2G8 A P F E N I) 1 \ . 



Sed lie qua ex nimio redeat jaciura favore. 

 Lex dicta officiis: ne voce lacesseret hostem, 

 Neve levein prasdam, aut propioris pignora lucii 

 Amplexus, primos nequicquam eftunderet actus. 

 Jam vero irapensum melior fortiina laborem 

 Quum sequitur, juxtaque domus queesita ferarum, 

 Ut sciat, occultos et signis arguat hostes : 

 Aut effecta levi testatur gaudia cauda, 

 Aut ipsa infodiens uncis vestigia plantis 

 Mandit humum, celsasve apprensat naiibus auras. 

 Et taraen, ut ne prima faventem pignora fallant, 

 Circa omnem, aspretis medius qua clauditur orbis, 

 Ferre pedem, accessusque, abitusque, notasse ferarum 

 Admonet, et, si forte loci spes prima fefellit, 

 (Rarum opus) incubuit spatiis ad prospera versis, 

 Intacto repetens prima ad vestigia gyro. 



We here see the limier's style of harbouring portrayed to the life 



— falling on the trail — coining 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 



L. VIII. c. XL. persequitur, comitantera ad feram inquisitorem loro trahens : qu-A 



vis^ quam silens et occulta, quara significans demonstratio est !" But 



of all descriptions in the range of classical literature the most exqui- 



sitively beautiful is Elian's — no painter can surpass this graphic 



^ hunting-piece : — TrporiyeiTat rov KvvtfyeTOV (6 kvuv 6 dripariKos) ifxavn 



Aniraalium fxaKpw irpoarifx^evos, Koi pivrfKarei, Trjs fu)vrjs e'xwv eyKpaTws (cat (Titjirwv, 



. VIII. c. I. ^^ ^^ ^^ rpj^g 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 pajan 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 contra, martemque odere 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 ; 



Hist. Nat. 



