The most famous children of Neptune and Amphitrite were Triton and Proteus. Triton was his father's trumpeter, and at Neptune's command he blew upon his conch-shell to calm the restless sea. His body was half man and half fish, and he gave the name of Tritons to all his male descendants, who, with the Nereids and Oceanides (daughters of Oceanus), followed the chariot of Neptune when he went abroad to view his kingdom. Proteus had charge of the great flock of sea-calves which fed on the soft seaweed and basked in the warm sands near his cave. He was celebrated for his wisdom and for the truth of the answers that he gave to those fortunate enough to make him speak. Homer calls him "the Ancient of the Deep whose words are ever true"; but his knowledge was not easy to obtain, for he had the extraordinary power of assuming any shape he pleased, and only those mortals gained his advice who persistently clung to him through his many bewildering changes. "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. The sea-calves from the hoary ocean throng, Rank with the bitter odor of the brine, And slumber near him. Then ye must 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. * * * * * But hold him fast, until the aged seer Is wearied out in spite of all his wiles, Then question him." --BRYANT'S Homer's _Odyssey_, Book IV, line 518. II