The Argonautica

“Think what their cowardice might yet have made them do

if some god had brought Heracles here as well.

For this I believe: had that man stood here present,

boxing would never have settled the issue; once Amycus

came forth to state the very laws that he proclaimed,

the club would make him soon forget his pride and laws.

Yes, we left that man uncared for, there on the land,

and sailed across the sea; now each man among us

will know his fatal folly, with Heracles far away.”

So he spoke; yet all had come to pass by Zeus's counsels.

Then all through night they stayed, tending the wounds of fighters

wounded by weapons; they burned sacrificial gifts to immortals,

and made a mighty supper ready; sleep caught no one

beside the great bowl of wine and blazing sacrificial fires.

They wreathed their golden brows with laurel grown beside the sea--

the headland tree where they fastened cables to Argo's stern--

and to Orpheus' lyre they sang one concordant hymn

in measured harmony; the windless beach grew warm around them

as they sang; their praise acclaimed Zeus's Therapnaean son.

The sun's first light then struck the dew-wet hills,

rising from the world's far edge, awakening shepherds,

then from the laurel's lowest trunk they loosed the cables,

and loaded plunder, every prize they meant to carry;

by wind they steered their onward course through eddying Bosporus.