ey marked a beach jutting forth from a bend of the coast, very broad
to behold, and by dint of rowing came to land at sunrise.

BOOK II

SUMMARY OF BOOK II

Fight between Polydeuces and Amycus, King of the Bebrycians; defeat
and death of Amycus (1-97).--Victory of the Argonauts over the
Bebrycians; arrival at the abode of Phineus (98-177).--History of
Phineus and the Harpies, who are chased by Zetes and Calais, sons
of Boreas (178-300).--Prediction of Phineus and return of the sons
of Boreas (301-447).--Episode of Paraebius (448-499).--Origin of
the Etesian winds (500-527).--Argo passes between the Symplegades
by the aid of Athena (528-647).--Arrival at the isle Thynias;
apparition of Apollo, to whom they pay honour (648-719).--Arrival
among the Mariandyni, where King Lycus welcomes them
(720-814).--Deaths of Idmon and Tiphys: Ancaeus chosen pilot
(815-910).--The Argonauts pass Sinope and the Cape of the Amazons,
and reach the Chalybes (911-1008).--Customs of the Tibareni and
Mossynoeci (1009-1029).--Contest with the birds of the isle
Aretias, where they meet with the sons of Phrixus, shipwrecked on
their way to Hellas (1030-1225).--Arrival in Colchis (1226-1285).

BOOK II

Here were the oxstalls and farm of Amycus, the haughty king of the
Bebrycians, whom once a nymph, Bithynian Melie, united to Poseidon
Genethlius, bare--the most arrogant of men; for even for strangers he
laid down an insulting ordinance, that none should depart till they had
made trial of him in boxing; and he had slain many of the neighbours.
And at that time too he went down to the ship and in his insolence
scorned to ask them the occasion of their voyage, and who they were, but
at once spake out among them all:

"Listen, ye wanderers by sea, to what it befits you to know. It is the
rule that no stranger who comes to the Bebrycians should depart till he
has raised his hands in battle against mine. Wherefore select your
bravest warrior from the host and set him here on the spot to contend
with me in boxing. But if ye pay no heed and trample my decrees under
foot, assuredly to your sorrow will stern necessity come upon you."

Thus he spake in his pride, but fierce anger seized them when they heard
it, and the challenge smote Polydeuces most of all. And quickly he stood
forth his comrades' champion, and cried:

"Hold now, and display not to us thy br