[32] "The whole ship's crew right nobly serving." {uperetein} = "to
serve at the oar" (metaphorically = to do service to heaven).

[33] Lit. "great thanks be to the gods."

So spoke the pilot's mate; and I, with this carefulness of stowage
still before my eyes, proceeded to enforce my thesis:

"Stupid in all conscience would it be on our parts, my wife, if those
who sail the sea in ships, that are but small things, can discover
space and place for everything; can, moreover, in spite of violent
tossings up and down, keep order, and, even while their hearts are
failing them for fear, find everything they need to hand; whilst we,
with all our ample storerooms[34] diversely disposed for divers
objects in our mansion, an edifice firmly based[35] on solid ground,
fail to discover fair and fitting places, easy of access for our
several goods! Would not that argue great lack of understanding in our
two selves? Well then! how good a thing it is to have a fixed and
orderly arrangement of all furniture and gear; how easy also in a
dwelling-house to find a place for every sort of goods, in which to
stow them as shall suit each best--needs no further comment. Rather
let me harp upon the string of beauty--image a fair scene: the boots
and shoes and sandals, and so forth, all laid in order row upon row;
the cloaks, the mantles, and the rest of the apparel stowed in their
own places; the coverlets and bedding; the copper cauldrons; and all
the articles for table use! Nay, though it well may raise a smile of
ridicule (not on the lips of a grave man perhaps, but of some
facetious witling) to hear me say it, a beauty like the cadence of
sweet music[36] dwells even in pots and pans set out in neat array:
and so, in general, fair things ever show more fair when orderly