The life and work of St. Paul

566 THE LIFE AND WORK OF ST. PAUL.
opposite directions, namely, north-east and south-east. The explanation of
this singular anomaly is not to be sought in grammatical illustrations, but in
the subjectivity of the sailors, who simply regard the bearings of the harbour
from the directions in which they sail into it, and might say, for instance, that
a harbour " looked towards " the north, if they could only sail into it by
turning their prow northward; just as farther on in the chapter they speak
of " some land approaching them," when in reality they are approaching some
land. 1 But besides the security of Port Phoenix, it was evidently a far more
desirable place for nearly three hundred people to winter in than the com-
paratively obscure and lonely Fair Havens, and on both these grounds it
seemed to be worth a slight risk to reach it. These arguments won the
adhesion of the majority, and the centurion, with whom the decision rested,
decided that this should be done. St. Paul claimed no inspiration for the
solemn advice he gave, 2 and of course there was a fair chance of safely travers-
ing so short a distance. Yet results proved that his advice was right. Fair
Havens, though not a first-rate harbour, is yet partially protected by reefs
and islets, and though it might not be wholly safe to winter there, yet the
risk was much smaller than that which must be incurred by doubling Cape
Matala, and so getting possibly seized in the grasp of one of the prevalent
and sadden northerly gales, which would drive the ship into almost certain
destruction. But there is a gambling element in human nature, and the
centurion, at any rate, could hardly avoid following the opinion of the
experts, whoso interests were BO deeply concerned, in preference to that of
a prisoner, whose knowledge was not professional and who had BO much less
at stake.
It was not long before the wished-for opportunity occurred. 8 A soft south
wind sprang up, and gladly weighing anchor, they hoisted the great mainsail,
took their boat in tow, sailed close along the shore to the point of Cape Matala,
and then gaily prepared for a delightful run of a few hours to the beautiful
and hospitable harbour for which they were abandoning the dull, dreary Lasses.
Now at last a little gleam of prosperity seemed to have shone on their tedious
and unfortunate voyage. Perhaps they had a good-natured laugh against Paul
the prisoner for advice which would have made them throw away a golden
chance. But, alas ! the gentle breathing of the south wind in the sails and
cordage was but a siren song which had lured them to their destruction. They
had not long passed the cape, when & tempestuous typhoon 4 such as often iu
those latitudes succeeds a brief spell of the south wind burst down from the
Cretan Ida, and smote with terrible fury on the hapless vessel. The ancient
name of this "Levanter," as it is now called, was probably Euroaquilo, a name
1 See further, Smith, p. 49. Ver. 10, feupa.
3 Ver. 13, apavrej ivffov wapA*yowo nj Kp^nji*. The E.V. misses the exact force of the
a Grist viroirvfi'ffavTos.
4 Hie word Tv4>vcfc describes the circular whirling of the clouds caused by the meet-
ing of the S. and the E.N.E. winds. See Plin. H. N. ii. 48, "praecipua navigantum
pestis ;
" A. GelL xix. 1. This change of wind is exactly what might have baen expected
CPurdy, Hailing IHrectori/, ii. 61 ; Smith, Voy. and Shipwreck, p. 412).