Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

NEMESIANUSkeep them shut up. nor impatiently put chains ontheir neck, and from want of foresight hurt theirfuture running powers. For often young dogs,when kept separate, will take to worrying thetiinber-fittings, or to gnawing the doors till they aretorn, and in the attemjit they twist their tenderlimbs or blunt their young teeth by chewing at thewood or drive their tender nails into the tough doorposts.Later, when time, revolving eight monthsfrom their birth, now lets them stand on steady legsand sees the whelps everywhere with limbs unharmed,then it will be suitable again to mix thegifts of Ceres with their whey and have them givenstrengthening food from the produce of the fields.Only then must they be trained to have their freenecks in leash, to run in harmony or be kept onchain. When Phoebe has now renewed twentymonthly risings, start to bring out the young dogson a course not over-long but within the space ofa small valley or enclosed fallow. Out of your handlet slip for them a hare, not of equal strength northeir match in speed of running, but slow in movingits limbs, so that they may at once capture an easyprey. Not once only must you grant the whelpsthese limited runs, but until they are trained to outstripstrong hare^, exercise them long in the task ofthe chase, forcing them to learn and love the praisedue to deserving merit. Likewise they must recognisethe urgent words of a well-known voice, whethercalling them in or telling them to run full-speed.Besides, when they have been taught to seize thevanquished prey, they must be content to kill, notmangle, what they have caught. By such methodssee that you recruit your swift dogs every season,=;oi