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ng light； till she stooped to the Isle of the Sirens； and snatched their prey from their claws。 And she lifted Butes as he lay sleeping； and wrapt him in golden mist； and she bore him to the peak of Lilybaeum； and he slept there many a pleasant year。
But when the Sirens saw that they were conquered； they shrieked for envy and rage； and leapt from the beach into the sea； and were changed into rocks until this day。
Then they came to the straits by Lilybaeum； and saw Sicily； the three…cornered island； under which Enceladus the giant lies groaning day and night； and when he turns the earth quakes； and his breath bursts out in roaring flames from the highest cone of AEtna； above the chestnut woods。 And there Charybdis caught them in its fearful coils of wave； and rolled mast…high about them； and spun them round and round； and they could go neither back nor forward； while the whirlpool sucked them in。
And while they struggled they saw near them； on the other side the strait； a rock stand in the water； with its peak wrapt round in clouds … a rock which no man could climb； though he had twenty hands and feet； for the stone was smooth and slippery； as if polished by man's hand； and halfway up a misty cave looked out toward the west。
And when Orpheus saw it he groaned； and struck his hands together。 And 'Little will it help us；' he cried； 'to escape the jaws of the whirlpool； for in that cave lives Scylla； the sea…hag with a young whelp's voice； my mother warned me of her ere we sailed away from Hellas； she has six heads； and six long necks； and hides in that dark cleft。 And from her cave she fishes for all things which pass by … for sharks； and seals； and dolphins； and all the herds of Amphitrite。 And never ship's crew boasted that they came safe by her rock； for she bends her long necks down to them； and every mouth takes up a man。 And who will help us now？ For Hera and Zeus hate us； and our ship is foul with guilt； so we must die； whatever befalls。'
Then out of the depths came Thetis； Peleus' silver…footed bride； for love of her gallant husband； and all her nymphs around her； and they played like snow…white dolphins； diving on from wave to wave； before the ship； and in her wake； and beside her； as dolphins play。 And they caught the ship； and guided her； and passed her on from hand to hand； and tossed her through the billows； as maidens toss the ball。 And when Scylla stooped to seize her； they struck back her ravening heads； and foul Scylla whined； as a whelp whines； at the touch of their gentle hands。 But she shrank into her cave affrighted … for all bad things shrink from good … and ARGO leapt safe past her； while a fair breeze rose behind。 Then Thetis and her nymphs sank down to their coral caves beneath the sea； and their gardens of green and purple； where live flowers bloom all the year round； while the heroes went on rejoicing； yet dreading what might come next。
After that they rowed on steadily for many a weary day； till they saw a long high island； and beyond it a mountain land。 And they searched till they found a harbour； and there rowed boldly in。 But after awhile they stopped； and wondered； for there stood a great city on the shore； and temples and walls and gardens； and castles high in air upon the cliffs。 And on either side they saw a harbour； with a narrow mouth； but wide within； and black ships without number； high and dry upon the shore。
Then Ancaios； the wise helmsman； spoke； 'What new wonder is this？ I know all isles； and harbours； and the windings of all seas； and this should be Corcyra； where a few wild goat… herds dwell。 But whence come these new harbours and vast works of polished stone？'
But Jason said； 'They can be no savage people。 We will go in and take our chance。'
So they rowed into the harbour； among a thousand black…beaked ships； each larger far than ARGO； toward a quay of polished stone。 And they wondered at that mighty city； with its roofs of burnished brass； and long and lofty walls of marble； with strong palisades above。 And the quays were full of people； merchants； and mariners； and slaves； going to and fro with merchandise among the crowd of ships。 And the heroes' hearts were humbled； and they looked at each other and said； 'We thought ourselves a gallant crew when we sailed from Iolcos by the sea； but how small we look before this city； like an ant before a hive of bees。'
Then the sailors hailed them roughly from the quay； 'What men are you？ … we want no strangers here； nor pirates。 We keep our business to ourselves。'
But Jason answered gently； with many a flattering word； and praised their city and their harbour； and their fleet of gallant ships。 'Surely you are the children of Poseidon； and the masters of the sea； and we are but poor wandering mariners； worn out with thirst and toil。 Give us but food and water； and we will go on our voyage in peace。'
Then the sailors laughed； and answered； 'Stranger； you are no fool； you talk like an honest man； and you shall find us honest too。 We are the children of Poseidon； and the masters of the sea； but come ashore to us； and you shall have the best that we can give。'
So they limped ashore； all stiff and weary； with long ragged beards and sunburnt cheeks； and garments torn and weather… stained； and weapons rusted with the spray； while the sailors laughed at them （for they were rough…tongued； though their hearts were frank and kind）。 And one said； 'These fellows are but raw sailors； they look as if they had been sea…sick all the day。' And another； 'Their legs have grown crooked with much rowing； till they waddle in their walk like ducks。'
At that Idas the rash would have struck them； but Jason held him back； till one of the merchant kings spoke to them； a tall and stately man。
'Do not be angry； strangers； the sailor boys must have their jest。 But we will treat you justly and kindly； for strangers and poor men come from God； and you seem no common sailors by your strength； and height； and weapons。 Come up with me to the palace of Alcinous； the rich sea…going king； and we will feast you well and heartily； and after that you shall tell us your name。'
But Medeia hung back； and trembled； and whispered in Jason's ear； 'We are betrayed； and are going to our ruin； for I see my countrymen among the crowd； dark…eyed Colchi in steel mail…shirts； such as they wear in my father's land。'
'It is too late to turn；' said Jason。 And he spoke to the merchant king； 'What country is this； good sir； and what is this new…built town？'
'This is the land of the Phaeaces； beloved by all the Immortals； for they come hither and feast like friends with us； and sit by our side in the hall。 Hither we came from Liburnia to escape the unrighteous Cyclopes； for they robbed us； peaceful merchants； of our hard…earned wares and wealth。 So Nausithous； the son of Poseidon； brought us hither； and died in peace； and now his son Alcinous rules us； and Arete the wisest of queens。'
So they went up across the square； and wondered still more as they went； for along the quays lay in order great cables； and yards； and masts； before the fair temple of Poseidon； the blue…haired king of the seas。 And round the square worked the ship…wrights； as many in number as ants； twining ropes； and hewing timber； and smoothing long yards and oars。 And the Minuai went on in silence through clean white marble streets； till they came to the hall of Alcinous； and they wondered then still more。 For the lofty palace shone aloft in the sun； with walls of plated brass； from the threshold to the innermost chamber； and the doors were of silver and gold。 And on each side of the doorway sat living dogs of gold； who never grew old or died； so well Hephaistos had made them in his forges in smoking Lemnos； and gave them to Alcinous to guard his gates by night。 And within； against the walls； stood thrones on either side； down the whole length of the hall； strewn with rich glossy shawls； and on them the merchant kings of those crafty sea…roving Phaeaces sat eating and drinking in pride； and feasting there all the year round。 And boys of molten gold stood each on a polished altar； and held torches in their hands； to give light all night to the guests。 And round the house sat fifty maid…servants； some grinding the meal in the mill； some turning the spindle； some weaving at the loom； while their hands twinkled as they passed the shuttle； like quivering aspen leaves。
And outside before the palace a great garden was walled round； filled full of stately fruit…trees； gray olives and sweet figs； and pomegranates； pears； and apples； which bore the whole year round。 For the rich south…west wind fed them； till pear grew ripe on pear； fig on fig； and grape on grape； all the winter and the spring。 And at the farther end gay flower…beds bloomed through all seasons of the year； and two fair fountains rose； and ran； one through the garden grounds； and one beneath the palace gate； to water all the town。 Such noble gifts the heavens had given to Alcinous the wise。
So they went in； and saw him sitting； like Poseidon； on his thron