“And when at length the daughter of the Dawn, The rosy-fingered Morn, appeared, we walked Around the isle, admiring as we went. Meanwhile the nymphs, the daughters of the God Who bears the aegis, roused the mountain goats, That so our crews might make their morning meal. And straightway from our ships we took in hand Our crooked bows and our long-bladed spears.
“ ‘Let all the rest of my beloved friends Remain, while I, with my own barque and crew, Go forth to learn what race of men are these, Whether ill-mannered, savage, and unjust, Or kind to guests and reverent toward the gods.’ “I spake, and, having ordered all my crew To go on board and cast the hawsers loose, Embarked on my own ship. They all obeyed, And manned the benches, sitting there in rows, And smote the hoary ocean with their oars. But when we came upon that neighboring coast, We saw upon its verge beside the sea A cave high vaulted, overbrowed with shrubs Of laurel. There much cattle lay at rest, Both sheep and goats. Around it was a court, A high enclosure of hewn stone, and pines Tall stemmed, and towering oaks. Here dwelt a man Of giant bulk, who by himself, alone, Was wont to tend his flocks. He never held Converse with others, but devised apart His wicked deeds. A frightful prodigy Was he, and like no man who lives by bread, But more like a huge mountain summit, rough With woods, that towers alone above the rest.
“Then, bidding all the others stay and guard The ship, I chose among my bravest men Twelve whom I took with me. I had on board A goatskin of dark wine—a pleasant sort, Which Maron late, Evanthes’ son, a priest Of Phoebus, guardian god of Ismarus, Gave me, when, moved with reverence, we saved Him and his children and his wife from death. For his abode was in the thick-grown grove Of Phoebus. Costly were the gifts he gave— Seven talents of wrought gold; a chalice all Of silver; and he drew for me, besides, Into twelve jars, a choice rich wine, unspoiled By mixtures, and a beverage for gods. No one within his dwellings, maids or men, Knew of it, save the master and his wife, And matron of the