ceſſary for theſe men ſometimes to act in the capacity of thoſe who throw javelins.
Thence we ſailed, at firſt only with the breezes which blow early in the morning from the mouths of the rivers, uſing however oars at the ſame time. Theſe breezes were indeed cool, as [1] Homer expreſſes himſelf, but not ſufficiently ſtrong for us, who wiſhed for a quick voyage. A calm ſoon followed, when we were reduced to depend upon our oars only. Soon after a cloud ſuddenly ariſing burſt nearly in an eaſterly direction from us, and brought on a violent ſtorm of wind, which was entirely contrary to the courſe that we held, and from the fatal effects of which we had a narrow eſcape. For it almoſt inſtantly produced ſuch a ſwell of the ſea, as to make it appear hollow to the view, and cauſed a deluge of water to break not only over that part of the ſhip where the benches of the rowers were placed, but alſo over the part which is between them and the poop. Our ſituation was then truly tragical, ſince as faſt as we pumped out the water, ſo faſt did it burſt in upon us. The ſwell of the ſea did not however bear upon the ſide of our veſſel; and from this circumſtance we were enabled, although with great trouble and difficulty, to make uſe of our oars, and, after much diſtreſsful ſuffering, to arrive at Athenæ. For there is upon the Euxine ſea a place ſo called, where there is a temple in the Grecian ſtyle, from which circumſtance the place ſeems to have derived its name. There is a ruined caſtle at this place, and a port, which in the ſummer ſeaſon cannot indeed contain many ſhips, but is ſufficient to afford them a ſhelter from the South wind, and even from the South-Eaſt. Ships that put in there
- ↑ αὔρη δ' ἐκ ποταμοῦ ψυχρὴ πνέει ἠῶθι πρό. Odyſſ. ε. ver. 469.
