Its course was from south to north up the western side of the earth. […] Its waters were sweet, and it was the parent of all fountains and rivers on the earth. […] The latter hides his children under the earth, the former swallows his. […] It reverses however the usual order, the earth being generally looked on as the female principle. […] The favourite haunt of Hephæstos on earth was the isle of Lemnos.