14 THE CALL OF THE SEA 



they placed it within the hollow mast hole, and 

 bound it down with cables ; and they hoisted the 

 white sails with well-twisted bull-hides. And to 

 them blue-eyed Minerva sent a favourable gale, 

 blowing sharply upon them through the air, that 

 the ship, running along, might very quickly make 

 its way over the briny water of the sea. And they 

 came to Crouni and to fair-streamed Chalcis. But 

 the sun set, and all the ways were overshadowed. 

 And it reached Pheras, driven on by a favourable 

 gale from Jove ; and to divine Elis, where the 

 Epeans rule. From thence he sent it on to the 

 swift islands, meditating whether he should escape 

 death or be taken. 



Homer. 



Counsel for Mariners "Cy •'Cy -^:iy 



(From The Works and Days ; trans.) 



TDRAISE a small vessel, but put your cargo in a 

 large one. . . . For fifty days after the summer 

 solstice, when the summer season of labour is past, 

 sailing is seasonable for men : neither would you 

 wreck your ship, nor would the sea drown the 

 crew, unless of design Neptune, who shakes the 

 earth, or Jupiter, king of the Gods, should choose 

 to destroy them ; for these decide the end of good 

 folk and of bad. But at that season the winds 



