zeune cf. "Cyrop." VII. v. 6, "draw the dogs along
by the nets." Blane.
[36] "As the scent grows warmer," the translator in "Macmillan's Mag."
above referred to. Aristot. "H. A." ix. 44. 4.
[37] Lit. "fixing landmarks for themselves."
They meanwhile, with sterns wagging, tumbling and leaping over one
another's backs,[38] at intervals loudly giving tongue, and lifting up
their heads and peering into their master's face, as much as to say,
"There is no mistake about it this time,"[39] will presently of
themselves start the hare and be after her full cry, with bark and
clamour.[40] Thereupon, whether the hare falls into the toils of the
funnel net or rushes past outside or inside, whatever incident betide,
the net-keeper must with a shout proclaim the fact. Should the hare be
caught, the huntsman has only to begin looking for another; if not, he
must follow up the chase once more with like encouragement.
[38] Or, "whisking their tails and frisking wildly, and jostling
against one another, and leaping over one another at a great
rate." Al. "over one obstacle, and then another."
[39] Or, "this is the true line at last."
[40] Al. "with a crash of tongues."
When at length the hounds show symptoms of fatigue, and it is already
late in the day, the time has come for the huntsman to look for his
hare that lies dead-beat; nor must he wittingly leave any patch of
green or clod of earth untested.[41] Backwards and forwards he must
try and try again the ground,[42] to be sure that nothing has been
overlooked. The fact is, the little creature lies in a small compass,
and from fatigue and fear will not get up. As he leads the hounds on
he will cheer and encourage them, addressing with many a soft term the
docile creature, the self-willed, stubborn brute more rarely, and to a
moderate extent the hound of average capacity, till he either succeeds
in running down or driving into the toils some victim.[43] After which
he will pick up his nets, both small and large alike, giving every
hound a rub down, and return home from the hunting-field, taking care,
if it should chance to be a summer's noon, to halt a bit, so that the
feet of his hounds may not be blistered on the road.
[41] Lit. "anything which earth puts forth or bears upon her bosom."
[42] Or, "Many and many a cast back must he make."
[43] The famous stanzas in "Venus and Adonis" may fitly close this
chapter.
And when thou hast on foot the purblind hare,
Mark the poor wretch, to overshoot his troubles
How he outruns the wind and with what care
He cranks and crosses with a thousand doubles:
The many musets through the which he goes
Are like a labyrinth to amaze his foes.
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 shifts; 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 passing-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 bitches 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 bitch 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 passing off.
Choose a good dog for the purpose. When the bitch 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 bitch;
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
bitches 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., xxxi. 3.
[3] Cf. Eur. "Tro." 753, {o khrotos edu pneuma}.
[4] Cf. Arrian, xxx. 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, xxxi.; 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, xxxi. 2; Oppian, "Cyn," i. 443; ap. Schneid.
[8] The following is Xenophon's list:--
{Psukhe} = Soul
{Thumos} = Spirit
{Porpax} = Hasp of shield
{Sturax} = Spike of spear at the butt 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 Sturdy"
{Krauge} = Clamour. Cf. Plat. "Rep." 607 B.
{Kainon} = Killer
{Turbas} = "Topsy-turvy"
{Sthenon} = Strong man
{Aither} = Ether
{'Aktis} = Ray of light
{Aikhme} = Spear-point
{Nors} = Clever (girl)
{Gnome} = Maxim
{Stibon} = Tracker
{'Orme} = Dash. So Arrian ("Cyn." viii. 5) named his favourite hound.
For other names see Herodian, {peri mon. l} (on monosyllables),
12. 7; "Corp. Inscr." iv. p. 184, n. 8319; Arrian, v. 6, xix.;
Colum. vii. 12, 13. According to Pollux, v. 47, Xenophon had a dog
named {ippokentauros} (cf. "Cyrop." IV. iii. 17).
The young hounds may be taken out to the chase at the age of eight
months[9] if bitches, or if males at the age of ten. They should not
be let loose on the trail of a hare sitting,[10] but should be kept
attached by long leashes and allowed to follow on a line while
scenting,[11] with free scope to run along the trail.[12]
[9] Cf. Pollux, v. 54; al. Arrian, xxv., xxvi.
[10] Pollux, v. 12.
[11] "The dogs that are trailing," Blane.
[12] See Stonehenge, "Entering of greyhound and deerhound, of
foxhounds and harriers," pp. 284, 285.
As soon as a hare is found, provided the young hounds have the right
points[13] for running, they should not be let loose straight off: the
huntsman should wait until the hare has got a good start and is out of
sight, then let the young hounds go.[14] The result of letting slip
young hounds, possessed of all the requisite points and full of
pluck,[15] is that the sight of the hare will make them strain too
violently and pull them to bits,[16] while their frames are as yet
unknit; a catastrophe against which every sportsman should strenuously
guard. If, on the other hand, the young hounds do not promise well for
running,[17] there is no harm in letting them go. From the start they
will give up all hope of striking the hare, and consequently escape
the injury in question.[18]
[13] For points see the same authority: the harrier, p. 59; the
foxhound, p. 54.
[14] See Arrian's comment and dissent, xxv. 4.
[15] Lit. "which are at once well shaped and have the spirit for the
chase in them."
[16] Al. "they will overstrain themselves with the hare in sight, and
break a blood-vessel." See Arrian, xxxi. 4, {regnuntai gar autais
ai lagones}.
[17] Or, "are defectively built for the chase."
[18] Or, "will not suffer such mishap."
As to the trail of a hare on the run, there is no harm in letting them
follow it up till they overtake her.[19] When the hare is caught the
carcass should be given to the young hounds to tear in pieces.[20]
[19] Perhaps read {eos an thelosi}, "as long as they choose." The MSS.
have {elthosi}.
[20] See Stonehenge, p. 287, "blooded, so as to make him understand
the nature of the scent"; ib. 284.
As soon as these young hounds refuse to stay close to the nets and
begin to scatter, they must be called back; till they have been
accustomed to find the hare by following her up; or else, if not
taught to quest for her (time after time) in proper style, they may
end by becoming skirters[21]--a bad education.[22]
[21] {ekkunoi}, cf. Arrian, xxv. 5.
[22] {poneron mathema}, ib. 9.
As long as they are pups, they should have their food given them near
the nets, when these are being taken up,[23] so that if from
inexperience they should lose their way on the hunting-field, they may
come back for it and not be altogether lost. In time they will be quit
of this instinct themselves,[24] when their hostile feeling towards
the animal is developed, and they will be more concerned about the
quarry than disposed to give their food a thought.[25]
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