And Mimnermus, in his Nannus, says that the Sun when asleep is borne round to the
 east, lying on a golden bed which was made for this express purpose by Vulcan; by
 which enigmatical statement he indicates the hollow form of the cup; and he speaks
 thus— For the Sun labours every day, nor ever Do he or his fleet steeds know pleasing rest From that bright hour when the rosy Morn, Leaving her ocean-bed, mounts up to heaven. For all across the sea, a lovely bed Of precious gold, the work of Vulcan's hands, Conveys the god; passing on rapid wings Along the water, while he sleeps therein, From the bright region of th' Hesperides, To th' Ethiopian shore, where his swift car And fiery horses wait within their stalls Till bright Aurora comes again and opes Her rosy portals. Then Hyperion's son Ascends again his swift untiring car. But Theolytus, in the second book of his Annals, says that the Sun
 crosses the sea in a cup, and that the first person who invented this statement
 was the author of the poem called the Battle of the Titans. And Pherecydes, in the
 third book of his Histories, having previously spoken about the ocean,
 adds— But Hercules drew his bow against him, as if he meant to shoot him:
 and the Sun bade him desist, and so he, being afraid, did desist. And in return
 for his forbearance, the Sun gave him the golden cup in which he himself used
 to travel with his horses when he has set, going all night across the ocean to
 the east, where he again rises. And so then Hercules went in this cup to
 Erythea. And when he was at sea, Oceanus, to tempt him, appeared to him in
 visible form, tossing his cup about in the waves; and he then was on the point
 of shooting Oceanus; but Oceanus being frightened desired him to
 forbear.