The biggest of these rocks which you shall
come to, Scylla hath in charge. There in a deep whirlpool at the foot of
the rock the abhorred monster shrouds her face; who if she were to show
her full form, no eye of man or god could endure the sight: thence she
stretches out all her six long necks, peering and diving to suck up fish,
dolphins, dog-fish, and whales, whole ships, and their men, whatever comes
within her raging gulf. The other rock is lesser, and of less ominous
aspect; but there dreadful Charybdis sits, supping the black deeps. Thrice
a day she drinks her pits dry, and thrice a day again she belches them all
up; but when she is drinking, come not nigh, for, being once caught, the
force of Neptune cannot redeem you from her swallow. Better trust to
Scylla, for she will but have for her six necks six men: Charybdis in her
insatiate draught will ask all."
Then Ulysses inquired, in case he should escape Charybdis, whether he
might not assail that other monster with his sword; to which she replied
that he must not think that he had an enemy subject to death, or wounds,
to contend with, for Scylla could never die. Therefore, his best safety
was in flight, and to invoke none of the gods but Gratis, who is Scylla's
mother, and might perhaps forbid her daughter to devour them. For his
conduct after he arrived at Trinacria she referred him to the admonitions
which had been given him by Tiresias.
Ulysses having communicated her instructions, as far as related to the
Sirens, to his companions, who had not been present at that interview--but
concealing from them the rest, as he had done the terrible predictions of
Tiresias, that they might not be deterred by fear from pursuing their
voyage--the time for departure being come, they set their sails, and took
a final leave of great Circe; who by her art calmed the heavens, and gave
them smooth seas, and a right forewind (the seaman's friend) to bear them
on their way to Ithaca.
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