CYNEGETICA, III. 414-437 



his wide gape and his fence unspeakable of flashing 

 teeth, then the Ichneumon weaves a subtle device." 

 With eyes askance he watches the huge beast until 

 he is confident in his heart that it is deep asleep. 

 Then, ha\'ing rolled himself in sand and mud he 

 swiftly springs and flies with daring heart through 

 the gate of death and passes through the wide throat. 

 Then the wretched Crocodile wakes from his heavy 

 sleep and carrying in his belly such an evil unlooked 

 for, everywhere he roams in helpless rage, now going 

 to the farthest reaches of the river, now rolling shore- 

 ward in the sand, gasping Avildly and tossing in his 

 agony. But the Ichneumon heeds not but enjoys 

 his sweet repast ; and mostly by the liver he sits to 

 banquet ; then late and last he leaps forth and leaves 

 the empty body of the beast. O Ichneumon, mar- 

 vellous and mighty, cunning in counsel, how 

 great daring thy heart holds ! \Vhat a task thou 

 dost undertake, advancing thy body to the very 

 jaws of death. 



The venomous Asp * the Ichneumon overcomes by 

 this device." He lies in wait for the beast, hiding all 

 his body in the sands, save only the tail and the fiery 

 eyes ; for the tail is long and snakelike with curUng 



* A. 61-3 a 15 6 5' Ixvevfiuv 6 iv kiyvicTi^ orav tSr] tov 6<piv rrp/ 

 iffirida KaKovfjLevijv, ov vp&repov eiriTiderai irpiv ffvyKaXearj ^ot}6o{is 

 fiXXoi'j- irpos 5e rds 7r\777ds Kal to, SrjyiMiTa wrjXf KaTaTr\dTTOv<Tii> 

 eaiTOVS' j3pe^avT€S yap iv rtp vSari TrpOrov, ovna KaXtvdovfrai iv 

 ri) ra ; Strabo 812 ; Ael. iii. 22, v. 48 ; vi. 38, x, 47 ; PhiL 

 98; Antig. 32; Nicand. T. 190 if.; Plin. viii. 88; Luc, iv. 

 724 Aspidas ut Pharias cauda soliertior hostis Ludit et iratas 

 incerta provocat umbra Obliquuraque caput vanas serpentis 

 in auras Effusae tuto comprendit ijuttura morsu Letiferam 

 citra saniem ; tunc inrita pestis Exprimitur, faucesque 

 fluunt pereunte veneno. 



149 



