The Argonautica

They sped; by Hera's counsels a rushing wind arose

so, bringing swift and certain ruin to Pelias' halls,

Aean Medea might reach the broad Pelasgian land.

On the third morning they tied the ship's stern cables

to the Paphlagonian shore before the river Halys.

For she herself had ordered the heroes to land and appease

Hecate with sacred offerings. All the rites the maiden

prepared in making sacrifice--let no mortal know,

and let no heart within me drive me onward to sing them.

I stand in awe to tell them. From that day onward, the shrine

the heroes built for the goddess beside the breaking surf

remains even now for later generations to behold.

At once Aeson's son remembered, and all the other

heroes too, how Phineus foretold another passage

route would lead them out of Aea; yet what he meant was unknown

to all alike. Then Argus spoke while they were eager:

We now sail home to Orchomenus by the course ordained

by that true prophet you met many days ago.

For priests of deathless gods revealed another route,

those priests claim descent from ancient Tritonian Thebes.

Not yet were all the constellations that wheel in heaven,

nor yet could one hear tell of the Danaans' sacred race

when men sought knowledge; only Apidanean Arcadians,

those Arcadians reputed to have lived before the Moon,