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it actually appears to be a very large island. For this
reason it sometimes happens that sailors on that sea
are greatly deceived and misled. For they believe
firmly that it is dry land, so they walk about on it freely.
And, as if they were on dry land, after they finished their preparations for a fire
and have settled on a place to stay, as is needful for them,
they light the fire to cook their
dinner. But as soon as this tremendous fish feels
the heat of the fire it moves suddenly, diving
into the deepest part of the water, and everyone who
was on top of it is lost in the sea. Many ships have
perished by this means and people have died who
believed themselves safe. There are many other
fish in this sea who have the head and body
of a young woman, with hair in beautiful
tresses. To the waist they have the body of a young
woman, but the remaining part is like the body and
tail of a fish. And others have wings like birds,
and their singing is so sweet and melodious that
it is marvellous to hear. These are called Sirens.