CYNEGETICA, I. 330-357 



in his mother's womb. O what" a heart, what a 

 mind have mortal men ! They do as they Hst ; they 

 make horses of varied colours while yet enveloped 

 in the milky mother's loins. What time the mating 

 impulse seizes the mare and she abides the approach 

 of the glorious high-spirited horse, then they cun- 

 ningly adorn the beautiful sire. All about they 

 inscribe all his body with spots of colour and to his 

 bride they lead him, glorying in his beauty. Even 

 as some youth, arrayed by the bridal women in white 

 robes and purple flowers and breathing of the per- 

 fume of Palestine,'' steps into the bridal chamber 

 singing the marriage song, so while the hasting 

 horse neighs his bridal song, long time in front of 

 his bride they stay her glorious spouse, foaming in 

 his eagerness ; and late and at last they let him go 

 to satisfy his desire. And the mare conceives and 

 bears a many-patterned foal, having received in her 

 womb the fertile seed of her spouse, but in her eyes 

 his many-coloured form. Such devices have they 

 also \\ith cunning wits contrived whose business is 

 with the reed, even the fowlers, when they variegate 

 the young of doves. For when the swift doves 

 mate and mingle mouths '^ with their deep-noted 

 spouses, then the breeder of tame birds contrives a 

 glorious de\-ice. Near the hen-birds he puts many 

 vari-coloured purple cloths ; and they, beholding 

 them with eyes askant are gladdened in their hearts 

 and produce sea-purple children. Nay, even so also 



by way of Palestine and Syria (Diod. iii. 41) and are 

 generallv called indifferently Svrian (Propert. iii. 5. 14; 

 TibuU. in. 4. 28, iii. 6. 63 ; Hor. C. ii. 7. 8 : Catull. vi. 8) or 

 Assyrian (Hor. C. ii. 11. 16; Catull. bcviii. 143; Verg. E. 

 iv. 2c, ; Tibull. i. 3. 7, iii. 2. 23). 

 * A. 560 b 26. 



37 



