Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

GRATTIUSas my soiifjs shall last, as long as the woods keeptheir treasures and Diana's weapons abide on earth.'Twas he too who developed a species with a wildstrain from the blood of tlie t/ioes.^ Beneath noother breast is there hi(]^her couras^e, whether youcall them to the leash or to the test of open conflict.The tkoes (their reputation is famous) can steal'^craftily on lions pitted against them and overcomethem with their short legs ; for it is a small-sizedbreed, and one may scruple to o\m"i how ugly : ithas a fox-like look : still its resolution is perfect.But there is no other breed which you could wish totrain for tasks so important ; or else your own mistakev,i\\ find you out in the hunt when loss of gamemakes late-learned wisdom vain.'^Now then couple well-matched mates and markthe offspring with the pledge of their pedigree,letting the parents who produce this wonderfulprogeny in the vigour of their youth yield you afine metag07i. First I shall mate dogs tried in courage,the foremost quality : the next care in the apportionmentis that outv.ard appearance shall not beliedescent or lower any of its merits. They shouldhave the face high, they should have shaggy ears bytheir foreheads, the mouth big, and they shouldbreathe fiery blasts from wide nostrils ; a neat bellyshould gird their flanks below; tail should be shortand sides long, hair parted on the neck, and that" The eojis of Oppian, Cyneg. III. 336-38, are jackalssprung from a union of wolves with leopards. The du:s ofAristotle is perhaps rather a civet than a jackal. Pliny,X.H. Vm. 123, mentions ihoes as a kind of wolf.* e.g. in the public games at Rome.* For the mating of dogs, with 263 sqq. cf. Xcmesianus,Cy7i. 1U3 ^qq.; Oppian, Cyn. I. 376 sqq.VOL I. N177