gnats, having large trumpets, sounded the dreadful signal of war, and Jove, the son of Saturn, looking down from heaven, thundered a portent of evil war.
Then first Loud-Roarer wounded Lick-Man with his spear, while standing among the foremost combatants, on the belly, in the middle of the liver, and he fell prone, and defiled his tender hairs in the dust. [And falling, he gave a crash, and his arms resounded upon him.][1] But after him Hole-Creeper took aim at Mud-Son, and he fixed the sturdy spear in his breast, and black death seized him as he fell, and the soul flew from his limbs. But Beet-Man then slew Pot-Stalker, having smote him to the heart. And Bread-Munch struck Loud-Talker on the belly, and he fell prone, and the soul fled from his limbs. But when Love-Marsh beheld Loud-Talker perishing, he wounded Hole-Creeper with a mill-stone, coming upon him unawares, in the middle of the neck; but him darkness shadowed as to his eyes; [but[2] grief possessed Ocimides, and he let fly with a sharp bulrush. But he drew the sword of him who had made the attack upon himself, nor did he draw out the sword, but fell immediately before.][3] But Lick-Man took aim at him with his shining spear, and smote him (nor did he miss) in the liver. But when Cabbage-Eater perceived this, he leaped down the deep banks in flight. But even thus he escaped not in the waters, for he (Lick-Man) smote him, and he fell, nor breathed again, and the marsh was stained with purple gore, and he himself was stretched out near the bank, swelling with the fat intestines [round] his flank. But he [also] slew Cheese-Scooper upon the very banks, and Reedy, perceiving Chaw-Bacon, fell into dismay, and leaped into the lake in flight, having cast away his shield. But Love-Water also slew king Chaw-Bacon, having smote him upon the forepart of the head with a stone,
- ↑ A doubtful insertion from the Iliad.
- ↑ These three lines are very awkward, and are apparently wanting in the MSS. The student must consult Maittaire's notes, where the centones of the Iliad and Odyssey, out of which this description of the battle seems chiefly composed, are diligently collected. The name, Ωκιμέδης, seems to be derived from the herb ocimus, the βασίλειος of the Greeks. See Casaub. on Pers. Sat. iv. 21.
- ↑ The confusion of persons in these lines is inextricable.
signal by thunder, (vs. 201,) as in Od. xxi. 101. I think that it might be well spared.
