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he home of Cheiron the Centaur water…nymphs are tending； though he still craves thy mother milk； it is fated that he be the husband of Medea； Aeetes' daughter； do thou aid thy daughter…in…law as a mother…in…law should； and aid Peleus himself。 Why is thy wrath so steadfast？ He was blinded by folly。 For blindness comes even upon the gods。 Surely at my behest I deem that Hephaestus will cease from kindling the fury of his flame； and that Aeolus； son of Hippotas； will check his swift rushing winds； all but the steady west wind； until they reach the havens of the Phaeacians； do thou devise a return without bane。 The rocks and the tyrannous waves are my fear； they alone； and them thou canst foil with thy sisters' aid。 And let them not fall in their helplessness into Charybdis lest she swallow them at one gulp； or approach the hideous lair of Scylla； Ausonian Scylla the deadly； whom night…wandering Hecate； who is called Crataeis； （6） bare to Phoreys； lest swooping upon them with her horrible jaws she destroy the chiefest of the heroes。 But guide their ship in the course where there shall be still a hair's breadth escape from destruction。〃
（ll。 833…841） Thus she spake； and Thetis answered with these words： 〃If the fury of the ravening flame and the stormy winds cease in very deed； surely will I promise boldly to save the ship； even though the waves bar the way； if only the west wind blows fresh and clear。 But it is time to fare on a long and measureless path； in quest of my sisters who will aid me； and to the spot where the ship's hawsers are fastened； that at early dawn the heroes may take thought to win their home…return。〃
（ll。 842…855） She spake； and darting down from the sky fell amid the eddies of the dark blue sea； and she called to aid her the rest of the Nereids； her own sisters； and they heard her and gathered together； and Thetis declared to them Hera's behests； and quickly sped them all on their way to the Ausonian sea。 And herself； swifter than the flash of an eye or the shafts of the sun； when it rises upwards from a far…distant land； hastened swiftly through the sea； until she reached the Aeaean beach of the Tyrrhenian mainland。 And the heroes she found by the ship taking their pastime with quoits and shooting of arrows； and she drew near and just touched the hand of Aeaeus' son Peleus； for he was her husband； nor could anyone see her clearly； but she appeared to his eyes alone； and thus addressed him：
（ll。 856…864） 〃No longer now must ye stay sitting on the Tyrrhenian beach； but at dawn loosen the hawsers of your swift ship； in obedience to Hera； your helper。 For at her behest the maiden daughters of Nereus have met together to draw your ship through the midst of the rocks which are called Planctae； （7） for that is your destined path。 But do thou show my person to no one； when thou seest us come to meet time； but keep it secret in thy mind； lest thou anger me still more than thou didst anger me before so recklessly。〃
（ll。 865…884） She spake； and vanished into the depths of the sea； but sharp pain smote Peleus； for never before had he seen her come； since first she left her bridal chamber and bed in anger； on account of noble Achilles； then a babe。 For she ever encompassed the child's mortal flesh in the night with the flame of fire； and day by day she anointed with ambrosia his tender frame； so that he might become immortal and that she might keep off from his body loathsome old age。 But Peleus leapt up from his bed and saw his dear son gasping in the flame； and at the sight he uttered a terrible cry； fool that he was； and she heard it； and catching up the child threw him screaming to the ground； and herself like a breath of wind passed swiftly from the hall as a dream and leapt into the sea； exceeding wroth； and thereafter returned not again。 Wherefore blank amazement fettered his soul； nevertheless he declared to his comrades all the bidding of Thetis。 And they broke off in the midst and hurriedly ceased their contests； and prepared their meal and earth…strewn beds； whereon after supper they slept through the night as aforetime。
（ll。 885…921） Now when dawn the light…bringer was touching the edge of heaven； then at the coming of the swift west wind they went to their thwarts from the land； and gladly did they draw up the anchors from the deep and made the tackling ready in due order； and above spread the sail； stretching it taut with the sheets from the yard…arm。 And a fresh breeze wafted the ship on。 And soon they saw a fair island； Anthemoessa； where the clear… voiced Sirens； daughters of Achelous； used to beguile with their sweet songs whoever cast anchor there； and then destroy him。 Them lovely Terpsichore； one of the Muses； bare； united with Achelous； and once they tended Demeter's noble daughter still unwed； and sang to her in chorus； and at that time they were fashioned in part like birds and in part like maidens to behold。 And ever on the watch from their place of prospect with its fair haven； often from many had they taken away their sweet return； consuming them with wasting desire； and suddenly to the heroes； too； they sent forth from their lips a lily…like voice。 And they were already about to cast from the ship the hawsers to the shore； had not Thracian Orpheus； son of Oeagrus； stringing in his hands his Bistonian lyre； rung forth the hasty snatch of a rippling melody so that their ears 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 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 feedi