Note 206 — ARRIAN ON COURSING.
William Dansey translation
He recommends a later period for entering dog-puppies; see the next Chapter. Nemesian makes no distinction between the dog and bitch on this point:
Nemesian. Cyneget. vs. 186.
Jam cum bis denos Phœbe reparaverit ortus, Incipe non longo catulos producere cursu; Sed parvæ vallis spatio, septove novali. His leporem præmitte manu, non viribus æquis, Nec cursus virtute parem; sed tarda trahentem Membra; queant jam nunc faciles ut sumere prædas. Nec semel indulge catulis moderamine cursus; Sed donec validos etiam prævertere suescant, Exerceto diu, venandi munere cogens Discere, et emeritæ laudem virtutis amare. Necnon consuetæ norint hortamina vocis, Seu cursus revocent, jubeant seu tendere cursus, Quinetiam docti victam contingere prædam, Exanimare velint tantùm, non carpere sumptam.
Less diffuse than the Carthaginian poet, the Veronese physician enters his “catulus venaticus” in the following lines of his Alcon, without specifying his age:
Fracastorii Alcon.
Illi igitur plenis ubi nondum viribus ætas Accessit, parvum cursu conscendere collem Et molli assuescant sese demittere clivo. Hinc tenerum leporem, vel crura infirma trahentem Sectari capream, et facilem præcurrere campum Incipiat, verbisque viri parere morantis.