The Argonautica

inside the rocks. Then most appalling terror seized

them all, for overhead stood ruin with no escape.

Already, here and there, broad Pontus opened into view,

when a vast wave suddenly reared high before their eyes,

arching, as high as a watch-cliff sharply cut; they saw

and ducked with heads held sideways; now the wave seemed poised

to leap above and shroud the whole ship utterly.

But Tiphys forestalled the wave, easing laboring Argo

under the rowing; its whole mass rolled beneath the keel,

then at the stern it raised Argo and drew her far away

clear of the rocks, high through the air she now was carried.

Euphemus strode amid the crew and loudly urged his comrades

to throw their utmost strength against the oars; with one cry

they struck the water. Each span the ship gave to the rowers,

she sprang twice as far back; the oars were bending

like taut bows beneath the heroes' fiercely straining power.

Then suddenly a down-curved, overhanging wave rushed on,

and Argo, like a rolling cylinder, rode the raging wave,

rushing headlong through hollow sea. Between the Clashing Rocks

the eddying current held her; on either side they shook

and thundered; all the ship's timbers stood pinned fast.

Then Athena braced her left against the massive rock

and with her right hand shoved the vessel cleanly through.

Like a winged arrow, Argo flew aloft through air.