sus, and when now the boundless bosom of Crissa appeared, which divides off rich Peloponnesus, there came a mighty west wind, clear, from the will of Jove, vehement, blowing briskly from the clear sky, that with all speed the ship might make its way, running along the briny wave of the sea. And backwards they then sailed towards the morn and the sun; and king Apollo, the son of Jove, was leader. And they came into western Crissa abounding in vines, into the port; but the sea-traversing ship drew nigh to the sands. Here the far-darting king, Apollo, bounded from the ship, like unto a star at mid-day, but from it flitted many sparks, and the brilliancy reached to heaven,[1] and he went into his recess through the high-valued tripods. And then he kindled a flame, showing forth his shafts,[2] and the gleam occupied all Crissa. But the wives and fair-girdled daughters of the Crissæans raised a shout, under the influence of Phœbus's shock, for a mighty fear seized each. Here again, like thought, he leaped in flight to the ship, likened unto a youthful and vigorous man just reached puberty, enwrapping his broad shoulders in his hair, and addressing them, he spoke winged words:
"O strangers, who are ye? Whence do ye sail o'er the watery ways? Is it for traffic, or do ye wander at random, like pirates, over the seas, who indeed wander, risking their lives, bearing evil to men of other lands?[3] Why stand ye thus astounded, and do not disembark upon the land, nor stow the cables in the black ship? For this indeed is the business of adventurous men, when, worn out with toil, they have come in the dark ship from the sea to land, but straightway love of pleasant food seizes them in their minds."
Thus he spake, and set boldness in their breasts. And
- ↑ Chapman:
"———And then forth brake
The far-shot king, like to a star that shows
His glorious forehead, where the mid-day glows,
That all in sparkles did his state attire,
Whose lustre leap'd up to the sphere of fire." - ↑ Barnes compares Il. xii. 280. The following translation is given in Coleridge, p. 291:
"———right through the tripods he
Pass'd to his secret fane, and there in flames
Burn'd visible with terrors manifest." - ↑ Cf. Od. iii. 71, sqq., with my note.
