esire as far off as ever.

With many a weary step, and many a groan,
Up the high hill he heaves a huge round stone;
The huge round stone, returning with a bound,
Thunders impetuous down, and smokes along the ground.

Homer, _Odyssey_, xi. [Pope's trans.].

=Sisyphus=, in the Milesian tales, was doomed to die, but when Death
came to him, the wily fellow contrived to fasten the unwelcome messenger
in a chair, and then feasted him till old Spare-ribs grew as fat as a
prize pig. In time, Pluto released Death, and Sisyphus was caught, but
prayed that he might speak to his wife before he went to Had[^e]s. The
prayer was granted, and Sisyphus told his wife not to bury him, for
though she might think him dead, he would not be really so. When he got
to the infernal regions, he made the ghosts so merry with his jokes,
that Pluto reproved him, and Sisyphus pleaded that, as he had not been
buried, Pluto had no jurisdiction over him, nor could he even be ferried
across the Styx. He then obtained leave to return to earth, that he
might persuade his wife to bury him. Now, the wily old king had
previously bribed Herm[^e]s, when he took him to Had[^e]s, to induce
Zeus to grant him life, provided he returned to earth again in the body;
when, therefore, he did return, he demanded of Herm[^e]s the fulfillment
of his promise, and Herm[^e]s induced Zeus to bestow on him life.
Sisyphus was now allowed to return to earth, with a promise that he
should never die again, till he himself implored for death. So he
lived, and lived till he was weary of living, and when he went to
Had[^e]s the second time, he was allotted, by way of punishment, the
task of rolling a huge stone to the top of a mountain. Orpheus (2
_syl._), asked him how he could endure so ceaseless and vain an
employment, and Sisyphus replied that he hoped ultimately to accomplish
the task. "Never," exclaimed Orpheus; "it can never be done!" "Well,
then," said Sisyphus, "mine is at worst but everlasting hope."--Lord
Lytton, _Tales of Miletus_, ii.

=Sitoph'agus= ("_the wheat-eater_"), one of the mouse princes, who being
wounded in the battle, crept into a ditch to avoid further injury or
danger.

The lame Sitophagus, oppressed with pain,
Creeps from the desperate dangers of the plain;
And where the ditches rising weeds supply ...
There lurks the silent mouse relieved of heat,
And, safe embowered, avoids the chance of fate.

Parn