The Argonautica

of the dark-blue sea, and called on all the others to aid her,

the Nereids who were sisters of her own blood; hearing her summons,

they gathered. Thetis told them Hera's high commands,

then swiftly sent all sisters toward Ausonian waters.

She herself, swifter than light's sudden flash or the flying

sun's swift rays when climbing high above the distant land,

sped on her way with great speed through the water until she reached

the Aeaean shore belonging to the broad Tyrrhenian mainland.

She found the heroes beside their ship, delighting in quoits and

flights of arrows; she drew near and touched just the edge of the hand

of Peleus, Aeacus' son, her own wedded husband.

No mortal saw the goddess clearly; only

to Peleus' eyes her form appeared; she spoke aloud:

Now leave the Tyrrhenian beaches; wait no longer,

at early dawn, release the cables of the swift ship,

obeying Hera, whose command brings ready aid;

all of the Nereid maidens will come together in a body

to draw Argo through the crags that are named the Wandering Rocks.

Through those rocks lies the lawful course fate grants home.

But never let another see my body's form

when I meet you among them; keep the secret fast in mind,

lest heedless folly stir more anger than before.

She spoke, vanished from sight, and plunged in ocean depths.

Terrible sorrow struck Peleus, for he had not seen her