They, from her sides, With scaling steps descend, and on the shore, Savage, and sad, and beat by ocean winds, Strewed their rough beds, and on the casual fire The vessels place.

The brothers, by themselves, CASTOR and red-haired POLLUX, wander far Into the forest solitudes.

A wood Immense and dark, shagging the mountain side, Before them rose; a cold and sparkling fount Welled with perpetual lapse, beneath its feet, Of purest water clear; scattering below, Streams as of silver and of crystal rose, Bright from the bottom: Pines, of stateliest height, Poplar, and plane, and cypress, branching wide, Were near, thick bordered by the scented flowers That lured the honeyed bee, when spring declines, Thick swarming o'er the meadows.

There all day A huge man sat, of savage, wild aspect; His breast stood roundly forward, his broad back Seemed as of iron, such as might befit A vast Colossus sculptured.

Full to view The muscles of his brawny shoulders stood, Like the round mountain-stones the torrent wave Has polished; from his neck and back hung down A lion's skin, held by its claws.