54. 
The Animal-Lore of Shaksjpeare s Time. 
burthen, and as heavy a loade as] a horse can carry, for deCeipt and 
guile is the instrument wherby he make this spoyle, which pernicious 
properties supply the place of more commendable qualities.” ( Reprint , 
p.12.) 
Cains mentions also a light dog of the lurcher type, 
used for poaching, which will not bark “ least he shoulde 
bee prejudiciall to his owne advantage.” 
Spaniels were employed in falconry to rouse the 
herons, ducks, etc., from the reeds and marshy 
ground frequented by them. Spenser writes : 
“ Like as a fearfull partridge that is fledd 
From the sharpe hawke which her attacked neare, 
And falls to ground to seeke for succor theare, 
Whereas the hungry spaniells she does spye, 
With greedy jawes her ready for to teare.” 
(Faerie Queene, b. 3, c. 8, s. 33.) 
Shakspeare’s allusions to the spaniel, if taken liter¬ 
ally, seem to show that the affection which this dog so 
often displays was scarcely appreciated by the poet. 
Cdesar , when he rejects the suit of Metellus Cimber, warns 
him to avoid vain adulations:— 
“ I mean, sweet words, 
Low-crooked court’sies and base spaniel-fawning. 
Thy brother by decree is banished ; 
If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, 
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.” 
(Julius Ccesar, iii. 1, 42.) 
Launce , however, who was fond of dogs, says in praise of 
his mistress, “ She hath more qualities than a water- 
spaniel, which is much in a bare Christian” ( Two Gentle¬ 
men of Verona, iii. 1, 271). 
Caius declines to undertake the task of enumerating 
the many varieties of dogs used in fowling. He says 
they are called after the birds that they are trained to 
take. Some are called dogs for the falcon, dogs for the 
pheasant, and such like:— 
