18 



CASSELL'S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY. 



It may be questioned if, amidst all the trials of Ulysses, he had often met with one that tasked him 

 more than this, when he dared not, lest he should too soon disclose his real character, tell his faithful 

 and loving dog that lie, too, was remembered. 



' Bred by Ulysses, nourished at his board, 

 But, ah ! not fated long to please his lord ; 

 To him his swiftness and his strength were vain 

 The voice of glory call'd him o'er the main ; 



Till then in every sylvan chase renowned, 

 With ' Argus ! Argus ! ' rung the woods around : 

 With him the youth pursued the goat or fawn, 

 Or traced the mazy leveret o'er the lawn." 



But the kindly gaze, if not the affectionate tones, of Ulysses, were enough for Argus : 



' He knew his lord he knew, and strove to meet ; 

 In vain he strove to crawl and kiss his feet ; 

 Yet, all he could, his tail, his ears, his eyes, 

 Salute his master, and confess his joys. 

 Soft pity touch'd the mighty master's soul ; 



Adown his cheek a tear unbidden stole. 

 The dog, whom Fate had granted to behold 

 His lord, when twenty tedious years had roll'd, 

 Takes a last look, and, having seen him, dies ! 

 So closed for ever faithful Argus' eyes." 



This description recalls another, falling short of it in simplicity, but still very beautiful, in 

 reference to the dog of Roderick, the last of the Goths. He, too, like Argus, had a disguised master ; 



he, too, listened doubtfully to a voice which fell on his ears with a familiar, though long unwonted 

 tone ; he, as he lay, 



lt Eyeing him long 



And wistfully, had recognised at length, 

 Changed as he was, and in those sordid weeds, 

 His royal master. 

 * * And he rose and licked 



His withered hand, and earnestly looked up 

 With eyes whose human meaning did not need 

 The aid of speech ; and moaned as if at once 

 To court and chide the long-withheld caress." 



The picture, even now, is not complete. We see Roderick, as he returns from "that most painful 

 interview," unrecognised alike by the mother that bore him and the maid who trusted him known only 

 to, followed only by a dog ! " yielding way to his overburthened nature," flinging his arms around his 

 mute companion, and bursting forth into that touching ciy of blended agony and affection 



" Thou, Theron, thou hast known 

 Thy poor lost master ! Therou, none but thou ! " 



The younger Xenophon pictures a noble creature : " I have myself bred up a swift, hard- 

 working, courageous, sound-footed dog. He is most gentle and kindly affectioned ; and never before 

 had I any such dog for myself, or niy friend, or my fellow-sportsman. When he is not actually 



