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Medea's Phaeacian handmaids saw them pouring water for libations on the
burning brands； they could no longer restrain laughter within their bosoms；
for that ever they had seen oxen in plenty slain in the halls of Alcinous。
And the heroes delighted in the jest and attacked them with taunting words；
and merry railing and contention flung to and fro were kindled among
them。 And from that sport of the heroes such scoffs do the women fling
at the men in that island whenever they propitiate with sacrifices Apollo
the gleaming god； the warder of Anaphe。
（ll。 1731…1740） But when they had loosed the hawsers thence in fair
weather； then Euphemus bethought him of a dream of the night；
reverencing the glorious son of Maia。 For it seemed to him that the god…
given clod of earth held in his palm close to his breast was being suckled
by white streams of milk； and that from it； little though it was； grew a
woman like a virgin； and he； overcome by strong desire； lay with her in
love's embrace； and united with her he pitied her； as though she were a
maiden whom he was feeding with his own milk； but she comforted him
with gentle words：
（ll。 1741…1745） 〃Daughter of Triton am I； dear friend； and nurse of
thy children； no maiden； Triton and Libya are my parents。 But restore
me to the daughters of Nereus to dwell in the sea near Anaphe； I shall
return again to the light of the sun； to prepare a home for thy descendants。〃
（ll。 1746…1748） Of this he stored in his heart the memory； and
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declared it to Aeson's son； and Jason pondered a prophecy of the Far…
Darter and lifted up his voice and said：
（ll。 1749…1754） 〃My friend； great and glorious renown has fallen to
thy lot。 For of this clod when thou hast cast it into the sea； the gods will
make an island； where thy children's children shall dwell； for Triton gave
this to thee as a stranger's gift from the Libyan mainland。 None other of
the immortals it was than he that gave thee this when he met thee。〃
（ll。 1755…1764） Thus he spake； and Euphemus made not vain the
answer of Aeson's son； but； cheered by the prophecy； he cast the clod into
the depths。 Therefrom rose up an island； Calliste； sacred nurse of the
sons of Euphemus； who in former days dwelt in Sintian Lemnos； and from
Lemnos were driven forth by Tyrrhenians and came to Sparta as suppliants；
and when they left Sparta； Theras； the goodly son of Autesion； brought
them to the island Calliste； and from himself he gave it the name of Thera。
But this befell after the days of Euphemus。
（ll。 1765…1772） And thence they steadily left behind long leagues of
sea and stayed on the beach of Aegina； and at once they contended in
innocent strife about the fetching of water； who first should draw it and
reach the ship。 For both their need and the ceaseless breeze urged them
on。 There even to this day do the youths of the Myrmidons take up on
their shoulders full… brimming jars； and with swift feet strive for victory in
the race。
（ll。 1773…1781） Be gracious； race of blessed chieftains！ And may
these songs year after year be sweeter to sing among men。 For now have
I come to the glorious end of your toils； for no adventure befell you as ye
came home from Aegina； and no tempest of winds opposed you； but
quietly did ye skirt the Cecropian land and Aulis inside of Euboea and the
Opuntian cities of the Locrians； and gladly did ye step forth upon the
beach of Pagasae。
ENDNOTES： （1） The allusion is to Sesotris。 See Herodotus ii。
102 foll。 （2） Or； reading EMETEREN； 〃into our sea〃。 The Euxine is
meant in any case and the word Ionian is therefore wrong。 （3）
Apollonius seems to have thought that the Po； the Rhone； and the
Rhine are all connected together。 （4） i。e。 like the scrapings from skin；
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APOSTLEGGISMATA； see Strabo p。 224 for this adventure。 （5）
The 〃Symplegades〃 are referred to； where help was given by
Athena； not by Hera。 It is strange that no mention is made of the
〃Planctae〃； properly so called； past which they are soon to be
helped。 Perhaps some lines have fallen out。 （6） i。e。 the Mighty One。 （7）
i。e。 the Wanderers。 （8） A fabulous metal； resembling gold in appearance。
（9） i。e。 the Sickle…island。 （10） The old name of Corinth。 （11） This seems
to be the only possible translation； but the optative is quite
anomalous。 We should expect EKOMIZES。 （12） An old name of the
Peloponnesus。 （13） i。e。 the isle of Revealing。
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