The Argonautica

In calm weather they loosed the cables, leaving Anaphe;

then Euphemus remembered a dream that had come in the night,

revering Maia's famous son; the dream had seemed

that the divine clod, cradled close against his breast,

was watered beneath by white streams of milk, and out of it,

though the clod was small, a woman came into being,

appearing like a maiden; in fierce desire he lay with her,

past all restraint; yet mourned as if he had embraced

a daughter he himself had reared and fed with his own milk;

but soothed his deep lament with tender, gentle words:

I am of Triton's stock, dear friend, nurse of your children,

not your daughter; Triton and Libya are both my parents.

But put me down among the sea-born maiden daughters of Nereus

to dwell throughout the sea near Anaphe; I shall rise

to sunlight later, ready for your future descendants.

Remembrance stirred his heart, and he spoke these words aloud

to Aeson's son. The ancient Far-shooter's grave prophecies

Jason calculated their meaning in his heart, then answered:

Dear friend, a great and radiant glory is now your portion.

For when you cast the clod seaward, gods will shape

an island where your children's younger children make their home;

for Triton entrusted this guest-gift directly to you,

this piece of the Libyan mainland. None of the other

immortals gave it; only he who met you bestowed it.