827Here in turn soothing joys steal into the anxious mind of father Aeneas: he orders all the masts to be raised quickly and the yards stretched with sails. 830All together set the sheets, and together let out the sails now to the left, now to the right; 831together they turn the lofty yard-arms this way and back; 832their own breezes carry the fleet. 833Ahead of all, Palinurus was leading the close column; 834the others were ordered to steer their course by him. 835And now dewy Night had almost reached the midpoint of heaven; 836the sailors, stretched out on the hard benches beneath the oars, were relaxing their limbs in peaceful rest: when Sleep, gliding lightly down from the stars of heaven, parted the dark air and scattered the shadows, seeking you, Palinurus, bringing you grim dreams, guiltless as you were; 841and the god sat down on the high stern, in the likeness of Phorbas, and pours these words from his mouth: 'Palinurus, son of Iasus, the seas themselves carry the fleet; 844the breezes blow steady; 844an hour is given for rest.
845Lay down your head, and steal your weary eyes from their toil: I myself will take on your duties for you a little while.' 847Palinurus, barely raising his eyes, says to him: 'Do you bid me ignore the face of the calm sea and the quiet waves? 849Me, trust this monster? 850For why should I entrust Aeneas to the treacherous breezes and the sky, I who have so often been deceived by the guile of a clear sky?'