Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/305

411—455. where are my possessions, will give him some of them, and will send him away rejoicing."

On account of these things came Ulysses, that he might give to him handsome presents. Autolycus, and the sons of Autolycus, welcomed him with their hands and with mild words. But his maternal grandmother Amphithea, embracing Ulysses, kissed his head and both his beautiful eyes. And Autolycus commanded his glorious sons to make ready a banquet; and they heard him inciting them. And they immediately brought a male beeve of five years old: they skinned it, and handled it, and severed it all. And they cut it up skilfully, and fixed it on spits, and roasted it cleverly, and divided the shares. Thus then they feasted during the whole day until sunset; nor did the mind at all want an equal feast. But when the sun set, and darkness came on, then they lay down to rest, and took the gift of sleep. But when the mother of dawn, rosy-fingered morning, appeared, they set out to the hunt, both the dogs, and the sons of Autolycus; and divine Ulysses went with them: and they came to the lofty mountain of Parnassus, clad in wood; and they soon reached the windy heights. The sun had just then struck upon the fields from the gentle-flowing, deep-streamed ocean; and the huntsmen came to the dell; and the dogs went before them, searching out their tracks; but behind came the sons of Autolycus, and with them divine Ulysses, near the dogs, brandishing a long-shadowing spear. There a large boar lay down in a dense thicket; which neither the force of the moist-blowing winds breathed through, nor did the shining sun strike it with its beams, nor did the shower penetrate through it; so thick was it, but there was a great mass of dry leaves shed in it. And around him came the sound of the feet of men and dogs, as they came driving on; but he opposite, out of the woody lair, bristling well his neck, and looking fire with his eyes, stood near them; but Ulysses rushed on much the first, holding up his long spear with his strong hand, eager to wound him; but the boar anticipating him, struck him over the knee; and he tore out much flesh with his tusk, rushing obliquely, nor did he reach the bone of the man. But him Ulysses wounded, hitting him on the right shoulder, and straight through him the point of the shining spear passed; and he fell groaning in the dust: and life flew from him. Him however the kind