HALIEUTICA, V. 624^64-9 



past toil. But when they adventure to accomplish 

 their mighty task, they make their vows to the 

 blessed gods who rule the deep sea and pray that 

 they ward from them all hurt from the monsters of 

 the deep and that no harm may meet them in the 

 sea. And if they see a Beauty-fish," then great 

 courage comes into their hearts ; for where these 

 range there never yet hath any dread Sea-monster 

 appeared nor noxious beast nor hurtful thing of the 

 sea but always thev delight in clean and harmless 

 paths : wherefore also men have named it the Holy 

 Fish. Rejoicing in it they hasten to their labours. 

 A man is girt with a long rope above his waist and, 

 using both hands, in one he grasps a heavy mass of 

 lead and in his right hand he holds a sharp bill, 

 while in the jaws of his mouth he keeps white oil.* 

 Standing upon the prow he scans the waves of the 

 sea, pondering his heavy task and the infinite water. 

 His comrades incite and stir him to his work with 

 encouraging words, even as a man skilled in foot- 

 racing when he stands upon his mark. But when 

 he takes heart of courage, he leaps into the eddying 

 waves and as he springs the force of the heavy grey 

 lead drags him down. Now when he arrives at the 

 bottom, he spits out the oil, and it shines brightly 

 and the gleam mingles vrith the water, even as a 

 beacon showing its eye in the darkness of the night. 

 Approaching the rocks ^ he sees the Sponges which 



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 Plin. ix. 



511 



