was one. This latter had escaped killing at the hands of the Anses because they were loth to pollute them with his blood; but he was found to grow so fast, and the things foreboded of him were of such a terrible nature, that they became alarmed and proceeded to tie the Wolf; but he shook off the bonds with ease. They then had a magic rope made, which the Wolf, suspecting treachery, would not let them fasten him with, till one of their number became bail by placing his hand in the beast's mouth whilst he was being bound. Týr was the brave one who came forward to do so, and the bonds proving effective, the Wolf bit off the god's hand on the spot; nor do we read of his being provided with an artificial hand, as was the case with the Irish Nuada, or of his being healed, as the corresponding Greek story which describes the conflict between Zeus and his monster antagonist Typho would suggest.[1] For Zeus, after plying Typho with his thunderbolt without the desired result, engaged him at close quarters with a sickle, which Typho wrested from the god and used against him: it was then that Zeus lost the use not only of one hand but of both, for his foe cut out the tendons of his hands and feet and carried him away on his shoulders, a helpless mass, to be thrown into a cave, while the muscles were hidden away in the charge of a dragon. Hermes, however, came, and with his usual cleverness stole them and restored them to their proper places in the god's frame, who then recovered his strength and at last overcame Typho. The stories, you will see, differ considerably, but they are sufficiently similar to make it in the highest degree probable that the Irish Nuada is to be
- ↑ See Apollodorus, i. 6, 3.
