The Cruise of the Branwen

NAPLES peculiar charm to almost every circumstance of the voyage that was soon to begin. For in his wonderful book, called " Les Pheniciens et l'Odyssee," * this brilliant author has thrown a new light on Homer which makes travelling in the Mediterranean a series of romantic and adventurous discoveries and gives fresh glamour to the most aged sea in history, that " mother of navies" on which Odysseus voyaged by the help of the more ancient lore Phrenician mariners had left for his instruction. By that light too at last I was to voyage on "the sea With every note of music in its tone, With tides that wash the dim dominion Of Hades, and light waves that laugh in glee Around the isles enchanted...." • I first drew attention to this book some time ago in articles published in the Fortnightly and Edinburgh Reviews, portions of which I have used here as occasion demanded. 37