e historical proverb, I am reminded of the eminent
character who first showed it to me in the heroic poem where it appears.
I refer to the late Dr. Maltby, Bishop of Durham, who had been a
favorite pupil of Dr. Parr, and was unquestionably one of the best
scholars in England. His amenity was equal to his scholarship. I was his
guest at Auckland Castle early in the autumn of 1838. Conversation
turned much upon books and the curiosities of study. One morning after
breakfast the learned Bishop came to me with a small volume in his hand,
printed in the Italian character, and remarking, "You seem to be
interested in such things," he pointed to this much-quoted verse. It was
in a Latin poem called "Alexandreis, sive Gesta Alexandri Magni," by
Philippus Gualterus, a mediaeval poet of France.

Of course the fable of Scylla and Charybdis is ancient; but this verse
cannot be traced to antiquity. For the fable Homer is our highest
authority, and he represents the Sirens as playing their part to tempt
the victim.

These opposite terrors belong to mythology and to geography.
Mythologically, they were two voracious monsters, dwelling opposite to
each other,--Charybdis on the coast of Sicily, and Scylla on the coast
of Italy. Geographically, they were dangers to the navigator in the
narrow strait between Sicily and Italy. Charybdis was a whirlpool, in
which ships were often sucked to destruction; Scylla was a rock, on
which ships were often dashed to pieces.

Ulysses in his wanderings encountered these terrors, but by prudence and
the counsels of Circe he was enabled to steer clear between them,
although the Sirens strove to lure him on to the rock. The story is too
long; but there are passages which are like pictures, and they have been
illustrated by the genius of Flaxman. The first danger on the Sicilian
side is thus described in the Odyssey:[4]--

"Beneath, Charybdis holds her boisterous reign
Midst roaring whirlpools, and absorbs the main;
Thrice in her gulfs the boiling seas subside,
Thrice in dire thunders she refunds the tide.
Ah, shun the horrid gulf! by Scylla fly!
'T is better six to lose than all to die."

But endeavoring to shun this peril, the navigator encounters the
other:--

"Here Scylla bellows from her dire abodes,
Tremendous pest, abhorred by men and gods!
Six horrid necks she rears, and six terrific heads;
Her jaws grin dreadful with three rows of teeth;
Jaggy