Book IV

“I ended, and the glorious goddess thus Made answer: ‘When the climbing sun has reached The middle heaven, the Ancient of the Deep, Who ne’er deceives, emerges from the waves, And, covered with the dark scum of the sea, Walks forth, and in a cavern vault lies down. Thither fair Halosydna’s progeny, The sea-calves from the hoary ocean, throng, Rank with the bitter odor of the brine, And slumber near him. With the break of day I will conduct thee thither and appoint Thy place, but thou shalt choose to go with thee Three of the bravest men in thy good ships. And let me now relate the stratagems Of the old prophet. He at first will count The sea-calves, going o’er them all by fives; And when he has beheld and numbered all, Amidst them all will he lie down, as lies A shepherd midst his flock. And then, as soon As ye behold him stretched at length, exert Your utmost strength to hold him there, although He strive and struggle to escape your hands; For he will try all stratagems, and take The form of every reptile on the earth, And turn to water and to raging flame⁠— Yet hold him firmly still, and all the more Make fast the bands. When he again shall take The form in which thou sawest him asleep, Desist from force, and loose the bands that held The ancient prophet. Ask of him what god Afflicts thee thus, and by what means to cross The fishy deep and find thy home again.’ “Thus having said, the goddess straightway sprang Into the billowy ocean, while I sought The galleys, where they rested on the sand, With an uneasy spirit. When I reached The ship and shore we made our evening meal. The hallowed night came down; we lay and slept Upon the sea-beach. When the Morning came, The rosy-fingered daughter of the Dawn, Forth on the border of the mighty main I went, and prayed the immortals fervently. I led three comrades, whom I trusted most In all adventures. Entering the depths Of the great sea, the goddess brought us thence Four skins of sea-calves newly flayed, that thus We might deceive her father. Then she