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METAMORPHOSES BOOK III shall not permit this ship to be defiled by such sacrilege, I said; ‘here must my authority have greater weight.' And I resisted their attempt to come on board. Then did Lycabas break out into wrath, the most reckless man of the crew, who, riven from Tuscany, was suffering exile as a punish- ment for the foul crime of murder. He, while I withstood him, tore at my throat with his strong hands and would have hurled me overboard, if, scarce knowing what I did, I had not clung to a rope that held me back. The godless crew applauded Lycabas. Then at last Bacchus-for it was he-as if aroused from slumber by the outcry, and as if his wine- dimmed senses were coming back, said: ' What are ou doing? Why this uproar? And tell me, ye sailor-men, how did I get here and whither are you planning to take me?' 'Be not afraid,' said Proreus, ' tell me what port you wish to make, and you shall be set off at any place you choose.' ‘Then turn your course to Naxos, said Liber; ‘ that is my home, and there shall you find, yourselves, a friendly land.' By the sea and all its gods the treacherous fellows swore that they would do this, and bade me get the painted vessel under sail. Naxos lay off upon the right; and as I was setting my sails towards the right Opheltes said: ' What are you doing, you fool? what madness-' and each one for himself supplied the words--'holds you? Take the left tack.' The most of them by nods and winks let me know what they wanted, and some whispered in my ear. I could not believe my senses and I said to them: ‘Then let someone else take the helm'; and declared that I would have nor part nor lot in thei wicked scheme. They all cried 1 69