The Argonautica

had Hera not inspired great courage in Ancaeus--

the noble son Astypalaea bore by Imbrasus' waters

to Poseidon--far beyond the rest he excelled at steering.

He hurried then and spoke these urgent words to Peleus:

“Aeacus' son, what honor lies in shunning our trial

and staying long, inactive, here on foreign soil?

Jason brought me in search of the Fleece not so much

for warcraft, far from Parthenia, but proven mastery of ships.

So let no slightest fear disturb Argo's passage.

There are other men here too who understand the craft;

whichever one we set upon the stern will do no harm

to sailing. Quickly now, after declaring all these things,

rouse every hero with courage to remember our undertaking.”

So Ancaeus spoke, and Peleus' heart reached out in joy.

At once, not long afterward, he spoke among them all:

“Friends, why do we cling this way to futile grief?

Those men have died somewhere by the fate that each received,

but here within our company skilled helmsmen still remain,

and many heroes. We must now pursue the trial,

but rise to work, casting all our sorrows off.”

bewildered Aeson's son replied with helpless words:

“Son of Aeacus, where are these helmsmen of yours?

The men we earlier praised as highly skilled helmsmen

are bowed in grief and chafe even more than I do.