Arrian on Coursing is a prose treatise on hunting with hounds, known as the Cynegeticus, in the tradition of Xenophon. It discusses the breeding, training and handling of dogs, especially coursing hares, and reflects on hunting in classical antiquity. It is worth listening to for its practical detail and its glimpse of the ancient bond between hunter and hound.
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Cover of the original edition (Project Gutenberg, public domain).
Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
The Emperor Trajan with hunters and a Celtic greyhound: Medallion ARCH of CONSTANTINE. Arrian on Coursing. THE CYNEGETICUS. OF THE YOUNGER XENOPHON, TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK, WITH CLASSICAL AND PRACTICAL ANNOTATIONS, AND A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF THE AUTHOR. TO WHICH IS ADDED AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CANES VENATICI OF CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY. BY A GRADUATE OF MEDICINE. With Embellishments from the Antique. Apollo and Diana—Twin-deities of the Chace: Silver coin of Delos ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΡΤΕΜΙΔΟΣ ΑΓΡΑΙ ΚΑΙ ΚΥΝΕΣ. XENOPHdeVEN.
LONDON:
J. BOHN, 17, HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN.
MDCCCXXXI.
Two Hundred and Fifty Copies of this Work are Printed.
EX ÆDIBUS VALPIANIS.
To
Literary Amateurs of the Leash,
The following Work
The Author’s greyhound
ΚΥΩΝ ΩΚΥΤΑΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΣΟΦΩΤΑΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΙΕΡΟΤΑΤΟΣ
is respectfully dedicated
by
THE AUTHOR.
Procris presenting Lælaps and the fatal dart to Cephalus, with a greyhound.
TEMPESTA.
“Dat mihi præterea, tanquam se parva dedisset
Dona, canem munus, quem cum sua traderet illi
Cynthia, currendo superabit dixerat omnes
Dat simul et jaculum, manibus quod (cernis) habemus.”
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