“But,” observed the father of the maiden, “it is no fault of mine that the solemnity is deferred; we only wait at your father’s desire, till a victim can be purchased; for a sacrifice must be offered to the gods.”
“With respect to the victim,” interposed the maiden’s younger brother, “he has long provided one, and a noble one too, which is now feeding behind the cottage.”
“And is it truly so?” demanded the old man.
“It is,” replied the lad.
“And where,” addressing the youth, “did you procure it?” inquired they.
“When we took the wild sow,[[1840]] which was followed by her litter,” answered he, “and the greater number, swifter than hares, made their escape; I hit one with a stone, and my companions coming up threw a skin over him. This I secured, and exchanged in the village for a young domestic pig which has been fatted in a sty behind the house.”
“I now understand,” exclaimed the father, “the cause of your mother’s mirth when I would wonder what that grunting could be, and how the barley was disappearing so fast.”
“Nevertheless,” observed the young man, “to be properly fatted our Eubœan swine require acorns.[[1841]] However, if you will just step this way I will show her to you.”
Upon which off they went, the boys quite at a run, and in vast glee.
In the meantime, the maiden going into the other cottage, brought forth a quantity of split service-berries,[[1842]] medlars,[[1843]] and winter apples, and bunches of superb grapes, bursting ripe,[[1844]] and, brushing down the table, she spread them out there upon a layer of clean fern. Next moment the lads returned bringing in the pig, with much joking and shouts of laughter. Then came, too, the young man’s mother, with two of his little brothers, and they brought along with them nice white loaves, with boiled eggs in wooden salvers, with a quantity of parched peas. Having embraced her brother, with his wife and daughter, she sat down beside her husband, and said,