If I only could swim, I could quickly go through it,
Should the river still rise—I may anyway do it.”
Then he called on Peneus, he thought it was best,
As he’d often approached him when sorely distressed;
He was sure that Peneus would listen to him;
He would have him turn trouble, though hope was so dim,
To a travesty there on the acre of ground;
But the river god nowhere it seemed could be found,
(He may have been busy with some other care),
And they got no reply to the “Oracle’s” prayer;