POSEIDON

Let this strait, where the girl ¹ fell from the skies, be called Hellespont after her. You, Nereids, take the body to the Troad, so that it can be buried by people there.

AMPHITRITE

Please not that, Poseidon, but let her be buried here in the sea named after her. We feel very sorry for the pitiable way she was treated by her step-mother. ²

POSEIDON

That would be wrong, Amphitrite, and it’s not quite the thing either to leave her lying here under the sand; no, she’ll be buried, as I said, in the Troad or the Chersonese. She’ll find it no small consolation that, before long, the same thing will happen to Ino; she’ll be pursued by Athamas, and plunge into the sea with her child ³ in her arms from the heights of Cithaeron where a ridge runs down into the sea. But we must save Ino to please Dionysus; for she was his nurse and his nanny.

AMPHITRITE

You shouldn’t save a bad woman like that!

POSEIDON

But, Amphitrite, we mustn’t offend Dionysus.

NEREIDS

But what came over her that she fell from the ram, while Phrixus, her brother, is having a safe ride?

POSEIDON

That’s natural; he’s a young man and can withstand the speed; but she has no experience, and when she got on that strange mount, and looked down into the gaping depths beneath her, she was terrified, and, overcome at the same time by the heat, and growing dizzy at the speed of the flight, lost hold of the ram’s horns, to which she’d been clinging, and fell into the sea.

NEREIDS

But shouldn’t Nephele, her mother, have helped her when she was falling?

POSEIDON

Yes, indeed, but Fate is far stronger than Nephele.

Triton

Posidon, there is such a pretty girl coming to Lerna for water every day; I don’t know that I ever saw a prettier.

Posidon

What is she, a lady? or a mere water-carrier?

Triton

Oh no; she is one of the fifty daughters of that Egyptian king. Her name is Amymone; I asked about that and her family. Danaus understands discipline; he is bringing them up to do everything for themselves; they have to fetch water, and make themselves generally useful.

Posidon

And does she come all that way by herself, from Argos to Lerna?

Triton

Yes; and Argos, you know, is a thirsty place; she is always having to get water.

Posidon

Triton, this is most exciting. We must go and see her.

Triton

Very well. It is just her time now; I reckon she will be about half-way to Lerna.

Posidon

Bring out the chariot, then. Or no; it takes such a time getting it ready, and putting the horses to. Just fetch me out a good fast dolphin; that will be quickest.

Triton

Here is a racer for you.

Posidon

Good; now let us be off. You swim alongside.—Here we are at Lerna. I'll lie in ambush hereabouts; and you keep a look-out. When you see her coming—

Triton

Here she comes.

Posidon

A charming child; the dawn of loveliness. We must carry her off.

Amymone

Villain! where are you taking me to? You area kidnapper. I know who sent you—my uncle Aegyptus. I shall call my father.

Triton

Hush, Amymone; it is Posidon.

Amymone

Posidon? What do you mean? Unhand me, villain! would you drag me into the sea? Help, help, I shall sink and be drowned.

Posidon

Don’t be frightened; no harm shall be done to you. Come, you shall have a fountain called after you; it shall spring up in this very place, near the waves; I will strike the rock with my trident.—Think how nice it will be being dead, and not having to carry water any more, like all your sisters.