Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/234

198 thy dear life, willingly then should I supplicate Jove, the son of Saturn. But now it is time for supper; very soon will my companions be within, that we may prepare an abundant supper in the tent."

Thus they indeed spoke such words to one another. But the swine drew near, and the men who feed the swine came: they fenced them in their accustomed places to sleep; and an immense clamour arose from the swine entering their sty. But he, the divine swineherd, exhorted his companions: "Bring the best of the swine, that I may sacrifice it for my guest from afar; but besides we will ourselves enjoy it, who have toiled for a long time, suffering on account of the white-tusked swine; but others are consuming our labours with impunity."

Thus having spoken, he cleft wood with the hard steel; but they brought in a very fat sow of five years old; they immediately placed it on the hearth; nor was the swineherd forgetful of the immortals, (for he possessed an excellent disposition,) but, having offered the first-fruits, he threw the hair of the head of the white-tusked sow in the fire, and prayed to all the gods, that wise Ulysses might return to his home. But he struck it with a splinter of oak, lifting [it] up, which he left there, having cut it; and life left it: but they cut up and roasted it; and they quickly singed it; but the swineherd put the raw parts over the rich fat, taking away on all sides some flesh for sacrifice from the limbs. And he threw other parts in the fire, having sprinkled them with the fruit of meal, and they cut up the other parts, and stuck them on spits, and roasted them skilfully, and drew it all off: and they threw it all together on the dressers: and the swineherd stood up to carve it (for he understood in his mind what was right); and carving it, he distributed the whole into seven parts: one part, indeed, having made a vow, he gave to the Nymphs, and to Mercury, the son of Maia, and the rest he distributed to each: but he honoured Ulysses with the continuous back of the white-tusked sow: and he delighted