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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
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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
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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
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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 hig