38 PREFACE. 



the goddess of wisdom, and are better qualified for this under- 

 taking. If, however, I have the good fortune to direct the 

 attention of the more learned patrons of the leash to a manual 

 scarce known among them, and to excite the same degree of 

 interest in their minds, which its first perusal excited in my 

 own; I shall rest satisfied that the errors and deficiencies of 

 this attempt will induce them to devote superior knowledge of 

 the Greek language, and greater experience in coursing, to 

 decorating the Athenian Sportsman with an English dress, 

 more becoming the antiquity of his claim to distinction. 



Ovid. Trist. i. -^^ veniam pro laude peto : laudatus abunde, 



Eleg. VI. Non fastiditus si tibi, lector, ero. 



Individuals possessed of great accuracy of knowledge in 

 Greek literature, or what Schneider calls '' ax^i'/Seia Graecae 

 doctrinae, " united to extensive experience in field-sports, must 

 necessarily be rare ; and till such shall undertake an improve- 

 ment on the present version, it may pass its ordeal of utility 

 with the public. Moderate love of the diversion, and moderate 

 experience in the field or on the plain, I conceive to be as 

 indispensable as an acquaintance with the language of the 

 original text to the translator of a courser's enchiridion, or he 

 Denietrii Con- will not work in it con amore, {irgo^tjXov yup el [trj tjj sgwg sttI tivi 



stantinop. Hie- 



racosophii i. 7:cxga.KoXov^<yst Trpay/AaTJ, uiJiri^avov tovto xctropQco^rivai,) nor acquit 



himself to the satisfaction of his readers. 



To classic coursers I would particularly recommend the 

 perusal and reperusal of the Greek original ; for I am confi- 

 dent that it is far more worthy of their attention than the 

 English version ; which " is submitted to the correction and 

 amendment of those worthy and well-knowing gentlemen," 



