HALIEUTICA, V. 100-129 



might of hook and bait ; for while it lives thou shalt 

 never overpower and conquer the monster, but when 

 it is gone, his destruction will be swifter. For he no 

 longer knows surely the paths of the violet brine 

 nor knows to shun the evil that is at hand, but, even 

 as a merchant vessel whose steersman has perished, 

 he wanders idly, defenceless and helpless, wherever 

 the grey water carries him, and is borne in darkling 

 and unguessedways,^vidowedof his helpful charioteer. 

 Many a time in his wandering he runs aground on 

 rock or beach : such darkness is spread upon his 

 eyes. Thereupon with eager thoughts the fishers 

 hasten to the labour of the hunt, praying to the 

 blessed gods of whale-killing that they may capture 

 the dread monster of Amphitrite." As when a 

 strong company of foemen, having waited for mid- 

 night, stealthily approach their enemy and find by 

 favour of Ares the sentinels asleep before the gates 

 and fall upon them and overcome them : thereupon 

 they haste confidently to the high city and the very 

 citadel, carrying the weapon of fire, the doom of the 

 city, even the brand that wrecks the well-builded 

 walls : even so confidently do the fisher host haste 

 after the beast, unguarded now that his pilot is 

 slain. First they conjecture in their minds his 

 weight and size ; and these are the signs that tell 

 the measure of his limbs. If, as he rolls amid the 

 waves of the sea, he rise a little above it, showing the 

 top of his spine and the ridge of his neck, then 

 verily he is a mighty beast and excellent : for not 

 even the sea itself can easily support and carry him. 

 But if some portion of his back also appears, that 



" Spouse of Poseidon (Apollod. i. 4) : hence metonomy 

 for Sea, 



469 



