A Book of Myths, by Jean Lang - Umnet

Yet the story of Halcyone is one best to be understood by the
heavy-hearted woman who wanders along the bleak sea-beach and
strains her weary eyes for the brown sail of the fishing-boat that will
never more return.
Over the kingdom of Thessaly, in the days of long ago, there reigned a
king whose name was Ceyx, son of Hesperus, the Day Star, and almost
as radiant in grace and beauty as was his father. His wife was the fair
Halcyone, daughter of Æolus, ruler of the winds, and most perfectly did
this king and queen love one another. Their happiness was unmarred
until there came a day when Ceyx had to mourn for the loss of a brother.
Following close on the heels of this disaster came direful prodigies
which led Ceyx to fear that in some way he must have incurred the
hostility of the gods. To him there was no way in which to discover
wherein lay his fault, and to make atonement for it, but by going to
consult the oracle of Apollo at Claros, in Ionia. When he told Halcyone
what he must do, she knew well that she must not try to turn him from
his solemn purpose, yet there hung over her heart a black shadow of
fear and of evil foreboding that no loving words of assurance could
drive away. Most piteously she begged him to take her with him, but
the king knew too well the dangers of the treacherous Ægean Sea to
risk on it the life of the woman that he loved so well.
"I promise," he said, "by the rays of my Father the Day Star, that if fate
permits I will return before the moon shall have twice rounded her
orb."
Down by the shore the sailors of King Ceyx awaited his coming, and
when with passionately tender love he and Halcyone had taken farewell
of each other, the rowers sat down on the benches and dipped their long
oars into the water.
With rhythmic swing they drove the great ship over the grey sea, while
Ceyx stood on deck and gazed back at his wife until his eyes could no
longer distinguish her from the rocks on the shore, nor could she any
longer see the white sails of the ship as it crested the restless waves.
Heavier still was her heart when she turned away from the shore, and
yet more heavy it grew as the day wore on and dark night descended.