415So she speaks, and pours out the liquid fragrance of ambrosia, with which she anointed the whole body of her son; 416and a sweet scent breathed from his ordered hair, and a supple vigour came into his limbs. 418There is a huge cave in the side of a hollowed mountain, into which many a wave is driven by the wind and splits itself into receding inlets, at times a very safe anchorage for sailors caught by storms; 422inside, Proteus shelters behind the barrier of a vast rock. 423Here the Nymph places the young man in hiding, turned away from the light; 424she herself stands at a distance, veiled in mist.
425Now the scorching Dog Star, parching the thirsty Indians, was blazing, and the fiery sun had consumed half his circuit of the sky; 427the grass was withering, and the rays were baking the hollow rivers, their channels dry, heated down to the mud: when Proteus came from the waves, making for his accustomed cave; 430around him the watery race of the vast sea, leaping, scatters the bitter spray far and wide. 432The seals stretch out to sleep here and there on the shore. 433He himself, like the keeper of a fold on the mountains at times, when evening brings the calves home from pasture, and the lambs whet the wolves with the sound of their bleating, sits on a rock in their midst and counts them over.
437Since the chance of seizing him was offered to Aristaeus, barely letting the old man settle his weary limbs, he rushes on him with a great shout and pins him with manacles as he lies. 440He in turn, not forgetful of his art, transforms himself into all wondrous things, into fire and a fearsome beast and a flowing river. 443But when no trick finds an escape, he is beaten and returns to himself, and at last speaks with a man's voice: 'Who, then, most presumptuous of young men, bade you approach our home? 446Or what do you seek here?' 446he said. 446And he replied: 'You know, Proteus, you know yourself; 447nor is it possible to deceive you in anything; but cease to wish it.
448Following the gods' instructions, we have come here to seek an oracle for my failing fortunes.' 450So much he said. 450At this the seer, with great force at last, rolled his eyes blazing with grey-green light, and, gnashing his teeth heavily, thus opened his lips to tell the fates.