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might be filled with the sound of his twanging； and the lyre overcame the
maidens' voice。 And the west wind and the sounding wave rushing astern
bore the ship on； and the Sirens kept uttering their ceaseless song。 But
even so the goodly son of Teleon alone of the comrades leapt before them
all from the polished bench into the sea； even Butes； his soul melted by the
clear ringing voice of the Sirens； and he swam through the dark surge to
mount the beach； poor wretch。 Quickly would they have robbed him of
his return then and there； but the goddess that rules Eryx； Cypris； in pity
snatched him away； while yet in the eddies； and graciously meeting him
saved him to dwell on the Lilybean height。 And the heroes； seized by
anguish； left the Sirens； but other perils still worse； destructive to ships；
awaited them in the meeting…place of the seas。
（ll。 922…981） For on one side appeared the smooth rock of Scylla； on
the other Charybdis ceaselessly spouted and roared； in another part the
Wandering rocks were booming beneath the mighty surge； where before
the burning flame spurted forth from the top of the crags； above the rock
glowing with fire； and the air was misty with smoke； nor could you have
seen the sun's light。 Then； though Hephaestus had ceased from his toils；
the sea was still sending up a warm vapour。 Hereupon on this side and
on that the daughters of Nereus met them； and behind； lady Thetis set her
hand to the rudder…blade； to guide them amid the Wandering rocks。 And as
when in fair weather herds of dolphins come up from the depths and sport
in circles round a ship as it speeds along； now seen in front； now behind；
now again at the side and delight comes to the sailors； so the Nereids
darted upward and circled in their ranks round the ship Argo； while Thetis
guided its course。 And when they were about to touch the Wandering rocks；
straightway they raised the edge of their garments over their snow…white
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knees； and aloft； on the very rocks and where the waves broke； they
hurried along on this side and on that apart from one another。 And the
ship was raised aloft as the current smote her； and all around the furious
wave mounting up broke over the rocks； which at one time touched the
sky like towering crags； at another； down in the depths； were fixed fast at
the bottom of the sea and the fierce waves poured over them in floods。
And the Nereids； even as maidens near some sandy beach roll their
garments up to their waists out of their way and sport with a shapely…
rounded ball； then they catch it one from another and send it high into the
air； and it never touches the ground； so they in turn one from another sent
the ship through the air over the waves； as it sped on ever away from the
rocks； and round them the water spouted and foamed。 And lord
Hephaestus himself standing on the summit of a smooth rock and resting
his massy shoulder on the handle of his hammer； beheld them； and the
spouse of Zeus beheld them as she stood above the gleaming heaven； and
she threw her arms round Athena； such fear seized her as she gazed。 And
as long as the space of a day is lengthened out in springtime； so long a
time did they toil； heaving the ship between the loud…echoing rocks； then
again the heroes caught the wind and sped onward； and swiftly they
passed the mead of Thrinacia； where the kine of Helios fed。 There the
nymphs； like sea…mews； plunged beneath the depths； when they had
fulfilled the behests of the spouse of Zeus。 And at the same time the
bleating of sheep came to the heroes through the mist and the lowing of
kine； near at hand； smote their ears。 And over the dewy leas Phaethusa；
the youngest of the daughters of Helios； tended the sheep； bearing in her
hand a silver crook； while Lampetia； herding the kine； wielded a staff of
glowing orichalcum （8） as she followed。 These kine the heroes saw
feeding by the river's stream； over the plain and the water…meadow； not
one of them was dark in hue but all were white as milk and glorying in
their horns of gold。 So they passed them by in the day…time； and when
night came on they were cleaving a great sea…gulf； rejoicing； until again
early rising dawn threw light upon their course。
（ll。 982…1013） Fronting the Ionian gulf there lies an island in the
Ceraunian sea； rich in soil； with a harbour on both sides； beneath which
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lies the sickle； as legend saithgrant me grace； O Muses； not willingly do I
tell this tale of olden days wherewith Cronos pitilessly mutilated his
father； but others call it the reaping…hook of Demeter； goddess of the
nether world。 For Demeter once dwelt in that island； and taught the
Titans to reap the ears of corn； all for the love of Macris。 Whence it is
called Drepane； （9） the sacred nurse of the Phaeacians； and thus the
Phaeacians themselves are by birth of the blood of Uranus。 To them
came Argo； held fast by many toils； borne by the breezes from the
Thrinacian sea； and Alcinous and his people with kindly sacrifice gladly
welcomed their coming； and over them all the city made merry； thou
wouldst say they were rejoicing over their own sons。 And the heroes
themselves strode in gladness through the throng； even as though they had
set foot in the heart of Haemonia； but soon were they to arm and raise the
battle…cry； so near to them appeared a boundless host of Colchians； who
had passed through the mouth of Pontus and between the Cyanean rocks in
search of the chieftains。 They desired forthwith to carry off Medea to her
father's house apart from the rest； or else they threatened with fierce
cruelty to raise the dread war…cry both then and thereafter on the coming
of Aeetes。 But lordly Alcinous checked them amid their eagerness for
war。 For he longed to allay the lawless strife between both sides without
the clash of battle。 And the