§6.19Τὰ δὲ πρόβατα κυΐσκεται μὲν ἐν τρισὶν ἢ τέτταρσιν ὀχείαις, ἂν δ’ ὕδωρ ἐπιγένηται μετὰ τὴν ὀχείαν, ἀνακυΐσκει· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ αἱ αἶγες.
Sheep conceive after three or four copulations, but if rain falls upon them after copulation, they conceive anew; and likewise also goats.
Τίκτουσι δὲ τὰ μὲν πλεῖστα δύο, ἐνίοτε δὲ καὶ τρία ἢ τέτταρα.
And they bring forth for the most part two, and sometimes even three or four.
Κύει δὲ πέντε μῆνας καὶ πρόβατον καὶ αἴξ· διὸ ἐν ἐνίοις τόποις, ὅσοι ἀλεεινοί εἰσι καὶ ἐν οἷς εὐημεροῦσι καὶ τροφὴν ἄφθονον ἔχουσι, δὶς τίκτουσιν.
And both sheep and goat are pregnant for five months; wherefore in some places, which are warm and where they thrive and have abundant food, they bring forth twice.
Ζῇ δ’ αἲξ μὲν περὶ ἔτη ὀκτώ, πρόβατον δὲ δέκα, τὰ δὲ πλεῖστα ἐλάττω, πλὴν οἱ ἡγεμόνες τῶν προβάτων· οὗτοι δὲ καὶ πεντεκαίδεκα.
And a goat lives about eight years, and a sheep ten, but most of them less, except the leaders of the sheep; and these live even fifteen years.
Ἐν ἑκάστῃ δὲ ποίμνῃ κατασκευάζουσιν ἡγεμόνα τῶν ἀρρένων, ὃς ὅταν ὀνόματι κληθῇ ὑπὸ τοῦ ποιμένος προηγεῖται· συνεθίζουσι δὲ τοῦτο δρᾶν ἐκ νέων.
And in each flock they appoint a leader from among the males, who, when he is called by name by the shepherd, leads the way; and they accustom them to do this from their youth.
Τὰ δὲ περὶ τὴν Αἰθιοπίαν πρόβατα ζῇ καὶ δώδεκα καὶ τριακαίδεκα ἔτη, καὶ αἶγες δὲ καὶ δέκα καὶ ἕνδεκα.
And the sheep around Ethiopia live even twelve and thirteen years, and goats indeed even ten and eleven.
Ὀχεύει δὲ καὶ ὀχεύεται, ἕως ἂν ζῇ, καὶ πρόβατον καὶ αἴξ.
And both sheep and goat couple and are coupled as long as they live.
Διδυμοτοκοῦσι δὲ καὶ πρόβατα καὶ αἶγες διά τε εὐβοσίαν, καὶ ἐὰν ὁ κριὸς ἢ ὁ τράγος ᾖ διδυμοτόκος ἢ ἡ μήτηρ.
And both sheep and goats bring forth twins owing to good pasture, and if the ram or the he-goat is a twin-producer or the mother is.
Θηλυγόνα δέ, τὰ δ’ ἀρρενογόνα γίνεται διά τε τὰ ὕδατα (ἔστι γὰρ τὰ μὲν θηλυγόνα τὰ δὲ ἀρρενογόνα) καὶ διὰ τὰς ὀχείας ὡσαύτως, καὶ βορείοις μὲν ὀχευόμενα ἀρρενοτοκεῖ μᾶλλον, νοτίοις δὲ θηλυτοκεῖ.
And they produce female or male offspring owing to the waters (for some waters produce females and others males) and likewise owing to the copulations; and when coupling during north winds they bring forth males rather, but during south winds they bring forth females.
Μεταβάλλει δὲ καὶ τὰ θηλυτοκοῦντα καὶ ἀρρενοτοκεῖ· δεῖ δ’ ὁρᾶν ὀχευόμενα πρὸς βορέαν.
And even those that usually bring forth females change and bring forth males; and they must face the north wind when coupling.
Τὰ δ’ εἰωθότα πρωῒ ὀχεύεσθαι, ἐὰν ὀψὲ ὀχεύῃ τις, οὐχ ὑπομένουσι τοὺς κριούς.
And those accustomed to couple early in the morning do not submit to the rams if one couples them late.
Λευκὰ δὲ τὰ ἔκγονα γίνεται καὶ μέλανα, ἐὰν ὑπὸ τῇ τοῦ κριοῦ γλώττῃ λευκαὶ φλέβες ὦσιν ἢ μέλαιναι, λευκὰ μὲν ἐὰν λευκαί, μέλανα δ’ ἐὰν μέλαιναι· ἐὰν δ’ ἀμφότεραι, ἀμφότερα· πυρρὰ δ’ ἐὰν πυρραί.
And the offspring become white or black if the veins under the tongue of the ram are white or black: white indeed if they are white, black if they are black; and if both, both; and red if they are red.
Τὰ δὲ τὸ ἁλυκὸν ὕδωρ πίνοντα πρότερον ὀχεύεται· δεῖ δ’ ἁλίζειν πρὶν τεκεῖν καὶ ἐπειδὰν τέκῃ, καὶ ἔαρος αὖθις.
And those that drink salty water couple earlier; and one must give them salt before bringing forth and when they have brought forth, and again in spring.
Αἰγῶν δ’ ἡγεμόνα οὐ καθιστᾶσιν οἱ νομεῖς διὰ τὸ μὴ μόνιμον εἶναι τὴν φύσιν αὐτῶν, ἀλλ’ ὀξεῖαν καὶ εὐκίνητον.
But the herdsmen do not appoint a leader for goats, because their nature is not steady, but sharp and easily moved.
Τῶν δὲ προβάτων ἐὰν μὲν τὰ πρεσβύτερα ὁρμᾷ πρὸς τὴν ὀχείαν κατὰ τὴν τεταγμένην ὥραν, φασὶν οἱ ποιμένες σημεῖον εὐετηρίας εἶναι τοῖς προβάτοις, ἐὰν δὲ τὰ νεώτερα, κακοθηνεῖν τὰ πρόβατα.
And among sheep, if the older ones are eager for copulation at the prescribed season, the shepherds say it is a sign of prosperity for the sheep, but if the younger ones are, that the sheep are in a bad state.