Heroes and kings Author:Alfred John Church Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: oars in time to the music of Orpheus, and drave her on her course with a marvellous quickness. The tackling of the ship glistened like gold in the sun, and the w... more »aves were THE HEROES IN THE ARGO. parted, foaming on either side of the prow, and their way was white behind them, plain to see as the path upon a meadow. So soon as they were clear of the harbour's winding ways—and well did Tiphys guide them, holding the polished tiller in his hands —they set up the great mast in its socket, fastening it by ropes on either side ; and upon the mast they spread out the sail, setting it duly with pulleys and sheets. Then, with the wind blowing fair behind them, they sped forward; and Orpheus sang the while of Artemis ; and the fishes followed, leaping out of the sea about the ship, even as sheep when they are fed to the full follow back the shepherd to the sheepfold as he goes before them, making sweet music on his oaten pipe. Past the rocks of Pelion they sped, and Sciathos and Magnessa ; and when they came to the tomb of Dolops they drave their ship to the shore and did sacrifice by the tomb. There they abode for two days, for the sea was stormy; but on the third day they launched their ship and hoisted the great sail Whereupon to this day they call this place " The Launching of the Argo." Then as they sailed they saw the valleys of Ossa and Olympus ; all night the wind carried them on, and the next day there appeared Athos, the great mountain of Thrace ; so great is it that its shadow falls on Myrina in Lemuos, though it be a half-day's journey for a fleet ship. Then they came to Lemnos. There, but a yerr before, had been wrought a dreadful deed ; for the women had slain their husbands, aye, and every male throughout the land, lest the children, being grown to manhood, shou...« less