HOMER A SPOETSMAN. 217 



his tail then he lashes right and left his thighs and his 

 mighty ribs * ; urging himself on to the combat. With 

 piercing looks he glares right in front of him ; onwards 

 he rages to kill a man or be killed himself in front of 

 the battle." 



And the account (book xvii.) of the lion watching 

 before the farm or fold at night "hungering for 

 flesh ;" how when the alarm being given, he is prevented 

 from stealing " the fat of beeves," he still watches 

 through the night ; and " the brightly-burning brands 

 which brave hands hurl against him ; " how like all 

 this what we read of the douar at night ! " Un lion 

 qui n'a pas dine, et qui, vu que I'heure avancee de la 

 nuit, se sent fort en appetit, arrive de son cote. . . 

 Notre lion s'est couche et il attend ; mais les chiens, 

 qui ont vu ses yeux ou qui Font flaire, font un tapage 

 d'enfer. L'eveil est donne au douar, tout le monde est 

 sur pied. Les uns crient, les autres tirent des coups de 

 fusil en I'air. 



" Les femmes rallument les feux, et jettent des tisons 

 enflammes." 



In little traits too, the two authors tally exactly in 



■* "Le lion s'etait arrete fier et inena9ant. Qii'il etait beau avec 

 sa gueule beante, jetant a tons ceux qui etaient la des menaces de 

 niort ! " 



" Qu'il etait beau avec sa criniere noire lierissee, avec sa queue qui 

 frappait ses flancs de eolere ! " — Gerard. 



