BOOK VII. HI. 24-26 



them to the Avater (and this must be done even in the 

 summer) and again drive them back to the pasture, 



Till sun-set, when chill evening cools the air 

 And Luna's dews the thirsty glades refresh.** 



But about the time when the Dogstar shows itself, 

 we must carefully observe the position of the sun in 

 summer, so that before mid-day the flock may be 

 driven facing the west and may advance in that 

 direction, but that after mid-day it may be driven 

 towards the east, since it is of great importance that 

 their heads, as they graze, should not face the sun, 

 which is generally harmful to animals at the rising of 

 the aforesaid constellation. In winter and spring 25 

 the sheep should be kept in their pens during the 

 morning hours until the sun removes the rime from 

 the fields, for grass with hoar-frost upon it causes 

 catarrh in cattle and loosens the bowels ; wherefore 

 also in cold and damp seasons of the year they must 

 be given the opportunity of drinking only once a day. 



He who follows the flock should be observant and 26 

 vigilant — a precept which applies to every guardian 

 of every kind of four-footed animal — and should be 

 gentle in his management of them and also keep 

 close to them, because they are silent,^ and when 

 driving them out or bringing them home, he should 

 threaten them by shouting or with his staff but never 

 cast any missile at them, nor should he withdraw too 

 far from them nor should he lie or sit down ; for 

 unless he is advancing he should stand upright, because 

 the duty of a guardian calls for a lofty and com- 



is scarcely better. A somewhat different line of thought is 

 contained in the emendation idemque pronior quam silena 

 suggested by Richter {Hermes LXXX, 213). 



255 



