glen slopes gradually away, where there is a
cave of Hades overarched by wood and rocks. From here an icy breath,
unceasingly issuing from the chill recess, ever forms a glistening rime
which melts again beneath the midday sun. And never does silence hold
that grim headland, but there is a continual murmur from the sounding
sea and the leaves that quiver in the winds from the cave. And here is
the outfall of the river Acheron which bursts its way through the
headland and falls into the Eastern sea, and a hollow ravine brings it
down from above. In after times the Nisaean Megarians named it
Sooenautes[1] when they were about to settle in the land of the
Mariandyni. For indeed the river saved them with their ships when they
were caught in a violent tempest. By this way the heroes took the ship
through[2] the Acherusian headland and came to land over against it as
the wind had just ceased.

[Footnote 1: i.e. Saviour of sailors.]

[Footnote 2: i.e. through the ravine that divides the headland.]

Not long had they come unmarked by Lycus, the lord of that land, and the
Mariandyni--they, the slayers of Amycus, according to the report which
the people heard before; but for that very deed they even made a league
with the heroes. And Polydeuces himself they welcomed as a god, flocking
from every side, since for a long time had they been warring against the
arrogant Bebrycians. And so they went up all together into the city, and
all that day with friendly feelings made ready a feast within the palace
of Lycus and gladdened their souls with converse. Aeson's son told him
the lineage and name of each of his comrades and the behests of Pelias,
and how they were welcomed by the Lemnian women, and all that they did
at Dolionian Cyzicus; and how they reached the Mysian land and Cius,
where, sore against their will, they left behind the hero Heracles, and
he told the saying of Glaucus, and how they slew the Bebrycians and
Amycus, and he told of the prophecies and affliction of Phineus, and how
they escaped the Cyanean rocks, and how they met with Leto's son at the
island. And as he told all, Lycus was charmed in soul with listening;
and he grieved for Heracles left behind, and spake as follows among them
all:

"O friends, what a man he was from whose help ye have fallen away, as ye
cleave your long path to Aeetes; for well do I know that I saw him here
in the halls of Dascylus my father, when he came hither on foot through
the land o