Note 133 — ARRIAN ON COURSING.
William Dansey translation
Ancient sportsmen were accustomed to follow their field sports through the whole year; and often prolonged the chase till midnight. Hor. L. i. od. i.
Oppian. Cyneg. i. 112.
ποτὲ δ’ ἑσπερίου, ποτὲ αὖτε καὶ ὄρφνῃ θῆρας ὑπ’ ἀκτίνεσσι σεληναίης ἐδάμασσαν.
But the more humane of modern days have abridged this perpetuity of warfare with the animals of the field and forest by legislative enactment.
Nemesian alone, of all the cynegetical writers of Greece and Rome, enjoins us to commence coursing at the period usually adopted:
Cyneget. v. 321.
Hiemis sub tempus aquosæ Incipe veloces catulos immittere pratis, Incipe cornipedes latos agitare per agros.
Dame Juliana, seemingly careless of the “her-hounde’s” impatience of heat, held on till Midsummer;
Book of St. Albans.
At myghelmas begynneth huntynge of the haare: And lastyth tyll mydsomer there wyll no man it spare.
Natalis Comes allows us to sport during the whole spring, preferring that season for the reasons stated in the text—
De Venat. L. i.
Nam neque tunc horrent torpentia frigora brumæ, Nec nimio uruntur florentia prata calore.
but the prudent and humane courser will not slip his greyhound later than the month of February.