Page:The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice (Buckley 1853).djvu/170

134 haven, around which there was a lofty rock, continual on both sides; and prominent shores opposite to one another project at the mouth: but the entrance is narrow: there indeed they all kept their ships, rowed on both sides, within. They indeed were bound within the hollow haven, near one another; for in it the wave was never raised, neither large nor small; for there was a white calm around. But I alone kept my black ship out, there at the extreme part, having bound the cables from the rock.

"And I stood, ascending a rugged promontory; there indeed appeared neither the works of oxen nor of men, but we saw the smoke only rushing forth from the earth. Then I sent forward my companions to go on and inquire what men they were, eating food upon the earth, choosing two men, giving them a herald as a third. But they, having disembarked, went the smooth way, by which waggons carried wood to the city from the lofty mountains. And they met a damsel before the city, carrying water, the strong daughter of the Læstrygonian Antiphates. She went down to the fair-flowing fountain Artacia; for they carried water from thence to the city. But they standing near addressed her, and inquired of her, who was their king, and over whom he ruled. But she immediately showed the lofty-roofed house of her sire. And when they entered the illustrious dwelling, they found the mistress as mighty as the summit of a mountain, and they shuddered at her. But she quickly called illustrious Antiphates, her husband, from the forum, who indeed devised miserable destruction for them: immediately snatching up one of my companions, he prepared his meal; but the two rushing away in flight came to the ships. But he made a clamour through the city; and the strong Læstrygonians came rushing one after another in great numbers, not like unto men, but giants; who pelted them with weighty stones from the rocks: and soon an evil sound arose at the ships of the men who perished, and of the ships broken at the same time. And sticking them through like fish, they carried away their sad feast. Whilst they destroyed those within the deep haven, in the mean time I, having drawn my sharp sword from my thigh, with it cut the cables of the azure-prowed ship. And quickly exhorting my companions, I ordered them to throw themselves upon their oars, that we might escape from evil. And they