CYNEGETICA, II. 18-44 



first array edfor battle with wild beasts by Polydeuces" 

 of Lacedaemon, son of Zeus ; for he both slew baleful 

 men in the battle of the fists and overcame spotted 

 wild beasts with swift hounds. Pre-eminent in close 

 combat on the hills shone the son of Oeneus, warhke 

 Meleager.* Nets again and nooses and cur\ing hayes 

 did Hippolytus '^ first reveal to hunting men. Winged 

 death for wild beasts did Atalanta<* invent, the glorious 

 daughter of Schoeneus, the maiden huntress of the 

 Boar. And snaring by night, the guileful hunting 

 of the dark, crafty Orion * first discovered. These 

 were the mighty leaders of the chase in former days. 

 But afterward the keen passion seized many ; for 

 none who has once been smitten by the charms of 

 the dehghtful hunt would ever willingly forsake it 

 again : he is held by wondrous bonds. How sweet 

 the sleep upon the flowers in springtime ; how 

 sweet in summer the low couch in some cave ; what 

 delight for hunters to break their fast amid the rocks 

 and what joy attends them when they cull for them- 

 selves the flower of honied fruit ; and the cold clear 

 water flowing from a grotto — what a draft for a 

 weary man and how sweet a bath ; and in the 

 woods what grateful gifts in pleasant baskets are 

 brought by shepherds watching by their flocks ! 



But come now let us sing first the very jealous 

 race of Bulls and tell of the tremendous feud which 



* S.of Aetoliaii Oeneus and Althaea, killed the Calydonian 

 boar. Apollod. i. 8. 2. 



* S. of Theseus and the Amazon Hippolyte, was favourite 

 of Arterais and famous hunter. 



'' D. of Schoeneus fPaus. viii. 35, etc.) or lasus (Callim. 

 H. iii. 216, etc.), was first to shoot the Calydonian boar 

 (Apollod. i. 8. 2 ; Paus. viii. 45). 



* Giant hunter of Boeotia : Apollod. i. 4. 3. 



57 



