s had sent Aethalides the
swift herald, to whose care they entrusted their messages and the wand
of Hermes, his sire, who had granted him a memory of all things, that
never grew dim; and not even now, though he has entered the unspeakable
whirlpools of Acheron, has forgetfulness swept over his soul, but its
fixed doom is to be ever changing its abode; at one time to be numbered
among the dwellers beneath the earth, at another to be in the light
of the sun among living men. But why need I tell at length tales
of Aethalides? He at that time persuaded Hypsipyle to receive the
new-comers as the day was waning into darkness; nor yet at dawn did they
loose the ship's hawsers to the breath of the north wind.

(ll. 653-656) Now the Lemnian women fared through the city and sat down
to the assembly, for Hypsipyle herself had so bidden. And when they were
all gathered together in one great throng straightway she spake among
them with stirring words:

(ll. 657-666) "O friends, come let us grant these men gifts to
their hearts' desire, such as it is fitting that they should take on
ship-board, food and sweet wine, in order that they may steadfastly
remain outside our towers, and may not, passing among us for need's
sake, get to know us all too well, and so an evil report be widely
spread; for we have wrought a terrible deed and in nowise will it be to
their liking, should they learn it. Such is our counsel now, but if any
of you can devise a better plan let her rise, for it was on this account
that I summoned you hither."

(ll. 667-674) Thus she spake and sat upon her father's seat of stone,
and then rose up her dear nurse Polyxo, for very age halting upon her
withered feet, bowed over a staff, and she was eager to address them.
Near her were seated four virgins, unwedded, crowned with white hair.
And she stood in the midst of the assembly and from her bent back she
feebly raised her neck and spake thus:

(ll. 675-696) "Gifts, as Hypsipyle herself wishes, let us send to the
strangers, for it is better to give them. But for you what device have
ye to get profit of your life if the Thracian host fall upon us, or some
other foe, as often happens among men, even as now this company is come
unforeseen? But if one of the blessed gods should turn this aside yet
countless other woes, worse than battle, remain behind, when the aged
women die off and ye younger ones, without children, reach hateful old
age. How then will ye live, hapless