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 brutal violence, whoever thou art; for we will obey thy rules, as thou sayest.