Natural Hiflory of the Ancients. 49 



beaft brought out of barbarous borders, fro' the 

 uttermoft countryes Northward, etc., we ftare at, 

 we gafe at, we mufe, we marvaile at, like an affe 

 of Cumanum, like Thales with the brafen fhancks, 

 like the man in the Moone." And fo we heartily 

 bid farewell to Dr. Caius and his amufing tractate, 

 {ruffed full (" farfed " he would term it) of quaint 

 fentiments and recondite allufions. It is a book 

 which will delight all dog-lovers, independently 

 of its value in continuing the hiftory of their 

 favourite animal from claflical times. Perhaps it 

 is worth adding that he repeats the old receipt for 

 quieting a fierce dog which attacks a paffer-by, 

 viz., to fit down on the ground and fearleflly 

 await his approach. Whether anyone has ever 

 tried to put it in practice in real life we know 

 not, nor have we ever cared to effay its virtues ; 

 but Ulyffes certainly knew its value, and tried it 

 to fome purpofe (fee Plin., " Nat. Hift.," viii. 40 ; 

 and "Odyffey," xiv. 31). 



Chaucer, like Shakefpeare, feems to have had 

 no great affection for dogs, but has not forgotten 

 them in his portrait of the Priorefs, Madam 

 Eglantine. Her humanity and tendernefs had to 

 be defcribed, and her love for her dogs gave the 

 needful opportunity. 



" Of fmale houndes hadde fhe, that fhe fedde, 

 With rofted flefh, and milk, and waftel brede, 

 But fore wept flie if on of hem were dede, 

 Or if men fmote it with a yerde fmert, 

 And all was confcience and tendre herte." (Prologue.} 



In the ftory of " The Pardonere and Tapftere," 

 another kind of dog is defcribed : 



E 



