1. The trappings of hounds are collars, leashes, and surcingles. The collars should be soft and broad, so as not to chafe the hounds’ coat. The leashes should have a noose for the hand, and nothing else; for if the collar is made in one piece with the leash, perfect control of the hounds is impossible. The straps of the surcingles should be broad, so as not to rub the flanks, and they should have little spurs sewed on to them, to keep the breed pure.
1. κυνῶν δὲ κόσμος δέραια, ἱμάντες, στελμονίαι· ἔστω δὲ τὰ μὲν δέραια μαλακά, πλατέα, ἵνα μὴ θραύῃ τὰς τρίχας τῶν κυνῶν, οἱ δὲ ἱμάντες ἔχοντες ἀγκύλας τῇ χειρί, ἄλλο δὲ μηδέν· οὐ γὰρ καλῶς τηροῦσι τὰς κύνας οἱ ἐξ αὐτῶν εἰργασμένοι τὰ δέραια· αἱ δὲ στελμονίαι πλατεῖς τοὺς ἱμάντας, ἵνα μὴ τρίβωσι τὰς λαγόνας αὐτῶν· ἐγκατερραμμέναι δὲ ἐγκεντρίδες, ἵνα τὰ γένη φυλάττωσιν.
2. Hounds should not be taken out hunting when off their feed, since this is a proof that they are ailing; nor when a strong wind is blowing, since it scatters the scent and they cannot smell, and the purse-nets will not stand in position, nor the hayes.
2. ἐξάγειν δʼ αὐτὰς οὐ χρὴ ἐπὶ τὰ κυνηγέσια, ὅταν μὴ τὰ προσφερόμενα δέχωνται ἡδέως (τεκμήριον δὲ τοῦτο ὅτι οὐκ ἔρρωνται) μηδὲ ὅταν ἄνεμος πνέῃ μέγας· διαρπάζει γὰρ τὰ ἴχνη καὶ οὐ δύνανται ὀσφραίνεσθαι οὐδὲ αἱ ἄρκυς ἑστάναι οὐδὲ τὰ δίκτυα.
3. But when neither of these hindrances prevents, have the hounds out every other day. Do not let them take to pursuing foxes; for it is utter ruin, and they are never at hand when wanted.
3. ὅταν δὲ τούτων μηδέτερον κωλύῃ, ἄγειν διὰ τρίτης ἡμέρας. τὰς δὲ ἀλώπεκας μὴ ἐθίζειν τὰς κύνας διώκειν· διαφθορὰ γὰρ μεγίστη καὶ ἐν τῷ δέοντι οὔποτε πάρεισιν.
4. Vary the hunting-ground frequently, so that the hounds may be familiar with the hunting-grounds and the master with the country. Start early, and so give the hounds a fair chance of following the scent. A late start robs the hounds of the find and the hunters of the prize; for the scent is by its nature too thin to last all day.
4. εἰς δὲ τὰ κυνηγέσια μεταβάλλοντα ἄγειν, ἵνα ὦσιν ἔμπειροι τῶν κυνηγεσίων, αὐτὸς δὲ τῆς χώρας. ἐξιέναι δὲ πρῴ, ἵνα τῆς ἰχνεύσεως μὴ ἀποστερῶνται, ὡς οἱ ὀψιζόμενοι ἀφαιροῦνται τὰς μὲν κύνας τοῦ εὑρεῖν τὸν λαγῶ, αὑτοὺς δὲ τῆς ὠφελείας· οὐ γὰρ ἐπιμένει τοῦ ἴχνους ἡ φύσις λεπτὴ οὖσα πᾶσαν ὥραν.
5. Let the net-keeper wear light clothing when he goes hunting. Let him set up the purse-nets in winding, rough, steep, narrow, shady paths, brooks, ravines, running watercourses (these are the places in which the hare is most apt to take refuge: a list of all the others would be endless), leaving unobstructed and narrow passages to and through these places, just about daybreak, and not too early, so that in case the line of nets be near the growth to be searched, the hare may not be frightened by hearing the noise close by (if the distance is considerable, it matters less if the work is done early), seeing that the nets stand clear so that nothing may cling to them.
5. τὴν δὲ στολὴν ὁ ἀρκυωρὸς ἐξίτω ἔχων ἐπὶ θήραν μὴ ἔχουσαν βάρος. τὰς δὲ ἄρκυς ἱστάτω εἰς ἄγκη, δρυμῶνας τραχείας, σιμάς, λαγαράς, σκοτεινάς, ῥοῦς, χαράδρας, χειμάρρους ἀενάους· εἰς ταῦτα γὰρ μάλιστα φεύγει· ⟨εἰς⟩ ὅσα δὲ ἄλλα [εἰς] ἄπειρον εἰπεῖν· τούτων δὲ παρόδους, διόδους, καταφανεῖς, λεπτὰς ⟨καταλιπών⟩, εἰς ὄρθρον καὶ μὴ πρῴ, ἵνα ἐὰν ᾖ πλησίον τὸ ἀρκυστάσιον τῶν ζητησίμων, μὴ φοβῆται ἀκούων ὁμοῦ τὸν ψόφον (ἐὰν δὲ ᾖ ἀπʼ ἀλλήλων πολύ, ἧττον κωλύει πρῴ), καθαρὰς ποιούμενος τὰς ἀρκυστασίας, ἵνα [δʼ] αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἀντέχεται.
7. He must fix the stakes asland, so that when pulled they may stand the strain. On the tops of them let him put an equal number of meshes, and set the props uniformly, raising the purse towards the centre.
7. πηγνύειν ⟨δὲ⟩ τὰς σχαλίδας ὑπτίας, ὅπως ἂν ἐπαγόμεναι ἔχωσι τὸ σύντονον· ἐπὶ δὲ ἄκρας ἴσους τοὺς βρόχους ἐπιβαλλέτω καὶ ὁμοίως ἀντερειδέτω, ἐπαίρων εἰς μέσον τὸν κεκρύφαλον.
8. To the cord let him attach a long, big stone, so that the net may not pull away when the hare is inside. Let him make his line long and high, so that the hare may not jump over. When it comes to tracking the hare, he must not be too zealous. To do everything possible to effect a quick capture shows perseverance, but is not hunting.
8. εἰς δὲ τὸν περίδρομον ἐναπτέτω λίθον μακρὸν καὶ μέγαν, ἵνα ἡ ἄρκυς, ὅταν ἔχῃ τὸν λαγῶ, μὴ ἀντιτείνῃ. στοιχιζέτω δὲ μακρά, ὑψηλά, ὅπως ἂν μὴ ὑπερπηδᾷ. ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἰχνείαις μὴ ὑπερβάλλεσθαι· ἔστι γὰρ θηρατικὸν μὲν οὔ, φιλόπονον δὲ τὸ ἐκ παντὸς τρόπου ἑλεῖν ταχύ.
9. Let him stretch the hayes on level ground and put the road-nets in roads and from game tracks into the adjacent ground, fastening down the (lower) cords to the ground, joining the elbows, fixing the stakes between the selvedges, putting the ends on the top of the stakes and stopping the byways.
9. τὰ δὲ δίκτυα τεινέτω ἐν ἀπέδοις, ἐμβαλλέτω δὲ τὰ ἐνόδια εἰς τὰς ὁδούς, καὶ ἐκ τῶν τριμμῶν εἰς τὰ συμφέροντα, καθάπτων τοὺς περιδρόμους ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, τὰ ἀκρωλένια συνάγων, πηγνύων τὰς σχαλίδας μεταξὺ τῶν σαρδόνων, ἐπὶ ἄκρας ἐπιβάλλων τοὺς ἐπιδρόμους καὶ τὰ παράδρομα συμφράττων.
10. Let him mount guard, going round the nets. If a purse-net is pulling its stake out of line, let him put it up. When the hare is being chased into the purse-nets he must run forward and shout as he runs after her. When she is in, he must calm the excitement of the hounds, soothing without touching them. He must also shout to the huntsman and let him know that the hare is caught, or that she has run past on this or that side, or that he has not seen her, or where he caught sight of her.
10. φυλαττέτω δὲ ἐκπεριών· ἐὰν δὲ ἐκκλίνῃ τὸν στοῖχον ἡ ἄρκυς, ἀνιστάτω. διωκομένου δὲ τοῦ λαγῶ εἰς τὰς ἄρκυς εἰς τὸ πρόσθεν προθείτω, καὶ ἐπιθέων μὲν ἐμβοάτω· ἐμπεπτωκότος δὲ τὴν ὀργὴν τῶν κυνῶν παυέτω, μὴ ἁπτόμενος ἀλλὰ παραμυθούμενος· καὶ δηλούτω τῷ κυνηγέτῃ, ὅτι ἑάλωκεν ἀναβοήσας ἢ ὅτι παραδεδράμηκε παρὰ τάδε ἢ τάδε ἢ ὅτι οὐχ ἑώρακε.
11. Let the huntsman go out to the hunting ground in a simple light dress and shoes, carrying a cudgel in his hand, and let the net-keeper follow. Let them keep silence while approaching the ground, so that, in case the hare is near, she may not move off on hearing voices.
11. τὸν δὲ κυνηγέτην ἐξιέναι ἔχοντα ἠμελημένην ἐλαφρὰν ἐσθῆτα ἐπὶ τὸ κυνηγέσιον καὶ ὑπόδεσιν, ἐν δὲ τῇ χειρὶ ῥόπαλον, τὸν δὲ ἀρκυωρὸν ἕπεσθαι· πρὸς δὲ τὸ κυνηγέσιον σιγῇ προσιέναι, ἵνα μὴ ὁ λαγῶς, ἐάν που ᾖ πλησίον, ὑποκινῇ ἀκούων τῆς φωνῆς.
12. Having tied the hounds separately to the trees so that they can easily be slipped, let him set up the purse-nets and hayes in the manner described. After this let the net-keeper keep guard, and let the huntsman take the hounds and go to the place in the hunting ground where the hare may be lurking; and after registering a vow to Apollo and Artemis the Huntress to give them a share of the spoil, let him loose one hound, the cleverest at following a track, at sunrise in winter, before dawn in summer, and some time between at other seasons.
12. δήσαντα δʼ ἐκ τῆς ὕλης τὰς κύνας ἑκάστην χωρίς, ὅπως ἂν εὔλυτοι ὦσιν, ἱστάναι τὰς ἄρκυς καὶ τὰ δίκτυα, ὡς εἴρηται. μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο τὸν μὲν ἀρκυωρὸν εἶναι ἐν φυλακῇ· αὐτὸν δὲ τὰς κύνας λαβόντα ἰέναι πρὸς τὴν ὑπαγωγὴν τοῦ κυνηγεσίου, καὶ εὐξάμενον τῷ Ἀπόλλωνι καὶ τῇ Ἀρτέμιδι τῇ Ἀγροτέρᾳ μεταδοῦναι τῆς θήρας λῦσαι μίαν κύνα, ἥτις ἂν ᾖ σοφωτάτη ἰχνεύειν, ἐὰν μὲν ᾖ χειμών, ἅμʼ ἡλίῳ ἀνίσχοντι, ἐὰν δὲ θέρος, πρὸ ἡμέρας, τὰς δὲ ἄλλας ὥρας μεταξὺ τούτου.
14. As soon as the hound picks up a line from the network of tracks that leads straight ahead, let him slip another. If the track goes on, let him set the others going one by one at short intervals, and follow without pressing them, accosting each by name, but not often, that they may not get excited too soon.
14. ἐπειδὰν δὲ ἡ κύων λάβῃ τὸ ἴχνος ὀρθὸν ἐκ τῶν ἐπηλλαγμένων, παραλῦσαι καὶ ἑτέραν· περαινομένου δὲ τοῦ ἴχνους διαλιπόντα μὴ πολὺ καὶ τὰς ἄλλας ἀφιέναι κατὰ μίαν, καὶ ἕπεσθαι μὴ ἐγκείμενον, ὀνομαστὶ ἑκάστην προσαγορεύοντα, μὴ πολλά, ἵνα μὴ παροξύνωνται πρὸ τοῦ καιροῦ.
15. They will go forward full of joy and ardour, disentangling the various tracks, double or triple—springing forward now beside, now across the same ones—tracks interlaced or circular, straight or crooked, close or scattered, clear or obscure, running past one another with tails wagging, ears dropped and eyes flashing.
15. αἱ δʼ ὑπὸ χαρᾶς καὶ μένους προΐασιν ἐξίλλουσαι τὰ ἴχνη, ὡς πέφυκε, διπλᾶ, τριπλᾶ, προφορούμεναι παρὰ τὰ αὐτά, διὰ τῶν αὐτῶν, ἐπηλλαγμένα, περιφερῆ, ὀρθά, καμπύλα, πυκνά, μανά, γνώριμα, ἄγνωστα, ἑαυτὰς παραθέουσαι, ταχὺ τὰς οὐρὰς διασείουσαι, καὶ ἐπικλίνουσαι τὰ ὦτα καὶ ἀστράπτουσαι τοῖς ὄμμασιν.
16. As soon as they are near the hare they will let the huntsman know by the quivering of the whole body as well as the tail, by making fierce rushes, by racing past one another, by scampering along together persistently, massing quickly, breaking up and again rushing forward. At length they will reach the hare’s form and will go for her.
16. ἐπειδὰν δὲ περὶ τὸν λαγῶ ὦσι, δῆλον ποιήσουσι τῷ κυνηγέτῃ σὺν ταῖς οὐραῖς τὰ σώματα ὅλα συνεπικραδαίνουσαι, πολεμικῶς ἐπιφερόμεναι, φιλονίκως παραθέουσαι, συντρέχουσαι φιλοπόνως, συνιστάμεναι ταχύ, διιστάμεναι, πάλιν ἐπιφερόμεναι· τελευτῶσαι δὲ ἀφίξονται πρὸς τὴν εὐνὴν τοῦ λαγῶ, καὶ ἐπιδραμοῦνται ἐπʼ αὐτόν.
17. She will start up suddenly, and will leave the hounds barking and baying behind her as she makes off. Let the huntsman shout at her as she runs, “Now, hounds, now! Well done! Bravo, hounds! Well done, hounds!” Wrapping his cloak round his arm and seizing his cudgel he must follow up behind the hare and not try to head her off, since that is useless.
17. ὁ δʼ ἐξαίφνης ἀνᾴξας [ἐφʼ αὑτὸν] ὑλαγμὸν ποιήσει τῶν κυνῶν καὶ κλαγγὴν φεύγων. ἐμβοάτω δὲ αὐτῷ διωκομένῳ Ἰὼ κύνες, ἰώ, καλῶς, σοφῶς γε ὦ κύνες. καὶ κυνοδρομεῖν περιελίξαντα ὃ ἀμπέχεται περὶ τὴν χεῖρα καὶ τὸ ῥόπαλον ἀναλαβόντα κατὰ τὸν λαγῶ, καὶ μὴ ὑπαντᾶν·
18. The hare, making off, though out of sight, generally doubles back to the place where she is found. Let him call out to the man, “Hit her, boy; hit her, hit her!” and the man must let him know whether she is caught or not. If she is caught in the first run, let him call in the hounds and look for another. But if not, he must follow up at top speed and not let her go, but stick to it persistently.
18. ἄπορον γάρ. ὁ δὲ ὑποχωρῶν ταχὺ ἐκλείπων τὴν ὄψιν πάλιν περιβάλλει ὅθεν εὑρίσκεται ἐπὶ τὸ πολύ. ἀναβοᾶν δʼ ἐκεῖνον μὲν αὐτῷ Παισάτω παῖς· παῖ δή, παῖ δή. ὁ δέ, ἐάν τε ἑαλωκὼς ᾖ ἐάν τε μή, δηλούτω.
19. If the hounds come on her again in the pursuit, let him cry, “Good, good, hounds; after her, hounds!” If they have got so far ahead of him that he cannot overtake them by following up and is quite out of the running, or if he cannot see them though they are moving about somewhere near or sticking to the tracks, let him find out by shouting as he runs past to anyone near, “Hullo! have you seen the hounds?”
19. καὶ ἐὰν μὲν ἑαλωκὼς ᾖ ἐν τῷ πρώτῳ δρόμῳ, ἀνακαλεσάμενον τὰς κύνας ζητεῖν ἄλλον· ἐὰν δὲ μή, κυνοδρομεῖν ὡς τάχιστα καὶ μὴ ἀνιέναι, ἀλλʼ ἐκπερᾶν φιλοπόνως. καὶ ἐὰν πάλιν ἀπαντῶσι διώκουσαι αὐτόν, ἀναβοᾶν Εὖ γε, εὖ γε ὦ κύνες, ἕπεσθε ὦ κύνες· ἐὰν δὲ πολὺ προειληφυῖαι ὦσι καὶ μὴ οἷός τʼ ᾖ κυνοδρομῶν ἐπιγίγνεσθαι αὐταῖς, ἀλλὰ διημαρτηκὼς ᾖ τῶν δρόμων, ἢ καὶ πλησίον που φοιτώσας ἢ ἐπιστάσας ἢ ἐχομένας τῶν ἰχνῶν μὴ δύνηται ἰδεῖν, πυνθάνεσθαι παραθέοντα ἅμα ὅτῳ ἂν προσπελάζῃ ἀναβοῶντα Ἦ κατεῖδες ὠὴ τὰς κύνας;
20. As soon as he has found out, let him stand near if they are on the track, and cheer them on, running through the hounds’ names, using all the variations of tone he can produce, pitching his voice high and low, soft and loud. Amongst other calls, if the chase is in the mountains, let him sing out, “Oho, hounds, oho!” If they are not clinging to the track, but are over-running, let him call them in with, “Back, hounds, back with you!”
20. ἐπειδὰν δὲ πύθηται ἤδη, ἐὰν μὲν ἐν τῷ ἴχνει ὦσι, προσστάντα ἐγκελεύειν, τοὔνομα μεταβάλλοντα ἑκάστης τῆς κυνός, ὁποσαχῇ οἷόν τʼ ἂν ᾖ τοὺς τόνους τῆς φωνῆς ποιούμενον, ὀξύ, βαρύ, μικρόν, μέγα· πρὸς δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοις κελεύσμασιν, ἐὰν ὦσιν ἐν ὄρει αἱ μεταδρομαί, ἐπικελεύειν τόδε, Εὖα κύνες, εὖʼ ὦ κύνες. ἐὰν δὲ μὴ πρὸς αὐτοῖς ὦσι τοῖς ἴχνεσιν, ἀλλʼ ὑπερβάλλωσι, καλεῖν αὐτάς, οὐ πάλιν, οὐ πάλιν ὦ κύνες;
21. As soon as they are close on the tracks, let him cast them round, making many circles, and wherever they find the track dim, let him stick a pole in the ground as a mark, and beginning from this mark keep them together until they clearly recognise the track, encouraging and coaxing them.
21. ἐπειδὰν δὲ προσσχῶσι τοῖς ἴχνεσι, περιάγειν αὐτὰς κύκλους πολλοὺς ποιούμενον· ὅπου δʼ ἂν ᾖ αὐταῖς ἀμαυρὸν τὸ ἴχνος, σημεῖον θέσθαι στοῖχον ἑαυτῷ, καὶ ἀπὸ τούτου συνείρειν μέχρι ἂν σαφῶς γνωρίσωσιν ἐγκελεύοντα καὶ θωπεύοντα.
22. As soon as the track is clear they will be off in hot pursuit, hurling themselves on it, jumping beside it, working together, guessing, signalling to one another and setting bounds for one another that they can recognise. When they are thus scurrying in a bunch along the track, let him follow up without pressing them, or they may over-run the line through excess of zeal.
22. αἱ δʼ ἐπειδὰν λαμπρὰ ᾖ τὰ ἴχνη ἐπιρριπτοῦσαι, παραπηδῶσαι, κοινωνοῦσαι, ὑπολαμβάνουσαι, ἐνσημαινόμεναι, ὅρους τιθέμεναι ἑαυταῖς γνωρίμους ταχὺ μεταθεύσονται· ὅταν δὲ οὕτω διὰ τοῦ ἴχνους πυκνῶς διᾴττωσι, μὴ κατέχοντα κυνοδρομεῖν, ἵνα μὴ ὑπὸ φιλοτιμίας ὑπερβάλλωσι τὰ ἴχνη.
23. As soon as they are near the hare and give the huntsman clear evidence of the fact, let him take care, or in her terror of the hounds she will slip away and be off. The hounds, wagging their tails, colliding and frequently jumping over one another, and baying loudly, with heads uplifted and glances at the huntsman, showing him plainly that they have the real thing now, will rouse the hare for themselves and go for her, giving tongue.
23. ἐπειδὰν δὲ περὶ τὸν λαγῶ ὦσι καὶ τοῦτο ἐπιδεικνύωνται σαφῶς τῷ κυνηγέτῃ, προσέχειν, ὅπως ἂν μὴ ὑποκινῇ εἰς τὸ πρόσθεν πεφοβημένος τὰς κύνας· αἱ δὲ διαρριπτοῦσαι τὰς οὐρὰς καὶ ἑαυταῖς ἐμπίπτουσαι καὶ πολλὰ ὑπερπηδῶσαι καὶ ἐπανακλαγγάνουσαι, ἐπαναίρουσαι τὰς κεφαλάς, εἰσβλέπουσαι εἰς τὸν κυνηγέτην, ἐπιγνωρίζουσαι ἀληθῆ ἤδη εἶναι ταῦτα, ὑφʼ αὑτῶν ἀναστήσουσι τὸν λαγῶ καὶ ἐπίασι κεκλαγγυῖαι.
24. If she plunges into the purse-nets or bolts past them on the inside or outside, the net-keeper must in each event make it known by shouting. If she is caught, look for another; if not, continue the pursuit, using the same methods of encouragement.
24. ἐὰν δὲ εἰς τὰς ἄρκυς ἐμπίπτῃ ἢ ἐντὸς ἢ ἔξω παρενεχθῇ, καθʼ ἓν ἕκαστον τούτων ὁ ἀρκυωρὸς γεγωνείτω. καὶ ἐὰν μὲν ᾖ ἑαλωκώς, ἕτερον ἐπιζητεῖν· ἐὰν δὲ μή, μεταθεῖν χρώμενον τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐγκελεύσμασιν.
25. As soon as the hounds are getting tired of pursuing and the day is far advanced, it is time for the huntsman to search for the hare, worn out as she is, passing over nothing growing or lying on the ground, retracing his steps continually for fear of an oversight—since the animal rests in a small space and is too tired and frightened to get up,—bringing the hounds along, encouraging and exhorting the gentle frequently, the wilful sparingly, the average sort in moderation, until he kills her in a fair run or drives her into the purse-nets.
25. ἐπειδὰν δὲ μεταθέουσαι αἱ κύνες ἤδη ὑπόκοποι ὦσι καὶ ᾖ ὀψὲ ἤδη τῆς ἡμέρας, τότε δεῖ τὸν κυνηγέτην τὸν λαγῶ ἀπειρηκότα ζητεῖν, μὴ παραλείποντα μηδὲν ὧν ἡ γῆ ἀνίησιν ἢ ἔχει ἐφʼ αὑτῆς, τὰς ἀναστροφὰς ποιούμενον πυκνάς, ὅπως ἂν μὴ παραλειφθῇ (κατακλίνεται γὰρ ἐν μικρῷ τὸ θηρίον καὶ οὐκ ἀνίσταται ὑπὸ κόπου καὶ φόβου), τὰς κύνας ἐπαγόμενον, ἐγκελεύοντα, παραμυθούμενον τὴν φιλάνθρωπον πολλά, τὴν αὐθάδη ὀλίγα, τὴν μέσην μέτρια, ἕως ἂν ἢ ἀποκτείνῃ αὐτὸν κατὰ πόδας ἢ εἰς τὰς ἄρκυς ἐμβάλῃ.
26. After this take up the purse-nets and hayes, rub down the hounds and leave the hunting-ground, after waiting, if it be an afternoon in summer, in order that the hounds’ feet may not be overheated on the road.
26. μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἀνελόντα τὰς ἄρκυς καὶ τὰ δίκτυα, ἀνατρίψαντα τὰς κύνας ἀπιέναι ἐκ τοῦ κυνηγεσίου, ἐπιμείναντα, ἐὰν ᾖ θερινὴ μεσημβρία, ὅπως ἂν τῶν κυνῶν οἱ πόδες μὴ καίωνται ἐν τῇ πορείᾳ.