t and purblind. (43) Along with which, although
asleep, for the most part it does not enjoy visual repose. (44) Again,
its very fleetness of foot contributes largely towards dim-sightedness.
It can only take a rapid glance at things in passing, and then off
before perceiving what the particular object is. (45)

(41) Or, "defective."

(42) Al. "against the sun's rays."

(43) Or, "dull and mal-concentrated." See Pollux, v. 69.

(44) i.e. "its eyes are not rested, because it sleeps with them open."

(45) i.e. "it goes so quick, that before it can notice what the
particular object is, it must avert its gaze to the next, and then
the next, and so on."

The alarm, too, of those hounds for ever at its heels pursuing combines
with everything (46) to rob the creature of all prescience; so that for
this reason alone it will run its head into a hundred dangers unawares,
and fall into the toils. If it held on its course uphill, (47) it would
seldom meet with such a fate; but now, through its propensity to circle
round and its attachment to the place where it was born and bred, it
courts destruction. Owing to its speed it is not often overtaken by
the hounds by fair hunting. (48) When caught, it is the victim of a
misfortune alien to its physical nature.

(46) {meta touton}, sc. "with these other causes"; al. "with the
dogs"; i.e. "like a second nightmare pack."

(47) Reading {orthion}, or if {orthon}, transl. "straight on."

(48) {kata podas}, i.e. "by running down"; cf. "Mem." II. vi. 9;
"Cyrop." I. vi. 40, re two kinds of hound: the one for scent, the
other for speed.

The fact is, there is no other animal of equal size which is at all its
match in speed. Witness the conformation of its body: the light, small
drooping head (narrow in front); (49) the (thin cylindrical) (50) neck,
not stiff and of a moderate length; straight shoulder-blades, loosely
slung above; the fore-legs attached to them, light and set close
together; (51) the undistended chest; (52) the light symmetrical sides;
the supple, well-rounded loins; the fleshy buttocks; the somewhat sunken
flanks; (53) the hips, well rounded, plump at every part, but with a
proper interval above; the long and solid thighs, on the outside tense
and not too flabby on the inside; the long, stout lower legs or shanks;
the fore-feet, exceedingly pliant, thin, and straight; the hind-feet
firm and broad; front and hind alike totally regardless of rou