Very early next morning take up your own hawk, and be afield before the eagles have begun their daily questing.[338] You must not have with you more than one dog, well-mannered and well-trained. Let your hawk have a beakful or two[339] of meat to whet her appetite and make her keen. Now go into a good spot, mark down a chukor that will give a fairly easy flight,[340] and, saying “Oh God! my hope is in Thee,” cast off your hawk. My son, though falconers and sportsmen do not approve of this, yet I approve it: act as I instruct thee and thou wilt experience no ill.
Give ear to my teaching; my precepts obey:
In the training of hawks I have spent all my day.
A truly-trained bird can see from afar,
And choose for its quarry “Aquilla” the star.
If your hawk to fly rightly you wish and desire,
To God say a prayer, for He is thy Sire.
When the Portal of Hope is open to all[341]
Before God, on thy knees, with reverence fall.
Take care of thy bird, for God made it too,