De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe DoggesCaius, John
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De Canibus Britannicis: Of Englishe Dogges
Caius, John
Dogs -- Early works to 1800
He is also called a fynder, in Latine _Inquisitor_, because that by
serious and secure seeking, he findeth such things as be lost, which
word _Finde_ in English is that which the Latines meane by this
Verbe _Inuenire_. This dogge hath this name of his property because
the principall point of his seruice consisteth in the premisses.
The names of such Dogges as be contained in the thirde Section.
A venaticis & aucupatoriis transitus est ad Delicatos, Rusticos,
& Degeneres.
Now leauing the suruie we of hunting and hauking dogs, it remaineth
that we runne ouer the residue, whereof some be called, fine dogs,
some course, other some mungrels or rascalls.
[Delicati.] Delicatum, Melitæum & Spainel gentle, hoc est
Hispaniolum generosum, nominavimus, à generositatis nomine data
appellatione, quòd inter nobiles viros atque fœminas versari, & iis
in deliciis atque ad lusus esse consuevit: ut erat illud Gorgonis
κυνίδιον apud Theocritum in Syracusiis, quod discedens servæ
diligentiæ pari cura cum infante commiserat, ut catellum quidem illa
intro revocaret, puerum verò vagientem placaret.
The first is the Spaniell gentle called _Canis Melitæus_, because it
is a kinde of dogge accepted among gentles, Nobles, Lordes, Ladies,
&c. who make much of them vouchsafeing to admit them so farre into
their company that they will not onely lull them in theyr lappes,
but kysse them with their lippes, and make them theyr prettie
playfellowes. Such a one was _Gorgons_ litle puppie mencioned by
_Theocritus_ in _Siracusis_, who taking his iourney, straightly
charged & commaunded his mayde to see to his Dogge as charely and
warely as to his childe: To call him in alwayes that he wandred not
abroade, as well as to rock the babe a sleepe, crying in the cradle.
Ad alia omnia inutilis canis iste est, nisi ad ea quæ jam ante
diximus, nisi ad fovendum stomachum debilitatum frigore, nisi ad
prodendum adulterium, quod fecisse hujus generis catellum quendam
Siculum refert Ælianus, libro septimo, capite vicesimo quinto
animalium.
This puppitly and peasantly curre, (which some frumpingly tearme
fysteing hounds) serue in a maner to no good vse except, (As we haue
made former relation) to succour and strengthen quailing and
quammning stomackes to bewray bawdery, and filthy abhominable
leudnesse (which a litle dogge of this kinde did in _Sicilia_) As
_Ælianus_ in his .7. booke of beastes and .27. chapter recordeth.
The names of such dogges as be contained in the fourth Section.
[Rustici.] Rusticos, Shepeherdes dogges, Mastives, & Bandedogges
nominavimus: illorum quidem deducto nomine a pastore, qui Shepeherde
apud nos dicitur, quòd custodit oves, quæ nostris, Shepe,
appellantur: istorum a ligamento, quod Bande, & Sagina, quod maste,
villicis nostris hominibus dicitur.
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