Nearing the Strait

17“As soon as we had left the isle, I saw
Mist and a mountain billow, and I heard
The thunder of the waters. From the hands
Of my affrighted comrades flew the oars,
The deep was all in uproar; but the ship
Stopped there, for all the rowers ceased their task.
I went through all the ship exhorting them
With cheerful words, man after man, and said: —

18“ ‘Reflect, my friends, that we are not untried
In evil fortunes, nor in sadder plight
Are we than when within his spacious cave
The brutal Cyclops held us prisoners;
Yet through my valor we escaped, and through
My counsels and devices, and I think
That you will live to bear this day’s events
In memory like those. Now let us act.
Do all as I advise; go to your seats
Upon the benches, smiting with your oars
These mighty waves, and haply Zeus will grant
That we escape the death which threatens us.
You, helmsman, I adjure —and heed my words,
Since to your hands alone is given in charge
Our gallant vessel’s rudder —steer you hence
From mist and tumbling waves, and well observe
The rock, lest where it juts into the sea
You heed it not, and bring us all to wreck.’

19“I spoke, and quickly all obeyed my words.
Yet said I naught of Scylla —whom we now
Could not avoid —lest all the crew in fear
Should cease to row, and crowd into the hold.
And then did I forget the stern command
Which Circe gave me, not to arm myself
For combat. In my shining arms I cased
My limbs, and took in hand two ponderous spears,
And went on deck, and stood upon the prow —
For there it seemed to me that Scylla first
Would show herself —that monster of the rocks —
To seize my comrades. Yet I saw her not,
Though weary grew my eyes with looking long
And eagerly upon those dusky cliffs.