ur of the Fates and the Nymphs. And when the Minyae
departed many gifts of friendship did Alcinous bestow, and many Arete;
moreover she gave Medea twelve Phaeacian handmaids from the palace, to
bear her company. And on the seventh day they left Drepane; and at dawn
came a fresh breeze from Zeus. And onward they sped borne along by the
wind's breath. Howbeit not yet was it ordained for the heroes to set
foot on Achaea, until they had toiled even in the furthest bounds of
Libya.

[Footnote 1: The old name of Corinth.]

Now had they left behind the gulf named after the Ambracians, now with
sails wide spread the land of the Curetes, and next in order the narrow
islands with the Echinades, and the land of Pelops was just descried;
even then a baleful blast of the north wind seized them in mid-course
and swept them towards the Libyan sea nine nights and as many days,
until they came far within Syrtis, wherefrom is no return for ships,
when they are once forced into that gulf. For on every hand are shoals,
on every hand masses of seaweed from the depths; and over them the light
foam of the wave washes without noise; and there is a stretch of sand to
the dim horizon; and there moveth nothing that creeps or flies. Here
accordingly the flood-tide--for this tide often retreats from the land
and bursts back again over the beach coming on with a rush and
roar--thrust them suddenly on to the innermost shore, and but little of
the keel was left in the water. And they leapt forth from the ship, and
sorrow seized them when they gazed on the mist and the levels of vast
land stretching far like a mist and continuous into the distance; no
spot for water, no path, no steading of herdsmen did they descry afar
off, but all the scene was possessed by a dead calm. And thus did one
hero, vexed in spirit, ask another:

"What land is this? Whither has the tempest hurled us? Would that,
reckless of deadly fear, we had dared to rush on by that same path
between the clashing rocks! Better were it to have overleapt the will of
Zeus and perished in venturing some mighty deed. But now what should we
do, held back by the winds to stay here, if ever so short a time? How
desolate looms before us the edge of the limitless land!"

Thus one spake; and among them Ancaeus the helmsman, in despair at their
evil case, spoke with grieving heart: "Verily we are undone by a
terrible doom; there is no escape from ruin; we must suffer the
cruellest woes, having fa