[16] Or, "'caught,' 'escaped,' (this side or that), 'not seen,' 'marked.'"The sportsman himself should sally forth in a loose, light hunting dress,[17] and footgear[18] to match; he should carry a stout stick in his hand, the net-keeper following. They should proceed to the hunting-field in silence, to prevent the hare, if by chance there should be one close by, from making off at the sound of voices. When they have reached the covert, he will tie the hounds to trees, each separately, so that they can be easily slipped from the leash, and proceed to fix the nets, funnel and hayes, as above described. When that is done, and while the net-keeper mounts guard, the master himself will take the hounds and sally forth to rouse the game.[19] Then with prayer and promise to Apollo and to Artemis, our Lady of the Chase,[20] to share with them the produce of spoil, he lets slip a single hound, the cunningest at scenting of the pack. [If it be winter, the hour will be sunrise, or if summer, before day-dawn, and in the other seasons at some hour midway.] As soon as the hound has unravelled the true line[21] he will let slip another; and then, if these carry on the line, at rapid intervals he will slip the others one by one; and himself follow, without too great hurry,[22] addressing each of the dogs by name every now and then, but not too frequently, for fear of over-exciting them beforethe proper moment.
[17] {emelemenen} = neglige, plain, unpretentious. [18] Pollux, v. 18.
[19] Al. "intent on the working of the pack."[20] "To thee thy share of this chase, Lord Apollo; and thine to thee, O Huntress Queen!"[21] Or, "carries a line straight away from the many that interlace." [22] Or, "without forcing the pace."Meanwhile the hounds are busily at work; onwards they press with eager spirit, disentangling the line, double or treble, as the case may be.[23] To and fro they weave a curious web,[24] now across, now parallel with the line,[25] whose threads are interlaced, here overlapped, and here revolving in a circle; now straight, now crooked; here close, there rare; at one time clear enough, at another dimly owned. Past one another the hounds jostle--tails waving fast, ears dropt, and eyes flashing.
[23]"Discoveringtwoorthreescents,asthecasemaybe"; "unravelling her line, be it single or double."[24] {prophoreisthai} = {diazesthai}, Pollux, vii. 52. Schneid. cf. Aristoph. "Birds," 4, {apoloumeth' allos ten odon prophoroumeno}.
Still up and down, old sinner, must we pace; 'Twill kill us both, this vain, long, wearing race (Kennedy).
[25] See Arrian, xx. 2.
But when they are really close to the hare they will make the matter plain to the huntsman by various signs--the quivering of their bodies backwards and forwards, sterns and all; the ardour meaning business; the rush and emulaton; the hurry-scurry to be first; the patient following-up of the whole pack; at one moment massed together, and at another separated; and once again the steady onward rush. At last they have reached the hare's form, and are in the act to spring upon her. But she on a sudden will start up and bring about her ears the barking clamour of the whole pack as she makes off full speed. Then as the chase grows hot, the view halloo! of the huntsman may be heard: "So ho, good hounds! that's she! cleverly now, good hounds! so ho, good hounds!"[26] And so, wrapping his cloak[27] about his left arm, and snatching up his club, he joins the hounds in therace after the hare, taking care not to get in their way,[28] which would stop proceedings.[29] The hare, once off, is quickly out of sight of her pursuers; but, as a rule, will make a circuit back to the place where she was found.[30]
[26] Reading {io kunes, io kunes, sophos ge o kunes, kalos ge o kunes}. Al. {io kunes, io kakos} = "To her, dogs! that won't do!" "Ho, ho, Hunde! Ho, ho, falsch! Recht so, Hunde! schon so, Hunde!" (Lenz).
[27] {o ampekhetai}, "the shawl or plaid which he carries on his shoulders." See Pollux, v. 10.
[28] "Not to head the chase." Sir Alex. Grant, "Xen." p. 167. [29] {aporon}, "which would be awkward" (see Arrian, xxv. 8). [30] "Where the nets are set," Sir A. Grant. See his comment, l.c.
