[20] {ta dusorma}, met. from "bad harbourage." Cf. Arsch. "Pers." 448; "Ag." 194. Cf. Lat. "importunus," also of "rough ground."[21] Or, "make his rush."
As soon as the nets are fixed, the party will come back and let thehounds slip one and all; then each will snatch up his javelin[22] and boar- spear, and advance. Some one man, the most practised hand, will cheer on the hounds, and the rest will follow in good order at some considerable distance from one another, so as to leave the animal a free passage; since if he falls into the thick of them as he makes off, there is a fair chance of being wounded, for he will certainly vent his fury on the first creature he falls foul of.
[22] Lit. "then they will take their javelins and boar-spears and advance."As soon as the hounds are near his lair, they will make their onslaught. The boar, bewildered by the uproar, will rise up and toss the first hound that ventures to attack him in front. He will then run and fall into the toils; or if not, then after him full cry.[23] Even if the ground on which the toils environ him be sloping, he will recover himself promptly;[24] but if level, he will at once plant himself firm as a rock, as if deliberating with himself.[25] At that conjuncture the hounds will press hard upon him, while their masters had best keep a narrow eye upon the boar and let fly their javelins and a pelt of stones, being planted in a ring behind him and a good way off, until the instant when with a forward heave of his body he stretches the net tight and strains the skirting-rope. Thereupon he who is most skilful of the company and of the stoutest nerve will advance from the front and deliver a home thrust with his hunting- spear.
[23] Or, "a pretty chase must follow."
[24] Or, "if within the prison of the net the ground be sloping, it will not take long to make him spring up; he will be up again onhis legs in no time."[25] Or, "being concerned about himself."Should the animal for all that rain of javelins and stones refuse to stretch the skirting-rope, should he rather relax[26] in that direction and make a right-about-face turn bearing down on his assailant, there is nothing for it, under these circumstances, but to seize a boar-spear, and advance; firmly clutching it with the left hand forward and with the right behind; the left is to steady it, and the right to give it impulse; and so the feet,[27] the left advanced in correspondence with the left arm, and rightwith right. As he advances, he will make a lunge forward with the boar- spear,[27] planting his legs apart not much wider than in wrestling,[28] and keeping his left side turned towards his left hand; and then, with his eye fixed steadily on the beast's eye, he will note every turn and movement of the creature's head. As he brings down the boar-spear to the thrust, he must take good heed the animal does not knock it out of his hands by a side movement of the head;[29] for if so he will follow up the impetus of that rude knock. In case of that misfortune, the huntsman must throw himself upon his face and clutch tight hold of the brushwood under him, since if the wild boar should attack him in that posture, owing to the upward curve of its tusks, it cannot get under him;[30] whereas if caught erect, he must be wounded. What will happen then is, that the beast will try to raise him up, and failing that will stand upon and trample him.
[26] {epanieis}. See Sturz, s.v.
[27] Lit. "forwards the left foot will follow the left arm and the right foot the other."[28] "Statum venatoris aprum venabulo excipientis pinxit Philostratus," "Imag." i. 28, Schn.
[29] Or, "he will step forward and take one stride not much longer than that of a wrestler, and thrust forward his boar-spear."[30] Cf. Hes. "Shield," 387; Hom. "Il." xii. 148: "Then forth rushed the twain, and fought in front of the gates like wild boars that in the mountains abide the assailing crew of men and dogs, and charging on either flank they crush the wood around them, cutting it at the root, and the clatter of their tusks waxes loud, tillone smite them and take their life away" (A. Lang).
