CYNEGETICA, IV. 85-113 



they dig a round pit," wide and large ; and in the 

 midst of the trench they build a great pillar, sheer and 

 high. From this they hang aloft a suckling lamb 

 taken from its mother that hath newly yeaned. 

 And outside the pit they \vreath a wall around, built 

 with close-set boulders, that the Lion may not see 

 the crafty chasm when he draws near. And the 

 high- hung suckling lamb bleats, and the sound 

 strikes the Lion's hungry heart, and he rushes in 

 search of the lamb, exulting in his heart, hasting in 

 the track of the cry and scanning this side and that 

 with fiery eyes. And anon he comes nigh the snare, 

 and he wheels about and a great hunger urges him, 

 and straightway obeying the impulse of hunger he 

 leaps over the wall, and the wide round chasm receives 

 him, and he comes unwittingly to the gulf of a pit 

 unlocked for. Everywhere he circles about, rushing 

 ever backwards and forwards, even as a swift race- 

 horse round the turning-post, constrained by the 

 hands of his charioteer and by the bridle. And from 

 their far-seen place of outlook the hunters see him 

 and rush up, and with well-cut straps they bind and 

 let down a plaited well-compacted cage, in which also 

 they put a piece of roasted meat. And he, thinking 

 straightway to escape from the pit, leaps in exulting ; 

 and for him there is no more any return prepared. 

 Thus they use in the alluvial thirsty ^ land of the 

 Libyans. 



But by the banks of the fair-flowing Euphrates 

 they array bright-eyed, great-hearted horses for the 



SiffTe fiT] wpoopav, ttffobov oii Xeiirovres. to. 8e aKovovra rijs (puifrjs 

 iv TTji vvktI KVK\(fj Tov <f>pa'yyib» irepiO^ovffi. Kai, iireidav ftrj evplaKr) 

 SioSov, irrfpTTTjdq. Kai a\icrK€Tai. 



* Verg. E. i. 65 sitientes Afros; Pliu. x. 21 perpetuo 

 sitientia Africae. 



169 



