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Often appears with: geography and the description of places · fate, destiny, and necessity · trade, markets, and merchants · conquest, plunder, and captives · weather, storms, and the seasons · supply, logistics, and encampment · custom and the manners of a people · roads, journeys, and overland travel · famine, scarcity, and plenty · diplomacy and embassies · religious persecution and toleration · captivity and escape
Usually: narrative (361) · curiosity (217) · detachment (194) · wonder (90) · sudden reversal of fortune (78) · confronting death (70) · argument (62) · description (46) · the stranger's arrival (42) · the test or trial (32)
“Farewell from parting lips, Farewell!--Come, I and thou, Whatso may wait us now, Forth to the long Greek ships And the sea's foaming.” Euripides, The Trojan women of Euripides · observation
“But what shall we think of a governor's playing such pitiful tricks, and imposing so grossly on a poor ignorant boy?” Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin · wit
“The week before our intended start, I wrote a pass for each of our party, giving them permission to visit Baltimore, during the Easter holidays.” Frederick Douglass, My Bondage and My Freedom · observation
“Me dost thou bid to trust the treach’rous deep, The harlot smiles of her dissembling face, And to her faith commit the Trojan race?” Virgil, The Aeneid · observation
“The public highways, which had been constructed for the use of the legions, opened an easy passage for the Christian missionaries from Damascus to Corinth, and from Italy to the extremity of Spain or Britain;” Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · vivid
“Does not this sufficiently show how entirely all human power and greatness is in the soul of man? Here is a stone which the feet of a few outcasts pressed for an instant, and this stone becomes famous; it is treasured by a great nation, its very dust is shared as a relic: and what is become of the gateways of a thousand palaces?” Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America — Volume 1 · insight
“There is something very solemn in these scenes. At no time does the consciousness in what a remote corner of the world you are then standing, come so strongly before the mind.” Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the Beagle · observation
“The meridian of the Antipodes has likewise been passed; and now every league, it made us happy to think, was one league nearer to England.” Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the Beagle · observation
“and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle:” or rather, I should say, like a strong breeze passing through the rigging of a ship.” Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the Beagle · vivid
“It was as he journeyed from town to town collecting the king’s taxes, that he noted down those bits of inn and wayside life and character that abound in the pages of “Don Quixote.” Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote · observation
“Zoraida, seeing her father there, bade the renegade ask me to do her the favour of releasing the Moors and setting her father at liberty.” Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote · insight
“We ran our boat up on the sand, and all sprang out and kissed the ground, and with tears of joyful satisfaction returned thanks to God our Lord for all his incomparable goodness to us on our voyage.” Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote · vivid
With help from Vigilance Committee contacts, Douglass and his wife travel by steamer and stage-coach to New Bedford, are denied cabin passage rules, and gain support from Quaker Nathan Johnson and others.
J. W. C. Pennington, then a well-known and respected Presbyterian minister. I had no money with which to pay the marriage fee, but he seemed well pleased with our thanks. Mr. Ruggles was the first officer on the “Underground Railroad” whom I met after coming North, and was, indeed, the only one with whom I had anything to do till I became such an officer myself. Learning that my trade was that of a calker, he prompt…
Pepys travels to the Tower by barge to meet commanders and, at the Long Beach where the Swiftsure anchors, watches royal-fleet preparations and notes damage from recent high water near Limehouse.
22nd. To Westminster, and received my warrant of Mr. Blackburne, to be Secretary to the two Generals of the Fleet. 23rd. My Lord, Captain Isham, Mr. Thomas, John Crewe, W. Howe, and I to the Tower, where the barges staid for us; my Lord and the Captain in one, and W. Howe and I, &c., in the other, to the Long Beach, where the Swiftsure lay at anchor; (in our way we saw the great breach which the late high water had…
Pepys sails to Gravesend on the Bezan Yacht, anchors overnight, and prepares to observe the fleet the next day.
17th. To Gravesend in the Bezan Yacht, and there come to anchor for all night. 18th. By break of day we come to within sight of the fleet, which was a very fine thing to behold, being above 100 ships, great and small; with the flag ships of each squadron, distinguished by their several flags on their main, fore, or mizen masts. Among others, the Soveraigne, Charles, and Prince; in the last of which my Lord Sandwic…
Pepys continues his trip with water travel to the Temple, notes court and naval directions about the fleet, and later records London theatre outings and late-night company talk at Fox Hall.
7th. Sunday. My father, for money lent, and horse-hire, 1l. 11s. 8th. Monday. Father's servants (father having in the garden told me bad stories of my wife's ill words), 14s.; one that helped at the horses, 1s.; menders of the highway, 2s. Pleasant country to Bedford; where, while they stay, I rode through the town; and a good country town; and there drinking, 1s. We on to Newport; and there I and W. Hewer to th…
In Wells on Sunday, Pepys visits Bishop Montagu’s tomb and churches, then on Monday tours the King and Queen’s baths at Bath, leaving for Bristol via Avebury and Marlborough.
paid the reckoning, 2s. 6d. We back, and by moonshine to the Bath again about ten o'clock: bad way; and giving the coachman 1s. went all of us to bed. 14th. (Sunday). Up, and walked up and down the town, and saw a pretty good market-place, and many good streets, and very fair stone-houses. And so to the great church, and there saw Bishop Montagu's tomb; and, when placed, did there see many brave people come, and a…
Pepys travels to Petersfield with Fitzgerald and Sir Thomas Allen to advise Sir Thomas Allen on instructions about Sir Thomas Allen’s voyage, then continues through Gilford and reports court and navy-related expectations.
the coach with us; but got thither with great fear of being out of our way, it being ten at night. Here good, honest people; and after supper to bed. 7th. To coach, and with a guide to Petersfield, where I find Sir Thomas Allen and Mr. Tippets [John Tippet, a Surveyor of the Navy; afterwards knighted.] come; the first about the business the latter only in respect to me; as also Fitzgerald, who came post all last n…
Pepys rides in his own coach for the first time, attends plays, talks with the Duke of York and court figures about sending victuals to Cales, and hears sea-business rumours from Sir Jer. Smith.
not able to work; and therefore that and my wife's desire make me have no manner of trouble in my thoughts about it. So God do his will in it! DECEMBER 2, 1668. Abroad with my wife, the first time that ever I rode in my own coach, which do make my heart rejoice and praise God, and pray him to bless it to me and continue it. So she and I to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Usurper:" [A tragedy by Edward How…
Athenian leaders decide to sail to Sicily with a larger armament to conquer the island, explaining its immense size and varied peoples, and offering a long origin-history of Sicanians, Elymians, Sicels, Phoenicians, and Greek settlers at key cities.
Seventeenth Year of the War—The Sicilian Campaign—Affair of the Hermae—Departure of the Expedition The same winter the Athenians resolved to sail again to Sicily, with a greater armament than that under Laches and Eurymedon, and, if possible, to conquer the island; most of them being ignorant of its size and of the number of its inhabitants, Hellenic and barbarian, and of the fact that they were undertaking a war no…
As the expedition sails in midsummer, Athens stages a solemn departure from Piraeus with both citizens and foreigners escorting the fleet, mixing hope, grief, and curiosity at the show of power before crossing toward Corcyra.
sent for and brought home for trial upon some graver charge, which they would the more easily get up in his absence. Accordingly it was decreed that he should sail. After this the departure for Sicily took place, it being now about midsummer. Most of the allies, with the corn transports and the smaller craft and the rest of the expedition, had already received orders to muster at Corcyra, to cross the Ionian Sea fro…
Crossing from Corcyra into Sicily, the Athenians land at the Iapygian promontory near Tarentum, coast the Italian shore under hostile gates, regroup at Rhegium, camp outside Artemis, negotiate with Rhegians, and wait for Egesta’s promised money.
and Sicily to find out which of the cities would receive them, with instructions to meet them on the way and let them know before they put in to land. After this the Athenians weighed from Corcyra, and proceeded to cross to Sicily with an armament now consisting of one hundred and thirty-four galleys in all (besides two Rhodian fifty-oars), of which one hundred were Athenian vessels—sixty men-of-war, and forty troop…
Telemachus offers to sail to Sparta and Pylos to learn Odysseus’ fate; Mentor criticizes the Ithacans for failing to stop suitors, and then Telemachus prays to Minerva by the sea.
I hear of his death, I will return at once, celebrate his funeral rites with all due pomp, build a barrow to his memory, and make my mother marry again.” With these words he sat down, and Mentor20 who had been a friend of Ulysses, and had been left in charge of everything with full authority over the servants, rose to speak. He, then, plainly and in all honesty addressed them thus: “Hear me, men of Ithaca, I hope t…
Telemachus secretly prepares supplies from Ulysses’ storehouse to finance a voyage to Sparta and Pylos, promising his nurse Euryclea not to tell his mother, while Minerva gathers a crew and orders them to depart by night.
plenty to do, for we could then divide up his property amongst us: as for the house we can let his mother and the man who marries her have that.” This was how they talked. But Telemachus went down into the lofty and spacious store-room where his father’s treasure of gold and bronze lay heaped up upon the floor, and where the linen and spare clothes were kept in open chests. Here, too, there was a store of fragrant o…
Minerva-as-Mentor leads Telemachus to the ship, where he loads the hidden stores, the crew looses hawsers and sails with a west wind, makes drink offerings, and travels through the night until dawn.
“Telemachus,” said she, “the men are on board and at their oars, waiting for you to give your orders, so make haste and let us be off.” On this she led the way, while Telemachus followed in her steps. When they got to the ship they found the crew waiting by the water side, and Telemachus said, “Now my men, help me to get the stores on board; they are all put together in the cloister, and my mother does not know anyt…
Menelaus explains his own delayed return caused by gods’ demands in Egypt, describes Pharos where he was becalmed, and recounts how the goddess Idothea helped him seize the sea-god Proteus to learn the way home and news of Ithaca.
taken pity upon me and saved me in the person of Idothea, daughter to Proteus, the old man of the sea, for she had taken a great fancy to me. “She came to me one day when I was by myself, as I often was, for the men used to go with their barbed hooks, all over the island in the hope of catching a fish or two to save them from the pangs of hunger. ‘Stranger,’ said she, ‘it seems to me that you like starving in this w…
Alcinous questions Odysseus about his true name, homeland, and travels, explains Phaeacian ships navigate without pilots, and asks why Odysseus is suffering over the Achaeans’ return from Troy.
honour, and any one with even a moderate amount of right feeling knows that he ought to treat a guest and a suppliant as though he were his own brother. “Therefore, Sir, do you on your part affect no more concealment nor reserve in the matter about which I shall ask you; it will be more polite in you to give me a plain answer; tell me the name by which your father and mother over yonder used to call you, and by whic…
Odysseus identifies himself as Ulysses of Ithaca, describes nearby islands, says Calypso and Circe failed to win him away, then begins his return voyage by raiding Ismarus and suffering at sea.
ULYSSES DECLARES HIMSELF AND BEGINS HIS STORY—-THE CICONS, LOTOPHAGI, AND CYCLOPES. And Ulysses answered, “King Alcinous, it is a good thing to hear a bard with such a divine voice as this man has. There is nothing better or more delightful than when a whole people make merry together, with the guests sitting orderly to listen, while the table is loaded with bread and meats, and the cup-bearer draws wine and fills h…
Odysseus recounts drifting after Ismarus, sailing near Cape Malea, encountering the Lotus-eaters, forcing men back from lotus-eating, and reaching the land of the lawless Cyclopes.
their oxen, the Cicons got the better of us, and we lost half a dozen men from every ship we had; so we got away with those that were left. “Thence we sailed onward with sorrow in our hearts, but glad to have escaped death though we had lost our comrades, nor did we leave till we had thrice invoked each one of the poor fellows who had perished by the hands of the Cicons. Then Jove raised the North wind against us ti…
Odysseus describes Cyclopes as uncivilized cave-dwellers without laws and assemblies, then explains their nearby island of goats and harbor, leading to the Greeks’ landing and feasting before scouting the Cyclopes.
assemblies of the people, but live in caves on the tops of high mountains; each is lord and master in his family, and they take no account of their neighbours. “Now off their harbour there lies a wooded and fertile island not quite close to the land of the Cyclopes, but still not far. It is over-run with wild goats, that breed there in great numbers and are never disturbed by foot of man; for sportsmen—who as a rule…
After being driven back and then sailing without wind, Odysseus reaches the land of the Laestrygonians at Telepylus, moors in a landlocked harbor, and sends men ashore who meet Antiphates’s daughter and discover her giantess mother.
here? What god has been ill-treating you? We took great pains to further you on your way home to Ithaca, or wherever it was that you wanted to go to.’ “Thus did they speak, but I answered sorrowfully, ‘My men have undone me; they, and cruel sleep, have ruined me. My friends, mend me this mischief, for you can if you will.’ “I spoke as movingly as I could, but they said nothing, till their father answered, ‘Vilest o…
Odysseus reports how the Laestrygonians under Antiphates slaughtered most of his crew and how he later sends scouts toward Circe’s island, noticing smoke from her house in the forest.
her father’s house, but when they got there they found his wife to be a giantess as huge as a mountain, and they were horrified at the sight of her. “She at once called her husband Antiphates from the place of assembly, and forthwith he set about killing my men. He snatched up one of them, and began to make his dinner off him then and there, whereon the other two ran back to the ships as fast as ever they could. But…
Hercules’ descent to Hades is contrasted with Ulysses staying outside, hearing terrible cries around him, fearing Persephone’s sending up the Gorgon’s head, and then ordering his men to sail from the river Oceanus as a fair wind rises.
not think he could find anything harder for me than this, but I got the hound out of Hades and brought him to him, for Mercury and Minerva helped me.’ “On this Hercules went down again into the house of Hades, but I stayed where I was in case some other of the mighty dead should come to me. And I should have seen still other of them that are gone before, whom I would fain have seen—Theseus and Pirithous—glorious chi…
Telemachus invites the fugitive Theoclymenus aboard, promises Ithacan hospitality, sails past Crouni and Chalcis with a Minerva-blessed wind, while Ulysses reassures the swineherd and asks to beg in the city and reach Penelope’s house.
own head and by those of your followers tell me the truth and nothing but the truth. Who and whence are you? Tell me also of your town and parents.” Telemachus said, “I will answer you quite truly. I am from Ithaca, and my father is Ulysses, as surely as that he ever lived. But he has come to some miserable end. Therefore I have taken this ship and got my crew together to see if I can hear any news of him, for he ha…
In the council of the gods, Athene urges Zeus to order Odysseus’s return, since Poseidon’s anger is tied to the Cyclops Polyphemus; Zeus agrees, dispatching Hermes to Ogygia and Athene to Ithaca, where Telemachus will face the wooers.
In a Council of the Gods, Poseidon absent, Pallas procureth an order for the restitution of Odysseus; and appearing to his son Telemachus, in human shape, adviseth him to complain of the Wooers before the Council of the people, and then go to Pylos and Sparta to inquire about his father. Tell me, Muse, of that man, so ready at need, who wandered far and wide, after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy, and many …
Zeus explains that Poseidon—angered by the Cyclops’ blinding—drives Odysseus to wander, while Athene proposes Hermes to free Odysseus on Ogygia and herself to stir Telemachus and set plans against the wooers in Ithaca.
for his own country. So spake Hermes, yet he prevailed not on the heart of Aegisthus, for all his good will; but now hath he paid one price for all.” And the goddess, grey-eyed Athene, answered him, saying: “O father, our father Cronides, throned in the highest; that man assuredly lies in a death that is his due; so perish likewise all who work such deeds! But my heart is rent for wise Odysseus, that hapless one, wh…
Telemachus rises at dawn, convenes an Ithacan assembly, and delivers his case while Athene enhances his presence; he then gathers support to travel to Pylos and Sparta to seek news of Odysseus’ return.
Telemachus complains in vain, and borrowing a ship, goes secretly to Pylos by night. And how he was there received. Now so soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, the dear son of Odysseus gat him up from his bed, and put on his raiment and cast his sharp sword about his shoulder, and beneath his smooth feet he bound his goodly sandals, and stept forth from his chamber in presence like a god. And straightw…
Odysseus builds a raft from timber supplied by Calypso, receives sails and supplies, sails using star navigation, and on the eighteenth day sighting the Phaeacians’ land like a shield in mist.
he, and the sun sank and darkness came on. Then they twain went into the chamber of the hollow rock, and had their delight of love, abiding each by other. So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, anon Odysseus put on him a mantle and doublet, and the nymph clad her in a great shining robe, light of woof and gracious, and about her waist she cast a fair golden girdle, and a veil withal upon her head. The…
Menelaus delays Telemachus briefly with gifts, food, and counsel; Telemachus departs with silver bowl and robe from Menelaus and Helen, receives an eagle omen interpreted as Odysseus’ return, and travels toward Pylos then by ship.
bespeaks thee kindly, and sends thee on thy way. For of him a guest is mindful all the days of his life, even of the host that shows him loving-kindness.” So spake he, and anon came the golden-throned Dawn. And Menelaus, of the loud war cry, drew nigh to them, new risen from his bed, by fair-haired Helen. Now when the dear son of Odysseus marked him, he made haste and girt his shining doublet about him, and the hero…
Telemachus and his crew prepare and sail a black ship as Telemachus prays and meets the soothsayer Theoclymenus of Argos lineage, who asks who he is and where his home lies.
“Set ye the gear in order, my friends, in the black ship, and let us climb aboard that we may make way upon our course.” So spake he, and they gave good heed and hearkened. Then straightway they embarked and sat upon the benches. Thus was he busy hereat and praying and making burnt-offering to Athene, by the stern of the ship, when there drew nigh him one from a far country, that had slain his man and was fleeing f…
Telemachus arrives from Pylos by ship at Ithaca, sends a herald to Penelope, and the wooers debate countermeasures, while Penelope and later Athene’s sleep/sickness transformations shift Odysseus’s disguise back and forth for secrecy.
not that we should make trial in the steadings, but that we should see to this task afterwards, if indeed thou knowest some sign from Zeus, lord of the aegis.” Thus they spake one to the other. And now the well-builded ship was being brought to land at Ithaca, the ship that bare Telemachus from Pylos with all his company. When they were now come within the deep harbour, the men drew up the black ship on the shore, w…
At dawn Telemachus goes toward the city so Penelope can see him, orders Eumaeus to lead Odysseus to beg in town, and Penelope receives news while Telemachus vows he will later seek divine help through sacrifice.
Telemachus relates to his mother what he had heard at Pylos and Sparta. So soon as early Dawn shone forth, the rosy-fingered, then Telemachus, the dear son of divine Odysseus, bound beneath his feet his goodly sandals, and took up his mighty spear that fitted his grasp, to make for the city; and he spake to his swineherd, saying: “Verily, father, I am bound for the city, that my mother may see me, for methinks that…
Odysseus tells Penelope a detailed account of his voyages from overcoming the Cicones and meeting the Lotus-eaters, through Cyclops, Aeolus, Laestrygonians, Circe, Hades, Sirens, and Calypso to finally reaching the Phaeacians.
wrought on men, and all his own travail and sorrow, and she was delighted with the story, and sweet sleep fell not upon her eyelids till the tale was ended. He began by setting forth how he overcame the Cicones, and next arrived at the rich land of the Lotus-eaters, and all that the Cyclops wrought, and what a price he got from him for the good companions that he devoured, and showed no pity. Then how he came to Aeo…
Darwin argues that similar cave conditions in America and Europe produced different cave-insect affinities, supporting migration into caves over generations and explaining loss of eyes and compensatory traits.
loss of light and to have increased the size of the eyes; whereas with all the other inhabitants of the caves, disuse by itself seems to have done its work. It is difficult to imagine conditions of life more similar than deep limestone caverns under a nearly similar climate; so that on the common view of the blind animals having been separately created for the American and European caverns, close similarity in their…
Darwin adds that apparent “sudden” spread of teleost fishes may reflect previously enclosed tropical basins and later climate-driven dispersal, and he compares treating Earth’s history from one small locality to landing on a barren point in Australia.
until some of the species became adapted to a cooler climate, and were enabled to double the southern capes of Africa or Australia, and thus reach other and distant seas. From these and similar considerations, but chiefly from our ignorance of the geology of other countries beyond the confines of Europe and the United States; and from the revolution in our palæontological ideas on many points, which the discoveries …
He surveys dispersal mechanisms, emphasizing that climate change and land-level shifts can open or close migration routes, while rejecting the extreme claim that ocean islands were recently continuous with continents.
which I have selected as presenting the greatest amount of difficulty on the theory of “single centres of creation,” I must say a few words on the means of dispersal. *Means of Dispersal*.—Sir C. Lyell and other authors have ably treated this subject. I can give here only the briefest abstract of the more important facts. Change of climate must have had a powerful influence on migration: a region when its climate wa…
Darwin describes experiments on how seeds survive seawater and argues that dried fruits and plant parts can float long distances, using current speeds to suggest sea dispersal across roughly 924 miles.
least of the islands would have been formed, like other mountain-summits, of granite, metamorphic schists, old fossiliferous or other such rocks, instead of consisting of mere piles of volcanic matter. I must now say a few words on what are called accidental means, but which more properly might be called occasional means of distribution. I shall here confine myself to plants. In botanical works, this or that plant i…
He reports follow-up flotation tests by M. Martens, adds examples of drift timber and seeds in soil enclosed by transported wood, and notes seeds surviving long sea voyages in certain circumstances.
to one country might be floated across 924 miles of sea to another country; and when stranded, if blown to a favourable spot by an inland gale, they would germinate. Subsequently to my experiments, M. Martens tried similar ones, but in a much better manner, for he placed the seeds in a box in the actual sea, so that they were alternately wet and exposed to the air like really floating plants. He tried 98 seeds, most…
He suggests icebergs can transport seeds among the arctic and antarctic regions and proposes that ice-borne seeds may have helped stock the Azores during the Glacial epoch, using Lyell’s report of erratic boulders there.
the Mediterranean; and can we doubt that the earth adhering to their feet would sometimes include a few minute seeds? But I shall presently have to recur to this subject. As icebergs are known to be sometimes loaded with earth and stones, and have even carried brushwood, bones, and the nest of a land-bird, I can hardly doubt that they must occasionally have transported seeds from one part to another of the arctic an…
Darwin argues island absences of whole animal groups (notably frogs) and limitations in mammal presence can be explained by transport difficulty, while natural selection can still generate island endemic forms like hooked-seed plants.
of the islands; but this explanation seems to me not a little doubtful. Facility of immigration, I believe, has been at least as important as the nature of the conditions. Many remarkable little facts could be given with respect to the inhabitants of remote islands. For instance, in certain islands not tenanted by mammals, some of the endemic plants have beautifully hooked seeds; yet few relations are more striking …
Darwin reports that he found no reliable cases of terrestrial mammals living on islands more than 300 miles from a continent, contrasts this with island bats, and argues bats reach islands by flight.
why they do not exist on any oceanic island. But why, on the theory of creation, they should not have been created there, it would be very difficult to explain. Mammals offer another and similar case. I have carefully searched the oldest voyages, but have not finished my search; as yet I have not found a single instance, free from doubt, of a terrestrial mammal (excluding domesticated animals kept by the natives) in…
Darwin offers experimental evidence for land-shell dispersal by seawater—suggesting hybernating shells could survive immersion—and stresses island inhabitants’ closest affinities to nearby mainland forms.
complete; and if modification be admitted, all the forms of life would have been more equally modified, in accordance with the paramount importance of the relation of organism to organism. I do not deny that there are many and grave difficulties in understanding how several of the inhabitants of the more remote islands, whether still retaining the same specific form or modified since their arrival, could have reache…
He extends the argument to geographical distribution, using former migrations and glacial effects to explain why continents and island groups show related but distinct inhabitants.
same continent,—of marsupials in Australia, of edentata in America, and other such cases,—is intelligible, for within a confined country, the recent and the extinct will naturally be allied by descent. Looking to geographical distribution, if we admit that there has been during the long course of ages much migration from one part of the world to another, owing to former climatal and geographical changes and to the m…
Jacob’s family travels from Beersheba to Egypt after God’s night vision to Jacob, with Pharaoh-sent chariots, then a long census lists Jacob’s descendants and their household total of seventy.
Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came unto Berseba and offered offerings unto the God of his father Isaac. And God said unto Israel in a vision by night, and called unto him: Iacob, Iacob. And he answered: here am I. And he said: I am that mighty God of thy father, fear not to go down into Egypt. For I will make of thee there a great people. I will go down with thee into Egypt, and I will also bring …
Israel departs Egypt from Rameses to Sucoth after 430 years, observing Passover with rules excluding strangers and uncircumcised people and forbidding breaking bones or carrying flesh outside.
and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. And the LORD gat the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and so they borrowed and robbed the Egyptians. Thus took the children of Israel their journey from Rameses to Sucoth six hundred thousand men of foot, beside children. And much common people went also with them, and sheep, and oxen, and cattle exceeding much. And they…
Consul Tiberius Claudius suffers storms on voyages around Corsica, Sardinia, and Ilva, returns home after being not continued; meanwhile Rome holds elections amid weather disruptions, and records several religious and political events.
that the water had retired thence. The joy of the people and the attraction of the games were increased by the restoration of this solemn spectacle to its proper scene. 39. The consul Claudius, having set out at length from the city, was placed in the most imminent danger by a violent tempest, which overtook him between the ports of Cosa and Laurentum. Having reached Populonii, where he waited till the remainder of …
After his mother’s death and separation from siblings, Douglass sets sail from Miles River to Baltimore, stops at Annapolis, lands at Smith’s Wharf, and is taken to Alliciana Street on Fells Point.
off what would be called by pig-drovers the mange, but the skin itself. I went at it in good earnest, working for the first time with the hope of reward. The ties that ordinarily bind children to their homes were all suspended in my case. I found no severe trial in my departure. My home was charmless; it was not home to me; on parting from it, I could not feel that I was leaving any thing which I could have enjoyed …
Caught in a storm and separated from their guidance, Aeneas’s fleet wanders without stars for three nights and lands at the Strophades, where Harpies terrorize travelers on a punitive island.
but who could then have thought That Phrygian gods to Latium should be brought, Or who believ’d what mad Cassandra taught? Now let us go where Phoebus leads the way.’ “He said; and we with glad consent obey, Forsake the seat, and, leaving few behind, We spread our sails before the willing wind. Now from the sight of land our galleys move, With only seas around and skies above; When o’er…
Aeneas, after seeking prophetic guidance from Helenus, is told to sail around Sicily, avoid the far Epirus coast, and interpret signs including a sow with thirty piglets.
Italy; But only dire Celaeno, from the gods, A dismal famine fatally forebodes: O say what dangers I am first to shun, What toils vanquish, and what course to run.’ “The prophet first with sacrifice adores The greater gods; their pardon then implores; Unbinds the fillet from his holy head; To Phoebus, next, my trembling steps he led, Full of religious doubts and awful dread. Then, with …
Andromache mournfully gives Aeneas parting gifts and prays for a shared destiny, then the fleet lands near the Ceraunian rocks at night and prepares to sail.
hence, and seek your new abodes, Blest in a son, and favour’d by the gods: For I with useless words prolong your stay, When southern gales have summon’d you away.’ “Nor less the queen our parting thence deplor’d, Nor was less bounteous than her Trojan lord. A noble present to my son she brought, A robe with flow’rs on golden tissue wrought, A phrygian vest; and loads with gifts beside O…
Aeneas sights Italy at dawn, offers wine to the gods, reaches Minerva’s temple landmark, prays at Pallas’s hill, and then sets sail while moving away from a “suspected land.”
no threat’ning tempest nigh, But a sure promise of a settled sky, He gave the sign to weigh; we break our sleep, Forsake the pleasing shore, and plow the deep. “And now the rising morn with rosy light Adorns the skies, and puts the stars to flight; When we from far, like bluish mists, descry The hills, and then the plains, of Italy. Achates first pronounc’d the joyful sound; Then, ‘Ital…
The fleet passes Tarentum’s bay and approaches Lacinian Juno, but is frightened by Charybdis and the Clashing Rocks, so they flee, endure Cyclops-country hazards, and suffer a starless, moonless night.
his head, And all commands of Helenus obey’d, And pious rites to Grecian Juno paid. These dues perform’d, we stretch our sails, and stand To sea, forsaking that suspected land. “From hence Tarentum’s bay appears in view, For Hercules renown’d, if fame be true. Just opposite, Lacinian Juno stands; Caulonian tow’rs, and Scylacaean strands, For shipwrecks fear’d. Mount Aetna thence we spy, …
Dido denounces Aeneas as faithless, curses him when he claims divine orders, and leaves with threats that the sea and her angry ghost will punish him; Aeneas then orders the fleet to sail.
angry ghost, arising from the deep, Shall haunt thee waking, and disturb thy sleep. At least my shade thy punishment shall know, And Fame shall spread the pleasing news below.” Abruptly here she stops; then turns away Her loathing eyes, and shuns the sight of day. Amaz’d he stood, revolving in his mind What speech to frame, and what excuse to find. Her fearful maids their fainting mistress le…
Hermes appears again in a dream to spur Aeneas to flee before Dido’s revenge, and Aeneas wakes his men to weigh anchors and sail at once as night still covers the shore.
brooded in her anxious breast. On board, the Trojan found more easy rest. Resolv’d to sail, in sleep he pass’d the night; And order’d all things for his early flight. To whom once more the winged god appears; His former youthful mien and shape he wears, And with this new alarm invades his ears: “Sleep’st thou, O goddess-born! and canst thou drown Thy needful cares, so near a hostile town, …
Aeneas, watching Dido’s fire from afar on the Punic shore, interprets it as an omen of love-driven destruction, then sails toward Sicily after gathering storm-like signs at sea.
THE ARGUMENT. Aeneas, setting sail from Afric, is driven by a storm on the coast of Sicily, where he is hospitably received by his friend Acestes, king of part of the island, and born of Trojan parentage. He applies himself to celebrate the memory of his father with divine honours, and accordingly institues funeral games, and appoints prizes for those who should conquer in them. W…
Cloanthus secures a vow before the sea-gods, while Gyas throws the pilot into the sea and is himself wrecked; Mnestheus wins after shifting crews and rowing through the course.
dotard to the deck he drew; Then hoisted up, and overboard he threw: This done, he seiz’d the helm; his fellows cheer’d, Turn’d short upon the shelfs, and madly steer’d. Hardly his head the plunging pilot rears, Clogg’d with his clothes, and cumber’d with his years: Now dropping wet, he climbs the cliff with pain. The crowd, that saw him fall and float again, Shout from the distant shore; and…
Venus prays to Neptune to protect Aeneas’s remaining fleet, Neptune promises safety to the Latin shore, then Sleep and Phorbas bring Palinurus’s death as the fleet sails past dangerous rocks.
coast. For what remains, your godhead I implore, And trust my son to your protecting pow’r. If neither Jove’s nor Fate’s decree withstand, Secure his passage to the Latian land.” Then thus the mighty Ruler of the Main: “What may not Venus hope from Neptune’s reign? My kingdom claims your birth; my late defence Of your indanger’d fleet may claim your confidence. Nor less by land than sea my de…
The next night and day the Trojans pass upriver toward Evander’s territory, see settlement buildings rising in marble, observe a feast for Hercules in a grove, meet fearful locals, and have Pallas reassure them and invite Aeneas ashore.
ground: Her well-fed offspring at her udders hung; She white herself, and white her thirty young. Aeneas takes the mother and her brood, And all on Juno’s altar are bestow’d. The foll’wing night, and the succeeding day, Propitious Tiber smooth’d his wat’ry way: He roll’d his river back, and pois’d he stood, A gentle swelling, and a peaceful flood. The Trojans mount their ships; they put from …
This section includes footnotes and then begins Chapter II, describing Equiano’s birth and parentage, his kidnapping and separation from his sister, and his experiences traveling to the coast and witnessing a slave ship before reaching Barbados.
[Footnote F: See also Leut. Matthew's Voyage, p. 123.] [Footnote G: An instance of this kind happened at Montserrat in the West Indies in the year 1763. I then belonged to the Charming Sally, Capt. Doran.--The chief mate, Mr. Mansfield, and some of the crew being one day on shore, were present at the burying of a poisoned negro girl. Though they had often heard of the circumstance of the running in such cases, and h…
He briefly continues: after his master’s daughter dies and the master is nearly suicidal, Equiano is sold again and carried westward, passing woods and sheds where merchants and armed travelers lodge.
all other animals, I could not those of the human kind; and that, not knowing the way, I must perish in the woods. Thus was I like the hunted deer: --"Ev'ry leaf and ev'ry whisp'ring breath Convey'd a foe, and ev'ry foe a death." I heard frequent rustlings among the leaves; and being pretty sure they were snakes I expected every instant to be stung by them. This increased my anguish, and the horror of my situat…
Equiano describes changing customs across countries, including non-circumcision, eating without washing hands, women sharing meals with men, and travel by canoes to the sea coast over six or seven months.
had never before beheld, and till then had no idea of, and wherein such instances of hardship and cruelty continually occurred as I can never reflect on but with horror. All the nations and people I had hitherto passed through resembled our own in their manners, customs, and language: but I came at length to a country, the inhabitants of which differed from us in all those particulars. I was very much struck with th…
Near the end of 1764 Equiano sails on his master’s larger sloop, trades with Georgia and Charles Town, then works toward a 1765 voyage to Philadelphia, hoping to buy his freedom and see Philadelphia.
About the latter end of the year 1764 my master bought a larger sloop, called the Providence, about seventy or eighty tons, of which my captain had the command. I went with him into this vessel, and we took a load of new slaves for Georgia and Charles Town. My master now left me entirely to the captain, though he still wished for me to be with him; but I, who always much wished to lose sight of the West Indies, was n…