10 ORIGIN OF THE DOG. 



any existing literature, and mentioned in Homers Odesy Lib. ii. 

 622. His name composed of two Hellenic words Kpeas ftopos 

 (greedy of flesh) shows the well known nature of the dog, also 

 the best manner to stop the barking of the watch dog, either 

 of Plutos gloomy realms, or the terrestrial globe. 



No doubt poor blind old Homer, as he wandered through 

 the seven Greek cities, was often, like the modern mendicant, 

 annoyed by the chained watch dog of the wealthy. The fact 

 that Hercules is stated to have dragged Cerberus by his 

 chain from hell to earth, proves uncontestably that it was 

 customary to chain large watch dogs to prevent both ingress 

 and egress, more than 907 years B.C., the date Homer flour- 

 ished according to the Arundelian marbles. 



Cerberus being represented with three heads, has been 

 explained as typifying the past, the present, and the future. 

 The monstrous Cerberus with head large enough for three, 

 His mane bristling, like iifty or a hundred snakes ; 

 With his broad yawning mouth, and * black ears hanging down, 

 Sits guarding his master's portals. 

 Mastiff like keeper, preventing ingress and egress, 

 The work of a Hercules to drag him from his chained post, 

 Or an Orphesian task to lull him to somnolence ; 

 Those compelled to visit his gloomy realms 

 Should provide themselves with cakes, to still his barkiug'jaws. 



If we admit the fact of the universal deluge, attested by the 

 annals of Assyrian history, as well as sacred writ, we see 

 from the ancient sculptures that have been found, that many 

 of our established breeds, were in existence within compara- 

 tively very few centuries of the flood itself, and these breeds 

 have remained unchanged and unchanging in typical peculi- 

 arities or characteristics ever since. Of the existence of several 



* The black ears of Cerberus are mentioned by Horace Lib. ii. ode xiii. 

 There was formerly a line old painting of the dog Cerberus with Pluto, at 

 Harden Hall, Cheshire, formerly the residence of the Arden family. 



