Dispatch immediate; though the inviting gales
Ill brook the lingering mariners' delay:
Soon as they reach thy soundings, down at once
Drop the slack sails, and all the naval gear.
The ship is moor'd: nor do the crew presume
To quit thy sacred limits, 'till they have pass'd
A painful penance; with the galling whip
Lash'd thrice around thine altar.
This island was greatly esteemed for its sanctity, and there used to be a wonderful concourse of people from all nations continually resorting to its temple. The priests, in consequence of it, had hymns composed in almost all languages. It is moreover said of the female attendants, that they could imitate the speech of various people; and were well versed in the histories of foreign parts, and of antient times. Homer speaks of these extraordinary qualifications as if he had been an eye-witness:
[[801]]Προς δε τοδε μεγα θαυμα, ὁτου κλεος ουποτ' ολειται.