The Argonautica

his prophecies did not save him, for need drove him to death.

A marsh beside the river lay wet and thick with reeds,

a boar lay cooling both his flanks and boundless belly

in mire, a great white-tusked boar, a deadly portent, whom even

the marshland Nymphs themselves had feared; no mortal man

knew the beast; it grazed alone across the spreading marsh.

But then the son of Abas walked the rising riverbanks,

along the muddy stream; from unseen cover, the boar

sprang high out of the reeds and struck Idmon in the thigh,

charging headlong, and cut through sinews, bone and all.

Idmon gave a piercing cry and struck the ground;

his comrades raised an answering cry when Idmon fell,

and Peleus swiftly drove his keen spear at the deadly

boar as it fled toward the marsh; it wheeled and charged again,

but Idas wounded it; roaring, it fell impaled on the spear.

The boar they left there, lying fallen flat upon the earth;

but Idmon, gasping out his life, his comrades carried

sorrowing toward the ship; he died within their arms.

There they withheld all thought and care for the voyage,

and stayed in anguish, hearts bowed by grief for the dead.

For three whole days they mourned; on the next day they began

to bury Idmon grandly, while the people performed rites

beside King Lycus himself; and there they slaughtered numberless

sheep as grave-offerings, sacred custom owed the dead.