Cornels and savage berries of the wood, And roots and herbs, have been my meagre food. While all around my longing eyes I cast, I saw your happy ships appear at last. On those I fixed my hopes, to these I run; 'Tis all I ask, this cruel race to shun; What other death you please, yourselves bestow." Scarce had he said, when on the mountain's brow We saw the giant shepherd stalk before His following flock, and leading to the shore-- A monstrous bulk, deformed, deprived of sight; His staff a trunk of pine, to guide his steps aright. His ponderous whistle from his neck descends; } His woolly care their pensive lord attends: } This only solace his hard fortune sends. } Soon as he reached the shore, and touched the waves, From his bored eye the guttering blood he laves: He gnashed his teeth, and groaned; through seas he strides, And scarce the topmost billows touched his sides. Seized with a sudden fear, we run to sea, The cables cut, and silent haste away; The well-deserving stranger entertain; Then, buckling to the work, our oars divide the main. The giant hearkened to the dashing sound: But, when our vessels out of reach he found, He strided onward, and in vain essayed The Ionian deep, and durst no farther wade. With that he roared aloud: the dreadful cry } Shakes earth, and air, and seas; the billows fly, } Before the bellowing noise, to distant Italy. } The neighbouring Ætna trembling all around, The winding caverns echo to the sound. His brother Cyclops hear the yelling roar, And, rushing down the mountains, crowd the shore. We saw their stern distorted looks, from far, And one-eyed glance, that vainly threatened war-- A dreadful council! with their heads on high, (The misty clouds about their foreheads fly,) Not yielding to the towering tree of Jove, Or tallest cypress of Diana's grove. New pangs of mortal fear our minds assail; } We tug at every oar, and hoist up every sail, } And take the advantage of the friendly gale. } Forewarned by Helenus, we strive to shun Charybdis' gulf, nor dare to Scylla run. An equal fate on either side appears: We, tacking to the left, are free from fears; For, from Pelorus' point, the North arose, And drove us back where swift Pantagias flows. His rocky mouth we pass; and make our way By Thapsus, and Megara's winding bay. This passage Achæmenides had shown, Tracing the course which he before had run. Right o'er-against Plemmyrium's watery strand, There lies an isle, once called the Ortygian land. Alpheüs, as old fame reports, has found From Greece a secret passage under ground, By love to beauteous Arethusa led; And, mingling here, they roll in the same sacred bed. As Helenus enjoined, we next adore Diana's name, protectress of the shore.