xenophon's dog

Xenophon (430 - 354 BC), the Greek writer and solider of fortune, is best known for his writings on the Greece of his times, military history, and the sayings of Socrates. His work includes a short collection on the art of hunting with dogs. Called the Cynegeticus, the writings include thoughts on good breeding and care of hunting dogs, as any decent hunter should consider. But elsewhere - and I am driven to distraction that I can't find the original citation for this - he paid tribute to a particular beloved friend, as this journal excerpt from the 19th century tells us:

The bas-reliefs on the friezes of the Grecian temples give us an idea what that
greyhound was like which Xenophon describes so lovingly : " I have myself bred
up a swift, hard-working, courageous, soundfooted dog. He is most gentle and
kindly-affectioned; and never before had I such a dog. When he is not actually
engaged in coursing -he is never away from me. On his return he runs before me,
often looking back to see if I am there, and as soon as he sees me, showing
great joy and trotting away again before me. If a short time has passed since he
has seen me or my friend, he jumps up repeatedly by way of salutation and barks
with joy. He has also many different sorts of speech. I am not ashamed to
chronicle the name of this dog, nor to let posterity know that Xenophon the
Athenian had a greyhound called " Horme," possessed of the greatest speed,
intelligence, and fidelity." Truly posterity is grateful for this little sketch,
which seems to bring us nearer to the ancient Greek than can whole tomes of
history.

-- from M. F. O'Malley, "The Dog in History," Aunt Judy's May-Day Volume Vol. 17 (London: George Bell & Sons, York Street, Covent Garden, 1879). If you would like to read the full text of the Cynegeticus, look here.