tackle dropped entangled to the hold; The mast, in falling on the galley’s stern, Dashed on the pilot’s head and crushed the bones, And from the deck he plunged like one who dives Into the deep; his gallant spirit left The limbs at once. Jove thundered from on high, And sent a thunderbolt into the ship, That, quaking with the fearful blow, and filled With stifling sulphur, shook my comrades off Into the deep. They floated round the ship Like seamews; Jupiter had cut them off From their return. I moved from place to place, Still in the ship, until the tempest’s force Parted the sides and keel. Before the waves The naked keel was swept. The mast had snapped Just at the base, but round it was a thong Made of a bullock’s hide; with this I bound The mast and keel together, took my seat Upon them, and the wild winds bore me on.
“The west-wind ceased to rage; but in its stead The south-wind blew, and brought me bitter grief. I feared lest I must measure back my way To grim Charybdis. All night long I rode The waves, and with the rising sun drew near The rock of Scylla and the terrible Charybdis as her gulf was drawing down The waves of the salt sea. There as I came I raised myself on high till I could grasp The lofty fig-tree,