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the strings； and his music and his voice rose like a trumpet through the
still evening air； into the air it rushed like thunder； till the rocks rang and
the sea； and into their souls it rushed like wine； till all hearts beat fast
within their breasts。
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And he sung the song of Perseus； how the Gods led him over land
and sea； and how he slew the loathly Gorgon； and won himself a
peerless bride； and how he sits now with the Gods upon Olympus； a
shining star in the sky； immortal with his immortal bride； and honoured
by all men below。
So Orpheus sang； and the Sirens； answering each other across the
golden sea； till Orpheus' voice drowned the Sirens'； and the heroes
caught their oars again。
And they cried； 'We will be men like Perseus； and we will dare and
suffer to the last。 Sing us his song again； brave Orpheus； that we may
forget the Sirens and their spell。'
And as Orpheus sang； they dashed their oars into the sea； and kept
time to his music； as they fled fast away； and the Sirens' voices died
behind them； in the hissing of the foam along their wake。
But Butes swam to the shore； and knelt down before the Sirens； and
cried； 'Sing on！ sing on！' But he could say no more； for a charmed
sleep came over him； and a pleasant humming in his ears； and he sank
all along upon the pebbles； and forgot all heaven and earth； and never
looked at that sad beach around him； all strewn with the bones of men。
Then slowly rose up those three fair sisters； with a cruel smile upon
their lips； and slowly they crept down towards him； like leopards who
creep upon their prey； and their hands were like the talons of eagles as
they stept across the bones of their victims to enjoy their cruel feast。
But fairest Aphrodite saw him from the highest Idalian peak； and she
pitied his youth and his beauty； and leapt up from her golden throne； and
like a falling star she cleft the sky； and left a trail of glittering 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
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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
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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；