1 8 THE CALL OF THE SEA 



of Glaucus, and Palemon, I no's son, the swift 

 Tritons, and the whole band of Phorcus. On the 

 left are Thetis, Melite, and the virgin Panopa;, 

 Nesa:e, Spio, Thalia, and Cymodoce. Upon this, 

 soft joys in their turn diffuse themselves through 

 the anxious soul of father yEneas. f^orthwith he 

 orders all the masts to be set up, and the yards to 

 be stretched along the sails. At once they all 

 tacked together, and together let go sometimes 

 the left-hand sheets, sometimes the right : at once 

 they turn and turn back the lofty end of the sail- 

 yards : friendly gales waft the fleet forward. 

 Palinurus, the master-pilot, led the closely-united 

 squadron : towards him the rest were ordered to 

 steer their course. 



And now the dewy night had almost reached 

 the middle of her course ; the weary sailors, 

 stretched along the hard benches under the oars, 

 relaxed their limbs in peaceful repose ; when the 

 god of sleep, gliding down from the ethereal stars, 

 parted the dusky air, and dispelled the shades ; to 

 you, O Palinurus, directing his course, visiting 

 you, though innocent, with dismal dreams : and 

 the god took his seat on the lofty stern, in the 

 similitude of Phorbas, and poured forth these 

 words from his lips : Palinurus, son of lasius, the 

 seas themselves carry forward the fleet ; the gales 

 blow fair and steady, the hour for rest is given. 

 Recline your head, and steal your weary eyes from 



