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should stretch the hayes on level ground and fix; etc。; The road nets
should be planted 。 。 。 etc。〃
'14' Al。 〃at convenient points or where paths converge。〃 See Schneid。
s。v。 {sumpheronta}。
'15' {sardonion}; Pollux; v。 31。 Al。 〃fixing the stakes between the
edges。〃
Then he will play sentinel and go his rounds; if a prop or funnel wants
supporting; he will set it up; and when the hare comes with the hounds
behind her he will urge her forwards to the toils; with shout and halloa
thundering at her heels。 When she is fairly entangled; he is to calm the
fury of the hounds; without touching them; by soothing; encouraging tones。
He is also to signal to the huntsman with a shout; that the quarry is taken;
or has escaped this side or that; or that he has not seen it; or where he last
caught sight of it。'16'
'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 before
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the 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 jostletails waving fast; ears dropt; and eyes flashing。
'23' 〃Discovering two or three scents; as the case may be〃;
〃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 signsthe 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 the
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race 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。
He must shout then to the keeper; 〃Mark her; boy; mark her! hey; lad!
hey; lad!〃 and the latter will make known whether the hare is caught or not。
Supposing the hare to be caught in her first ring; the huntsman has only to
call in the hounds and beat up another。 If not; his business is to follow up
the pack full speed; and not give in; but on through thick and through thin;
for toil is sweet。 And if again they chance upon her in the chevy;'31' his
cheery shout will be heard once more; 〃Right so! right so; hounds!
forward on; good hounds!〃
'31' {apantosi diokousai auton}; al。 〃come across the huntsman
again。〃
But if the pack have got too long a start of him; and he cannot overtake
them; however eagerly he follows up the huntperhaps he has altogether
missed the chase; or even if they are ranging close and giving tongue and
sticking to the scen