De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe DoggesCaius, John
Science
De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe Dogges
Caius, John
Dogs -- Early works to 1800
This dogge is called a Leuyner, for his lyghtnesse, which in latine
soundeth _Leuitas_, Or a Lyemmer which worde is borrowed of Lyemme,
which the latinists name _Lorum_: and wherefore we call him a Leuyner of
this worde _Leuitas_? (as we doe many things besides) why we deriue and
drawe a thousand of our tearmes, out of the _Greeke_, the _Latine_, the
_Italian_, the _Dutch_, the _French_, and the _Spanishe_ tounge? (Out of
which fountaines in deede, they had their originall issue.) How many
words are buryed in the graue of forgetfulnes? growne out of vse?
wrested awrye? and peruersly corrupted by diuers (41) defaultes? we wil
declare at large in our booke intituled, _Symphonia vocum
Britannicarum_.
Of the Tumbler.
Among houndes the Tumbler called in latine _Vertagus_, is the last,
which commeth of this worde Tumbler flowyng first of al out of the
French fountaine. For as we say Tumble so they, _Tumbier_, reseruing one
sense and signification, which the latinists comprehende vnder this
worde _Vertere_, So that we see thus much, that Tumbler commeth of
_Tumbier_, the vowell, I, chaunged into the _Liquid_, L, after y^e maner
of our speache. Contrary to the French and the Italian tounge. In which
two languages, A _Liquid_ before a _Vowell_ for the most part is turned
into another _Vowell_, As, may be perceaued in the example of these two
wordes, _Implere_ & _plano_, for _Impiere_ & _piano_, L, before, E,
chaunged into, I, and L, before A, turned into I, also. This I thought
conuenient for a taste.
The names of such Dogges as be contained in the second Section.
After such as serue for hunting orderly doe follow such as serue for
hawking and fowling, Among which the principall and chiefest is the
Spaniell, called in Latine _Hispaniolus_, borrowing his name of
_Hispania_ Spaine, wherein wee Englishe men not pronouncing the
Aspiration H, Nor the _Vowell_ I, for quicknesse and redinesse of speach
say roundly A Spaniell.
Of the Setter.
The second sort of this second diuision and second section, is called a
Setter, in latine _Index_, Of the worde Set which signifieth in Englishe
that which the Latinistes meane by this word _Locum designare_, y^e
reason is rehersed before more largely, it shall not neede to make a new
repetition.
(42) Of the water Spaniell or Finder.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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