The Argonautica

searching for water, but finding no spring anywhere.

Here stands one rock close beside the lake of Triton;

he noticed it, either by his own thought or divine prompting,

and struck it from below with his foot; the water gushed in a torrent.

He braced both hands and chest hard down against the ground,

he drank an immense draught from the split rock, until his deep

belly was filled as he stooped low, a grazing beast.

So Aegle spoke; they raced with joy toward the marked place

and found the spring; they never stopped till they reached water.

As crowded swarms wind round a narrow crevice,

earth-burrowing ants in crowds, or clustered, hovering flies

around a tiny drop of sweet honey where they have settled,

pressed close in insatiable desire; likewise the Minyans

all together kept circling around the spring in the rock.

Then one of them, refreshed, said this with his lips still wet:

A marvel! Distant Heracles has saved his weary comrades

when thirst had worn them out. Oh, may we somehow find

great Heracles still walking onward through the mainland!

So he spoke; as they exchanged replies, those fitted for this task

were separated, and each sprang off apart to make his search.

For all the tracks had been wholly covered by winds overnight

as sand was stirred. The two sons born of Boreas

set forth, relying on their wings; in nimble feet

Euphemus placed his trust, while Lynceus cast keen eyes afar;