But the moment he sensed Odysseus standing by
he thumped his tail, nuzzling low, and his ears dropped,
though he had no strength to drag himself an inch
toward his master. Odysseus glanced to the side
and flicked away a tear, hiding it from Eumaeus,
diverting his friend in a hasty, offhand way.
…But the dark shadow of death closed down on Argos’ eyes
the instant he saw Odysseus, twenty years away.
– Homer
The Odyssey, Book 17, lines 330-335, 359-360. When Odysseus returns home to Ithaca, disguised as a beggar, none of the townspeople recognize him. But his old hound Argos sees through his disguise and reacts warmly to the presense of his master. Odysseus also recognizes his four-legged friend, but is not willing to give up his disguise and so hides his emotions. Sadly on seeing his master after his twenty-year absence, the weak old dog dies. Odysseus’ hound shows more loyalty to him than he does in return, ignoring his faithful hound to preserve his disguise.