wide fen. But the son of
Abas was passing along the raised banks of the muddy river, and the boar
from some unseen lair leapt out of the reed-bed, and charging gashed his
thigh and severed in twain the sinews and the bone. And with a sharp cry
the hero fell to the ground; and as he was struck his comrades flocked
together with answering cry. And quickly Peleus with his hunting spear
aimed at the murderous boar as he fled back into the fen; and again he
turned and charged; but Idas wounded him, and with a roar he fell
impaled upon the sharp spear. And the boar they left on the ground just
as he had fallen there; but Idmon, now at the last gasp, his comrades
bore to the ship in sorrow of heart, and he died in his comrades' arms.

And here they stayed from taking thought for their voyaging and abode in
grief for the burial of their dead friend. And for three whole days they
lamented; and on the next they buried him with full honours, and the
people and King Lycus himself took part in the funeral rites; and, as is
the due of the departed, they slaughtered countless sheep at his tomb.
And so a barrow to this hero was raised in that land, and there stands a
token for men of later days to see, the trunk of a wild olive tree, such
as ships are built of; and it flourishes with its green leaves a little
below the Acherusian headland. And if at the bidding of the Muses I must
tell this tale outright, Phoebus strictly commanded the Boeotians and
Nisaeans to worship him as guardian of their city, and to build their
city round the trunk of the ancient wild olive; but they, instead of the
god-fearing Aeolid Idmon, at this day honour Agamestor.

Who was the next that died? For then a second time the heroes heaped up
a barrow for a comrade dead. For still are to be seen two monuments of
those heroes. The tale goes that Tiphys son of Hagnias died; nor was it
his destiny thereafter to sail any further. But him there on the spot a
short sickness laid to rest far from his native land, when the company
had paid due honours to the dead son of Abas. And at the cruel woe they
were seized with unbearable grief. For when with due honours they had
buried him also hard by the seer, they cast themselves down in
helplessness on the sea-shore silently, closely wrapped up, and took no
thought for meat or drink; and their spirit drooped in grief, for all
hope of return was gone. And in their sorrow they would have stayed from
going further had not Hera