E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Scylla.
Glaucus, a fisherman, was in love with Scylla; but Circ, out of jealousy, changed her into a hideous monster, and set dogs and wolves to bark round her incessantly. On this Scylla threw herself into the sea and became a rock. It is said that the rock Scylla somewhat resembles a woman at a distance, and the noise of the waves dashing against it is not unlike the barking of dogs and wolves.
1
“Glaucus, lost to joy,
Curst in his love by vengeful Circë’s hate,
Attending wept his Scylla’s hapless fate.”
Camoens: Lusiad, bk. vi.
Avoiding Scylla, he fell into Charybdis. Trying to avoid one error, he fell into another; or, trying to avoid one danger, he fell into another equally fatal. Scylla and Charybdis are two rocks between Italy and Sicily. In one was a cave where “Scylla dwelt,” and on the other Charybdis dwelt under a fig-tree. Ships which tried to avoid one were often wrecked on the other rock. It was Circe who changed Scylla into a frightful seamonster, and Jupiter who changed Charybdis into a whirlpool.
2
“When I shun Scylla your father, I fall into Charybdis your mother.”—Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, iii. 5.
Between Scylla and Charybdis. Between two difficulties or fatal works.
3
To fall from Scylla into Charybdis—out of the frying-pan into the fire.
, out of jealousy, changed her into a hideous monster, and set dogs and wolves to bark round her incessantly. On this Scylla threw herself into the sea and became a rock. It is said that the rock Scylla somewhat resembles a woman at a distance, and the noise of the waves dashing against it is not unlike the barking of dogs and wolves.
