Lives of Alcyone

say nothing of their story anywhere in the places through which they
passed, but to reserve all mention of it until they reached home.
There they told the story to Alcyone’ s father and the family circle.
The father said: “ Yes, there is a tradition, not among us, but among
the Atlanteans, of such underground races of men.” Something of
the story was also told by Demeter to some other people outside;
but they supposed it to be mere fabrication. The family of course
knew it to be true, and fully realised what a wonderful experience it
was.
Alcyone did well in the temple life, and held some offices
important for one so young. As time went on he more and more
helped his father in his work, and the father grew to rely more and
more upon him, the affection between them becoming steadily
stronger. He also, in addition, obtained some recognition and fame
on his own account. In 10,387 the great sorrow of his life came to
him. He undertook a journey to visit some distant shrines in the
south, of the sites of those now called Rameshwaram and
Srirangam. His sons, Helios and Achilles, now splendid young men
of twenty, begged to accompany him, and he and Ajax agreed,
thinking that the experience of the voyage would be of interest to
them. He took ship in a trading vessel, a large one for those times,
and thus he commenced a leisurely voyage down the coast, calling
at various ports on the way.
The interest of the voyage was great, and father and sons
enjoyed it; but after they had been some weeks on their way a
fearful storm arose, and lasted for many days, sweeping them far
out of their course into quite unknown seas, and reducing their ship
to a helpless wreck, leaking in the most serious manner. They