A maid without the port, about to get Some near spring-water. She the daughter was Of mighty Læstrygonian Antiphas, And to the clear spring call’d Artacia went, To which the whole town for their water sent. To her they came, and ask’d who govern’d there, And what the people whom he order’d were? She answer’d not, but led them through the port, As making haste to show her father’s court. Where enter’d, they beheld, to their affright, A woman like a mountain-top in height, Who rush’d abroad, and from the council-place Call’d home her horrid husband Antiphas,[4] Who, deadly-minded, straight he snatch’d up one, And fell to supper. Both the rest were gone; And to the fleet came. Antiphas a cry Drave through the city; which heard, instantly This way and that innumerable sorts, Not men, but giants, issued through the ports, And mighty flints from rocks tore, which they threw Amongst our ships; through which an ill noise flew Of shiver’d ships, and life-expiring men, That were, like fishes, by the monsters slain, And borne to sad feast. While they slaughter’d these, That were engag’d in all th’ advantages The close-mouth’d and most dead-calm haven could give, I, that without lay, made some means to live, My sword drew, cut my gables, and to oars Set all my men; and, from the plagues those shores Let fly amongst us, we made haste to fly, My men close working as men loth to die. My ship flew freely off; but theirs that lay On heaps in harbours could enforce no way Through these stern fates that had engag’d them there. Forth our sad remnant sail’d, yet still retain’d The joys of men, that our poor few remain’d. Then to the isle Ææa we attain’d, Where fair-hair’d, dreadful, eloquent Circe reign’d, Ææta’s sister both by dame and sire, Both daughters to Heav’n’s man-enlight’ning Fire, And Perse, whom Oceanus begat, The ship-fit port here soon we landed at, Some God directing us. Two days, two nights, We lay here pining in the fatal spights Of toil and sorrow; but the next third day When fair Aurora had inform’d, quick way I made out of my ship, my sword and lance Took for my surer guide, and made advance Up to a prospect; I assay to see The works of men, or hear mortality Exspire a voice. When I had climb’d a height, Rough and right hardly accessible, I might Behold from Circe’s house, that in a grove Set thick with trees stood, a bright vapour move, I then grew curious in my thought to try[5] Some fit inquiry, when so spritely fly I saw the yellow smoke; but my discourse[6] A first retiring to my ship gave force, To give my men their dinner, and to send (Before th’ adventure of myself) some friend. Being near my ship, of one so desolate Some God had pity, and would recreate My woes a little, putting up to me A great and high-palm’d hart, that (fatally, Just in my way itself to taste a flood) Was then descending; the sun heat had sure Importun’d him, besides the temperature His natural heat gave. Howsoever, I Made up to him, and let my jav’lin fly,