A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Rural Life 83
much din among the oxen, mounted forthwith behind
their high-stepping horses, and came up with speed. Then
they arrayed their battle and fought beside the river banks,
and smote one another with bronze-shod spears. And
among them mingled Strife and Tumult, and fell Death,
grasping one man alive
fresh-wounded, another without
wound, and dragging another dead through the mellay
by the feet; and the raiment on her shoulders was red
with the blood of men.
Like living mortals they hurled
together and fought, and haled the corpses each of the
other's slain.
h. Furthermore he set in the shield a soft fresh-plowed Plowing.
field, rich tilth and wide, the third time plowed; and
many plowers therein drave their yokes to and fro as they
wheeled about. Whensoever they came to the boundary
of the field and turned, then would a man come to each
and give into his hands a goblet of sweet wine, while
others would be turning back along the furrows, fain to
reach the boundary of the deep tilth. And the field grew
black behind and seemed as it were a-plowing, albeit of
gold, for this was the great marvel of the work.
Furthermore he set therein the domain-land of a king. Reaping,
where hinds were reaping with sharp sickles in their hands.
Some armfuls along the swathe were falling in rows to
the earth, whilst others the sheaf-binders were binding
in twisted bands of straw.
Three sheaf-binders stood over
them, while behind boys gathering corn and bearing it
in their arms gave it constantly to the binders; and among
them the king in silence was standing at the swathe with
his staff, rejoicing in his heart. And henchmen apart
beneath an oak were making ready a feast, and preparing
a great ox they had sacrificed; while the women were
strewing much white barley to be a supper for the hinds.