Wolf-teeth on the bridle for speed
On the speed of horses. The speed of horses is blunted and it increases. [The lock marks the next clause corrupt:] a wolf as a counter-charm stands to each, and the two feet go numb; more quickly it comes to earth under a wolf. Wolf-feet are a possession horsemen seek after, and an astragalus of the same beast, hung on, also checks a runner. Rare, then, is the wounding and thinning that can happen.
We found another way the wolf can help toward swiftness, without harm to the horse. The canine teeth, taken out of a living wolf, are woven into the neck-pieces and contribute to both: they are an unsuspected help, and an ornament of contest-trappings. It is a fine thing if a man attach it to the whole four-horse team; if not, even the lead horse alone, having this wrapping, is enough to make the co-runners faster.
Greek
1.10 Περὶ ἵππων τάχουσ Ἵππων τάχος ἀμβλύνεται καὶ αὔξει· † λύκος ἀντιπαθὲς ἑκάστη ἵσταται καὶ ναρκᾷ τὼ πόδε θᾶττον δὲ αὐτοῦ χθονὶ ὑπὸ λύκου γίγνεται †. Περισπούδαστον ἱππόταις κτῆμα λύκου πόδες, καὶ ἀπαρτηθεὶς δὲ ἀστράγαλος τοῦ αὐτοῦ θηρίου ἐπιστομίζει τρέχοντα. Σπάνιον μὲν οὖν, τὸ τρωθῆναι καὶ ἀραιῶσαι συμβῆναι δυνάμενον. Εὕρομεν δ' ἑτέρως τὸν λύκον συνεργῆσαι δυνάμενον εἰς ὠκύτητα, δίχα τῆς τοῦ ἵππου βλάβης. Οἱ γάρ τοι κυνόδοντες ζῶντος ἐξαιρεθέντες τοῖς περιδεραίοις συμπλέκονται καὶ εἰς ἀμφότερα συμβάλλονται· ἀνύποπτός τε εἶναι βοήθεια καὶ φαλάρων κόσμος ἐναγωνίων. Καλὸν μὲν οὖν, εἰ τῷ τετραόρῳ τις παντὶ προσαρτήσειεν· εἰ δ' οὖν, κἂν ὁ ἡγεμὼν μόνος ἵππος τὸ περίθεμα ἔχων τοῦτο θάττονας ποιῆσαι τοὺς συντρέχοντας ἀρκεῖ.
About this text
Julius Africanus, Cesti (Embroidered Girdles): a miscellany of history, science, and craft, in the surviving fragments — books 7, 2, and 3 in full, with parts of books 4, 8, 9, and 13, and the colophon of Cestus 18. The older English translates his letters only. The book-2 table of contents and a book-7 appendix are not in this volume.
New English from locked PG 10 / Khazarzar Greek of the Cesti fragmenta through 9.5. Earlier lemma-led scaffold English was discarded. Book-2 pinax and book-7 appendix held. This lock is exhausted.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 10 Cesti fragmenta (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.