a desolate strand; wherefore when Medea's Phaeacian handmaids saw
them pouring water for libations on the burning brands, they could no
longer restrain laughter within their bosoms, for that ever they had
seen oxen in plenty slain in the halls of Alcinous. And the heroes
delighted in the jest and attacked them with taunting words; and merry
railing and contention flung to and fro were kindled among them. And
from that sport of the heroes such scoffs do the women fling at the
men in that island whenever they propitiate with sacrifices Apollo the
gleaming god, the warder of Anaphe.

(ll. 1731-1740) But when they had loosed the hawsers thence in
fair weather, then Euphemus bethought him of a dream of the night,
reverencing the glorious son of Maia. For it seemed to him that the
god-given clod of earth held in his palm close to his breast was being
suckled by white streams of milk, and that from it, little though it
was, grew a woman like a virgin; and he, overcome by strong desire, lay
with her in love's embrace; and united with her he pitied her, as
though she were a maiden whom he was feeding with his own milk; but she
comforted him with gentle words:

(ll. 1741-1745) "Daughter of Triton am I, dear friend, and nurse of thy
children, no maiden; Triton and Libya are my parents. But restore me to
the daughters of Nereus to dwell in the sea near Anaphe; I shall return
again to the light of the sun, to prepare a home for thy descendants."

(ll. 1746-1748) Of this he stored in his heart the memory, and declared
it to Aeson's son; and Jason pondered a prophecy of the Far-Darter and
lifted up his voice and said:

(ll. 1749-1754) "My friend, great and glorious renown has fallen to thy
lot. For of this clod when thou hast cast it into the sea, the gods will
make an island, where thy children's children shall dwell; for Triton
gave this to thee as a stranger's gift from the Libyan mainland. None
other of the immortals it was than he that gave thee this when he met
thee."

(ll. 1755-1764) Thus he spake; and Euphemus made not vain the answer
of Aeson's son; but, cheered by the prophecy, he cast the clod into the
depths. Therefrom rose up an island, Calliste, sacred nurse of the sons
of Euphemus, who in former days dwelt in Sintian Lemnos, and from Lemnos
were driven forth by Tyrrhenians and came to Sparta as suppliants; and
when they left Sparta, Theras, the goodly son of Autesion, brought them
to the island Calliste, and from