The Argonautica

From there they passed into the deep current of Rhodanus,

which flows into Eridanus; where the waters mingle,

they seethe and roar together at the confluence. That river

rises from earth's deepest recess, where stand the gates and halls of Night;

springing from there, one branch bursts upon the shores

of Ocean; another branch pours toward the Ionian Sea,

and a third toward the Sardonian Sea and a limitless gulf

sends its current through seven mouths. From that same river

they drove through stormy lakes spread wide across the Celtic

mainland beyond all telling; there they nearly met

an inglorious doom, for one branching current was carrying them

toward an Ocean gulf, a route the heroes never foresaw,

they were about to enter, and never escape alive and return.

Then Hera cried aloud from high Hercynia's crag,

leaping from heaven; in fear of her cry they all were shaken,

for the great vault of heaven crashed terribly above them.

They turned their course back at the goddess's command, then learned

the path by which continued travel won their safe homecoming.

After a long time they arrived at the sea-washed shores,

through Hera's designs, passing across innumerable peoples

of Celts and Ligyans without harm; for a strange and dreadful

mist the goddess poured around them through their every journey.

Then, driving the ship straight through the central river mouth,

they reached the Stoechades islands safely, saved by the sons