NCE upon a time I started from the Pillars of Hercules,1 and set sail into the Western Ocean, making my voyage before a favourable wind.
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From Lucian’s Wonderland, being a Translation of the ‘Vera Historia,’ by St J. Basil Wynne Willson, M. A., illustrated by A. Payne Garnett; Edinburgh and London: Blackwood and Sons; 1899, pp. 9-16.
WESTWARD HO! — A WONDERFUL ISLAND — TRACES OF HERCULES AND DIONYSUS — MARVELLOUS VINES.
NCE upon a time I started from the Pillars of Hercules,1 and set sail into the Western Ocean, making my voyage before a favourable wind.
The object and purpose of my travels was curiosity and a craving for novelty. I had a wish to learn what was the limit of the Ocean, and who were the men who lived on the other side. With this end in view I laid in a very large store of provisions, and put 10 on board a sufficient quantity of water, and persuaded fifty of my friends, of the same mind as myself, to join me. Also I provided a considerable quantity of arms, obtained the best helmsman that money could hire, and in expectation of a long and stormy voyage, strengthened my vessel, which was of a light build.
For a day and a night we sailed along before a favourable breeze, still in sight of land, and encountered no very rough water. But on the following day, as soon as the sun rose, the wind began to freshen and the waves to grow big. The sky became black, and we could not set the sail. Accordingly we surrendered ourselves to the mercy of the wind, and for seventy-nine days were tossed about in the storm.
On the eightieth the sun suddenly shone out, and we saw at no great distance a steep
HERCULES
AND
DIONYSUS.11
wooded island, round which the water was calm and smooth — for by this time the worst of the tempest was over. Putting in to shore, we disembarked, and, as you might expect after our prolonged sufferings, we lay for a long time on the ground. At length we rose and selected thirty of our number to remain to guard the ship, and twenty to accompany me in exploring the island.
We had gone about a third of a mile from the sea through the wood, when we saw a bronze pillar, inscribed with Greek characters, which were indistinct and wellnigh obliterated. The inscription ran as follows: “This spot was reached by Hercules and Dionysus in their wanderings.” There were two footprints close together on the rock, the one about thirty yards long and the other less, as it seemed to me. The smaller of the two was 12 that of Dionysus, and the other that of Hercules. We showed all due reverence, and passed on.
We had not proceeded far when we reached a river flowing with wine that bore a remarkable resemblance to Chian. The stream was broad and full, so that in some places it was deep enough for ships. When we saw these signs of Dionysus’ visit, we were led to place all the greater trust in the inscription on the pillar. Determining to discover the course of the river, I proceeded up stream along the banks. No spring could I find, but only many large vines laden with grapes. At the root of each trickled drops of clear wine, which were the source of the river. We found also many fish in it that reminded us of wine both in colour and taste. At any rate, having caught and eaten some of them, we became drunk, and we cut them up,
THE VINE-WOMEN.
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15
THE
VINE-
WOMEN.we found them stuffed with grapes. Afterwards, however, when we noticed their effect, we mixed them with other fish from real water, and thus tempered the excessive strength of our feast of solid wine.
Crossing the river where it was fordable, we came upon a perfect marvel of a vine. The lower part that sprang from the ground, the stem itself, was well grown and thick; but the upper part consisted of women fully developed from the breast upwards. Such, we are told, was Daphne when she was in the process of transformation into a laurel in Apollo’s grasp. From the finger-tips grew branches which were full of grapes. Moreover, their heads were adorned with luxuriant tresses of tendrils, leaves, and bunches of fruit.
On our approach they welcomed us and received us kindly, some speaking in the 16 Lydian, some in the Indian tongue, but most in the Greek. They also kissed us, and every one who was kissed immediately became drunk and distraught. However, they did not offer any of their fruit to be picked, but cried out in pain when it was plucked.
Leaving them, we hastened back on board, and on our arrival related all our adventures to our comrades who had been left behind. We provided ourselves with jars and drew water and wine from the river, and having spent the night near it on the beach, we put out to sea at dawn with a moderate breeze.
SAILING ON THE TREE-TOPS.
Note
1 The Straits of Gibraltar.
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