sea-banks, and give my company their midday meal, and then send them to make search.  But as I came and drew nigh to the curved ship, some god even then took pity on me in my loneliness, and sent a tall antlered stag across my very path.  He was coming down from his pasture in the woodland to the river to drink, for verily the might of the sun was sore upon him.  And as he came up from out of the stream, I smote him on the spine in the middle of the back, and the brazen shaft went clean through him, and with a moan he fell in the dust, and his life passed from him.  Then I set my foot on him and drew forth the brazen shaft from the wound, and laid it hard by upon the ground and let it lie.  Next I broke withies and willow twigs, and wove me a rope a fathom in length, well twisted from end to end, and bound together the feet of the huge beast, and went to the black ship bearing him across my neck, and leaning on a spear, for it was in no wise possible to carry him on my shoulder with the one hand, for he was a mighty quarry.  And I threw him down before the ship and roused my company with soft words, standing by each man in turn: 

’"Friends, for all our sorrows we shall not yet a while go down to the house of Hades, ere the coming of the day of destiny; go to then, while as yet there is meat and drink in the swift ship, let us take thought thereof, that we be not famished for hunger.”

’Even so I spake, and they speedily hearkened to my words.  They unmuffled their heads, and there on the shore of the unharvested sea gazed at the stag, for he was a mighty quarry.  But after they had delighted their eyes with the sight of him, they washed their hands and got ready the glorious feast.  So for that time we sat the livelong day till the going down of the sun, feasting on abundant flesh and sweet wine.  But when the sun sank and darkness had come on, then we laid us to rest upon the sea beach.  So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, I called a gathering of my men and spake in the ears of them all: 

’"Hear my works, my fellows, despite your evil case.  My friends, lo, now we know not where is the place of darkness or of dawning, nor where the Sun, that gives light to men, goes beneath the earth, nor where he rises; therefore let us advise us speedily if any counsel yet may be:  as for me, I deem there is none.  For I went up a craggy hill, a place of out-look, and saw the island crowned about with the circle of the endless sea, the isle itself lying low; and in the midst thereof mine eyes beheld the smoke through the thick coppice and the woodland.”

’Even so I spake, but their spirit within them was broken, as they remembered the deeds of Antiphates the Laestrygonian, and all the evil violence of the haughty Cyclops, the man-eater.  So they wept aloud shedding big tears.  Howbeit no avail came of their weeping.