With his clenched fist had struck me overboard, _60 Had not my hands, in falling, grasped a cord. 'His base confederates the fact approve; When Bacchus (for 'twas he) began to move, Waked by the noise and clamours which they raised; And shook his drowsy limbs, and round him gazed: "What means this noise?" he cries; "am I betrayed? All! whither, whither must I be conveyed?" "Fear not," said Proreus, "child, but tell us where You wish to land, and trust our friendly care." "To Naxos then direct your course," said he; _70 "Naxos a hospitable port shall be To each of you, a joyful home to me." By every god that rules the sea or sky, The perjured villains promise to comply, And bid me hasten to unmoor the ship. With eager joy I launch into the deep; And, heedless of the fraud, for Naxos stand: They whisper oft, and beckon with the hand, And give me signs, all anxious for their prey, To tack about, and steer another way. _80 "Then let some other to my post succeed," Said I, "I'm guiltless of so foul a deed." "What," says Ethalion, "must the ship's whole crew Follow your humour, and depend on you?" And straight himself he seated at the prore, And tacked about, and sought another shore. 'The beauteous youth now found himself betrayed, And from the deck the rising waves surveyed, And seemed to weep, and as he wept he said; "And do you thus my easy faith beguile? _90 Thus do you bear me to my native isle? Will such a multitude of men employ Their strength against a weak, defenceless boy?" 'In vain did I the godlike youth deplore, The more I begged, they thwarted me the more. And now by all the gods in heaven that hear This solemn oath, by Bacchus' self, I swear, The mighty miracle that did ensue, Although it seems beyond belief, is true. The vessel, fixed and rooted in the flood, _100 Unmoved by all the beating billows stood. In vain the mariners would plough the main With sails unfurled, and strike their oars in vain; Around their oars a twining ivy cleaves, And climbs the mast and hides the cords in leaves: The sails are covered with a cheerful green, And berries in the fruitful canvas seen. Amidst the waves a sudden forest rears Its verdant head, and a new spring appears. 'The god we now behold with open eyes; _110 A herd of spotted panthers round him lies In glaring forms; the grapy clusters spread On his fair brows, and dangle on his head. And whilst he frowns, and brandishes his spear, My mates, surprised with madness or with fear, Leaped overboard; first perjured Madon found Rough scales and fins his stiffening sides surround; "Ah! what," cries one, "has thus transformed thy look?" Straight his own mouth grew wider as he spoke; And now himself he views with like surprise. _120 Still at his oar the industrious Libys plies; But, as he plies, each busy arm shrinks in, And by degrees is fashioned to a fin.