CYNEGETICA, II. 222-250 



helm of a ship. Another behind rests on his back 

 his neck and head and so travels with him in his 

 seafaring. And so in turn, one supporting another, 

 they plough the sea. But when weariness overtakes 

 the foremost swimmer, he leaves his rank and goes 

 to the end of the line and resting on another takes 

 a little respite from his toil, while another takes the 

 helm and journeys over the deep. And all the 

 swimmers leading in turn, they row the dark water 

 with their feet as with oars, and hold aloft the varied 

 beauty of their horns, submitting them, Uke the sails 

 of a ship, to the breezes. 



All the race of Snakes and Deer wage always 

 bitter feud" with one another, and everywhere in the 

 mountain glens the Deer seeks out the bold serpent. 

 But when he sees the snaky trail woven with long 

 coils, greatly exulting he draws nigh to the lair and 

 puts his nostrils to the hole, with violent breath 

 drawing the deadly reptile to battle. And the com- 

 pelling blast hales him, very loth to fight, from the 

 depth of his lair. For straightway the venomous 

 beast beholds his foe and raises high in the air his 

 baleful neck and bares his white teeth, bristling 

 sharp, and snaps his jaws, blowing and hissing fast. 

 And immediately in his turn the Deer, like one who 

 smiles, rends with his mouth the vainly struggling 

 foe, and, while he writhes about his knees and neck, 

 devours him amain. And on the ground are shed 

 many remains, quivering and writhing in death. 



" Plin. viii. 118 Et his cum serpente pugna. Vestigant 

 cavernas nariumque spiritu extrahunt renitentes. Cf. Ael. 

 ii. 9, ix. i\i ; Phil. 59 ; Solin. xix. 15 ; Plut. Mor. 976 d 



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