按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
32
… Page 33…
The Sportsman
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
33
… Page 34…
The Sportsman
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 scent； he cannot see themstill as he tears along he can
interrogate the passer…by： 〃Hilloa there； have you seen my hounds？〃 he
shouts； and having at length ascertained their whereabouts； if they are on
the line； he will post himself close by； and cheer them on； repeating turn
and turn about the name of every hound； and pitching the tone of his voice
sharp or deep； soft or loud； and besides all other familiar calls； if the chase
be on a hillside；＇32＇ he can keep up their spirits with a constant 〃Well
done； good hounds！ well done； good hounds！ good hounds！〃 Or if any are
34
… Page 35…
The Sportsman
at fault； having overshot the line； he will call to them； 〃Back； hounds！ back；
will you！ try back！〃
＇32＇ Or； 〃if the chase sweeps over a mountain…side。〃
As soon as the hounds have got back to （where they missed） the
line；＇33＇ he must cast them round； making many a circle to and fro； and
where the line fails； he should plant a stake＇34＇ as a sign…post to guide the
eye； and so cast round the dogs from that point；＇35＇ till they have found
the right scent； with coaxing and encouragement。 As soon as the line of
scent is clear；＇36＇ off go the dogs； throwing themselves on to it； springing
from side to side； swarming together； conjecturing； and giving signs to one
another； and taking bearings＇37＇ they will not mistakehelter…skelter off
they go in pursuit。 Once they dart off along the line of scent thus hotly； the
huntsman should keep up but without hurrying； or out of zeal they will
overshoot the line。 As soon as they are once more in close neighbourhood
of the hare； and once again have given their master clear indications of the
fact； then let him give what heed he can； she does not move off farther in
sheer terror of the hounds。
＇33＇ ｛prosstosi｝； al。 〃whenever they check。〃
＇34＇ Al。 （1） 〃take a stake or one of the poles as a sign…post；〃 （2）
〃draw a line on the ground。〃
＇35＇ ｛suneirein｝。 Zeune cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 VII。 v。 6； 〃draw the dogs along
by the nets。〃 Blane。
＇36＇ 〃As the scent grows warmer；〃 the translator in 〃Macmillan's
Mag。〃 above referred to。 Aristot。 〃H。 A。〃 ix。 44。 4。
＇37＇ Lit。 〃fixing landmarks for themselves。〃
They meanwhile； with sterns wagging； tumbling and leaping over one
another's backs；＇38＇ at intervals loudly giving tongue； and lifting up their
heads and peering into their master's face； as much as to say； 〃There is no
mistake about it this time；〃＇39＇ will presently of themselves start the hare
and be after her full cry； with bark and clamour。＇40＇ Thereupon； whether
the hare falls into the toils of the funnel net or rushes pa