Page:History of Manchester (1771), Volume 1, by John Whitaker.djvu/356

 Chap. IX f OF MANCHESTER. 3 t S dog has perhaps a larger fhare of true genuine courage than any other animal in the world. Theboldnefs of its fpirit is remarkably enterprising, and the resolution of its temper is aftoniihingly determinate. And the native gallantry of the breed has gained' them the credit of a frequent mention and the honour of an high commendation in the records of antiquity. The Gauls even purchafcd them early for the ufes of war, and embattled them with their native dogs for the fight iJ. In the fame manner the Colophonii of Ionia and the Caftabalenfes of Cilicia formed the front-line of their armies with dogs ; and, after Marius's defeat of the Cimbri in battle, the dogs fiercely defended the baggage againft the victorious Romans Iv. And whea At£, hot from hell, Cried Havock, and let loofe the dogs of war nO longer in Gaul, the Romans exported them for the ufes of hunting ,s. Strabo expreffly commends them in general as in- comparable dogs on the field ". And Gratius, who wrote in the days of Auguftu9,. prefents us with a clear account of their value, and their ufe : Quid freta fi Morinflm, dubio refiuentia ponto r Veneris* atque ipfos libeat penetrare Britannos ? O quanta eft merces, & quantum impendia fupra, Si non ad fpeciem mentiturofque decores Protinus I Haec una eft catulis ja&ura Britafinis* Ad magnum cum venit opus, promendaque virtus r Et vocat extremo prseceps difcrimine Mavors, Non tunc egrcgioe tantum admirer* Moloflos l But can you waft across the British tide, And land undangered on the farther fide, what great gains wiH certainly redound From a free traffick in the Britifli hound ! Mind not the badne& of their forms or face : That the fole blemifh of the generous race. When the bold game turns back upon the fpear^ And all the Furies wait upon the war, Firft