Foremost of all to imbue rude Amphitrité with ship-lore.

Soon as her beak had burst through wind-rackt spaces of ocean,

While th'oar-tortured wave with spumy whiteness was blanching,

Surged from the deep abyss and hoar-capped billows the faces

15

Seaborn, Nereids eyeing the prodigy wonder-smitten.

There too mortal orbs through softened spendours regarded

Ocean-nymphs who exposed bodies denuded of raiment

Bare to the breast upthrust from hoar froth capping the sea-depths.

Then Thetis Péleus fired (men say) a-sudden with love-lowe,