Chapter 12

[Levinarius.] A levitate Leviner, à loro Lyemmer, appellatur is quem Levinarium & Lorarium latinè nominavimus. Nam Lyemme nostra lingua, Lorum significat. Quod autem a levitate Leviner, hoc est a latina voce Britannicam, diducimus: cur in libris nostris sparsim a Græcis dictionibus & Latinis Italicis & Germanicis, Gallicis & Hispanicis nostratia multa derivamus, unde ortum eadem multa habuerunt:

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.)

[Lib. de symphonia.] & quemadmodum ab origine sua etiam multa per corruptionem jam declinarunt, libello nostro de symphonia seu consonantia vocum Britannicarum fusius explicabimus.

How many words are buryed in the graue of forgetfulnes? growne out of vse? wrested awrye? and peruersly corrupted by diuers defaultes? we wil declare at large in our booke intituled, _Symphonia vocum Britannicarum_.

Of the Tumbler.

[Vertagus.] Postremus inter venaticos Vertagus est, quem Tumbler vocitamus; quòd tumble apud nos vertere est Latinis, & tumbiere Gallis, unde ortum habet id nomen Tumbler, mutata vocali in liquidam nostro more: contra quàm in lingua Gallica & Italica, in quibus liquida ante vocalem, magna ex parte in aliam vocalem vertitur, ut impiere & piano, pro implere & plano, quæ exempli gratia adduce, cum infinita sint.

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.

[Aucupatorii.] Post Venaticos sequuntur Aucupatorii; inter quos primus est Hispaniolus, quem ab Hispania voce nomen accepisse prius diximus. Nostri omissa aspiratione & prima vocali, Spainel & Spaniel expediti sermonis causa proferunt.

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.

[Index.] Secundus Index, quem nostri a Setter nominare solent, a verbo sette, quod locum designare nostris Britannis significat.

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.

Of the water Spaniell or Finder.

[Aquaticus.] Post hunc subsequitur aquaticus, hoc est a Waterspainel, a vocibus Water & Spaine (hoc est aqua & Hispania) deducto nomine. Nam aqua, in qua se exercet canis iste, Water; & Hispania (unde primum genus hoc tractum ex nomine creditur) Spaine apud nostros vocitatur.

The water Spaniell consequently followeth, called in Latine Aquaticus, in English a waterspaniell, which name is compounde of two simple wordes, namely Water, which in Latine so[un]deth _Aqua_, wherein he swymmeth. And _Spaine_, _Hispania_, the country frõ whence they came,

Non quòd isti canes non sint etiam nativi in Britannia, sed quòd generale & commune nomen canum, qui ex Hispania primò profecti putantur, istæ canum species (ut & cæteri Aucupatorii) adhuc vulgo referunt, etsi in Britannia oriantur, & peculiari aliqua vocis nota, aut qualitatis indicio secernantur apud nos; ut est ista species vocis Water, hoc est aquæ, appositione.

Not that England wanted such kinde of Dogges, (for they are naturally bred and ingendred in this country.) But because they beare the generall and common name of these Dogges synce the time they were first brought ouer out of Spaine. And wee make a certaine difference in this sort of Dogges, eyther for some thing which in theyr voyce is to be marked, or for some thing which in their qualities is to be considered, as for an example in this kinde called the Spaniell by the apposition and putting to of this word water, which two coupled together sounde waterspaniell.

[Inquisitor.] Alio etiam nomine a Finder canis iste appellatur, quòd quærendo invenit res deperditas, quæ res nostris, fynde, hoc est invenire, dicitur. Nos tamen ab inquirendo latinum nomen huic fecimus, quòd præcipua pars inventionis in inquirendo est.

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 foeminas versari, & iis in deliciis atque ad lusus esse consuevit: ut erat illud Gorgonis #kunidion# 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.

Of dogges vnder the courser kinde, wee will deale first with the shepherds dogge, whom we call the Bandogge, the Tydogge, or the Mastyue, the first name is imputed to him for seruice _Quoniam pastori famulatur_, because he is at the shepherds his masters commaundement. The seconde a _Ligamento_ of the band or chaine wherewith he is tyed, The thirde a _Sagina_, Of the fatnesse of his body.

Est enim crassum genus canum, & bene saginatum catenarium hoc. Etsi non sum nescius Augustinum Niphum, Mastinum (mastivum nostri dicunt) pecuarium existimare: & Albertum Lyciscum ex cane & lupo genitum esse scribere: quamvis idem pro Molosso magna ex parte vertat.

For this kinde of dogge which is vsually tyed, is myghty, grosse, and fat fed. I know this that _Augustinus Niphus_, calleth this _Mastinus_ (which we call Mastiuus.) And that _Albertus_ writeth how the _Lyciscus_ is ingendred by a beare and a wolfe. Notwithstanding the self same Author taketh it for the most part _pro Molosso_. A dogge of such a countrey.

The names of such dogges as be contained in the fifte Section.

[Versator.] Ad postremum, degeneres Wappe & Turnespete nominari dicebamus: hunc a verbo nostrati turne, quòd est verto & spete, seu spede ad imitationem Italorum, quod veru dicitur; illum a naturali canis voce Wau, quam in latratu edit admonendo.

Of mungrels and rascalls somwhat is to be spoken. And among these, of y^e _VVappe_ or _Turnespet_, which name is made of two simple words, that is, of _Turne_, which in latine soundeth _Vertere_, and of _spete_ which is _Veru_, or _spede_, for the Englishe word inclineth closer to the Italian imitation: _Veruuersator_, Turnspet.

Unde, originaliter Waupe dicendum fuit. Sed euphoniæ bonæque consonantiæ gratia, vocali in consonantem mutata, Wappe a nostris vocitatur. Etsi non me fugit Nonium, a voce naturali Bau, formare suum baubari, non a Wau, quemadmodum & Græci à suo #bauzein#.

He is called also VVaupe, of the naturall noise of his voyce _VV_au, which he maketh in barcking. But for the better and the redyer sounde, the vowell, u, is chaunged into the cõsonant, p, so y^t for waupe we say wappe. And yet I wot well that _Nonius_ boroweth his _Baubari_ of the natural voyce _Bau_, as the _Græcians_ doe their #bauzein# of wau.

[Saltator.] Jam verò quod dansare nostris, saltare sit Latinis, si didiceris, non est de canis saltatoris nostrati nomine amplius quod ipse expetas.

Now when you vnderstand this that _Saltare_ in latine signifieth _Dansare_ in Englishe. And that our dogge therevpon is called a daunser and in the latine _Saltator_, you are so farre taught as you were desirous to learne, And now suppose I, there remaineth nothing, but that your request is fully accomplished.

The winding vp of this worke, called the Supplement, &c.

Ita habes (mi Gesnere) non solum canum nostratium genera, sed & nomina quoque Latina atque Anglica, officia atque usus, differentias atque mores, naturas & ingenia, ut non sit quod desideres in hoc argumento amplius.

Thus (Friend _Gesner_) you haue, not only the kindes of our countrey dogges, but their names also, as well in latine as in Englishe, their offices, seruices, diuersities, natures, & properties, that you can demaunde no more of me in this matter.

Et quanquam forsan omni ex parte non satisfecerim tibi in edendo (cui in desideriis omnis festinatio in mora esse videatur) quòd inhibuerim editionem rudioris illius libelli, quem ad te tanquam ad privatum amicum, non ad editionem publicam ante annos quinque dederim; tamen in hoc spero me satisfecisse tibi, quòd mora fecit aliquanto meliorem, & #deuterai phrontides# lectu commodiorem.

And albeit I haue not satisfied your minde peradu[en]ture (who suspectest al speede in the performaunce of your requeste employed, to be meere delayes) because I stayde the setting fourth of that vnperfect pamphlet which, fiue yeares ago, I sent to you as a priuate friende for your owne reeding, and not to be printed, and so made common, yet I hope (hauing like the beare lickt ouer my younge) I haue waded in this worke to your contentation, which delay hath made somewhat better and #deuterai phrontides#, after witte more meete to be perused.

_Joannis Caii Britanni de Canibus Britannicis libelli finis._

_Iste liber scriptus fuit ante mortem Gesneri, etsi non ante publicatus, ut est ille de rariorum animalium atque stirpium historia._

The ende of this treatise.

FINIS.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[Transcriber's Notes:

_Errors_

The editor's general introduction says:

In this volume no attempt has been made to produce a facsimile reprint. Even if such a design had been entertained, the great variety of form in which the original editions were issued would have made it impossible to carry out the re-issue with any uniformity. Obvious misprints have been corrected, but where a difference in spelling in the same work or on the same page--_e.g._ _baccalarius_, _baccalaureus_--is clearly due to the varying practice of the writer and not to the printer, the words have been left as they stood in the original. On the other hand the accents in the very numerous Greek quotations have been corrected.

_Dog Hybrids and Lobster-Hunting Dogs_

In _All the Year Round_ for September 5, 1885, Charles Dickens (son of the author) or an unnamed contributor wrote:

Dr. Caius ... had his scholar's errors, else he would not talk of lobster-hound, and of the urcanus (dogbear), "bred of a bear and a bandog."

The wolf-dog (_lyciscus_) and bear-dog (_urcanus_) each requires no comment. The fox-dog (_lacæna_) is genetically impossible.

Under _Leverarius_ (Harier), the Latin original names eight animals hunted by dogs:

Nam alius leporis, alius vulpis, alius cervi, alius platycerotis, alius taxi, alius lutræ, alius mustelæ, alius cuniculi ...

The English translation expands these to eleven:

Some for / The Hare [lepus] / The Foxe [vulpes] / The Wolfe / The Harte / The Bucke / The Badger [taxus] / The Otter [lutra] / The Polcat / The Lobster / The Weasell / The Conny [cuniculus], &c.

The addition of Wolfe--an animal said not to exist in England--is not explained. The Harte (_cervus_) is the elk or red deer; the Bucke (_platyceros_) is the roe deer. The Lobster is not a crustacean but a regional term for "polecat", listed in the OED with citations of appropriate date. The three-way distinction between Polcat, Lobster and Weasell (subsumed under the single Latin word _mustela_) is not explained.

_Cicero_

And albeit _Cicero_ in his oration had _Pro. S. Ross._ be of this opinion...

_Pro S. Roscio Amerino_, 20 [56 end]:

Quod si luce quoque canes latrent, cum deos salutatum aliqui venerint, opinor, eis crura suffringantur, quod acres sint etiam tum, cum suspicio nulla sit.

_"Abridgement"_

The translator uses this term at least six times to describe his work. The body text is about twice as long as the Latin original; note in particular the section on _Delicati_ (the _Melitæus_ or Maltese).

_Names and Etymologies_

Note that "Dutch" means "German" (Deutsch). "Boethus" is not Boethius but the Scottish John Boece, variously called Boethus and Boethius.

The word "Spaniel" does appear to mean "Spanish", though its derivation is not exactly as described. "Hound" is related to the Germanic "Hund", not to the English "Hunt".