“An omen of great luck for me so soon! I do not slight it. Hail, comrade of the
feast, lovely in shape, sounding at the dance! With joy I meet you! Where got you that rich
gaud for covering, that spangled shell —a tortoise living in the mountains? But I will take
and carry you within: you shall help meand I will do you no disgrace, though first of all you must profit me. It is better
to be at home: harm may come out of doors. Living, you shall be a spell against mischievous
witchcraftPliny notices the efficacy of the flesh of a
tortoise against witchcraft. In Geoponica i. 14. 8 the living tortoise is
prescribed as a charm to preserve vineyards from hail.; but if you die, then you
shall make sweetest song.” Thus speaking, he took up the tortoise in both hands and went back into the house carrying his charming toy. Then he cut off its limbs
and scooped out the marrow of the mountain-tortoise with a scoop of grey iron. As a swift
thought darts through the heart of a man when thronging cares haunt him,