had paid due honours to the dead son of Abas. And at the cruel woe they
were seized with unbearable grief. For when with due honours they had
buried him also hard by the seer, they cast themselves down in
helplessness on the sea-shore silently, closely wrapped up, and took no
thought for meat or drink; and their spirit drooped in grief, for all
hope of return was gone. And in their sorrow they would have stayed from
going further had not Hera kindled exceeding courage in Ancaeus, whom
near the waters of Imbrasus Astypalaea bore to Poseidon; for especially
was he skilled in steering and eagerly did he address Peleus:

"Son of Aeacus, is it well for us to give up our toils and linger on in
a strange land? Not so much for my prowess in war did Jason take me with
him in quest of the fleece, far from Parthenia, as for my knowledge of
ships. Wherefore, I pray, let there be no fear for the ship. And so
there are here other men of skill, of whom none will harm our voyaging,
whomsoever we set at the helm. But quickly tell forth all this and
boldly urge them to call to mind their task."

Thus he spake; and Peleus' soul was stirred with gladness, and
straightway he spake in the midst of all: "My friends, why do we thus
cherish a bootless grief like this? For those two have perished by the
fate they have met with; but among our host are steersmen yet, and many
a one. Wherefore let us not delay our attempt, but rouse yourselves to
the work and cast away your griefs."

And him in reply Aeson's son addressed with helpless words: "Son of
Aeacus, where are these steersmen of thine? For those whom we once
deemed to be men of skill, they even more than I are bowed with vexation
of heart. Wherefore I forebode an evil doom for us even as for the dead,
if it shall be our lot neither to reach the city of fell Aeetes, nor