and the brain trickled out from his nostrils, and the earth was defiled with gore. But faultless Mud-Bed slew Litræus,[1] and Lick-Dish killed faultless Mud-Bed, rushing at him with his spear, but darkness veiled him as to his eyes. And Munch-Garlick, perceiving [him], dragged Savour-Hunter by the foot, and choked him in the marsh, having seized him by the tendon of his foot. But Crumb-Filcher came to the aid of his slain companions, and smote Munch-Garlick on the belly, in the midst of the liver. And he fell before him, and his soul went to Hades-ward.[2] But Mud-Stalker looking on, hurled a handful of mud against him, and befouled his forehead, and within a little blinded him. And he then was enraged, and taking in his sturdy hand a stone which lay on the plain, a heavy burthen of the field, with it smote Mud-Stalker beneath the knees, and the whole of his right shin was broken, and he fell supine in the dust. But Croak-Son came to his aid, and went in turn against him, and smote him in the middle of the belly; and the sharp bulrush went right through him, and on the ground were poured out all his entrails, as the spear was drawn out by the sturdy hand. And Wheat-Eater, as he perceived it on the banks of the river, limping gave back from the fight, and was grievously pained. And he leaped into the ditch, in order that he might escape utter destruction. But Munch-Bread smote Swell-Cheeks on the tip of the foot, and pained, he swiftly leaped into the marsh in flight.[3] But when Munch-Bread perceived him fallen in, yet half-alive, he forthwith ran up, longing to put an end to him. But when Garlick saw him fallen in, yet half-alive, he came through the foremost combatants, and took aim with a sharp bulrush. Nor did he break his shield, for the point of the spear was detained in it. [But noble Origanum, imitating Mars himself, smote him on the four-potted[4] blameless hel-
- ↑ This name was restored by Barnes, in lieu of Φιτραῖον.
- ↑ I am unwilling to lose the full force of ἀϊδόσδε.
- ↑ Evidently an interpolated line. For how, asks Ernesti, could the mouse attack him, when he had leaped into the lake. The whole passage is omitted more or less in the MSS., and is in a most unpromising state of mutilation.
- ↑ A hopeless epithet. Ernesti conjectures τετραφάληρον. But as we read above, vs. 130, ἡ δὲ κόρυς τὸ λἐπυρον ἐπὶ κροτάφοις καρύοιο, that the helmet of the mice consisted of a nutshell; is it not likely that the lost word is to be thus replaced: ἀμύμονα, τετραλἐπυρον, of four thicknesses
