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A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily opposite Scylla on the Italian coast. quotations examples
I have never yet been able to steer my lovers through the Scylla of presence, or the Charybdis of absence.
1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Chapter XII. Lady Marchmont’s Journal.”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], page 85
(Greek mythology) A personification of the above whirlpool as a female monster.
Any dangerous whirlpool. quotations examples
…that night, wee ſailed merrily by the Maſcarenas, a Charybdis in 21 degrees, var.13 and 17 minutes…
1638, Sir Thomas Herbert, Some yeares travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique
The tide here sets in alternately from N. to S. and from S. to N., which causes the whirlpool of Galofaro, the Charybdis of the ancients.
1832, James Bell, A system of geography, popular and scientific
Lo! the wave that for ever devours the wave / Casts roaringly up the charybdis again…
1842 Schiller, Friedrich poem Der Taucher (written in 1797) published in English in Blackwood's Magazine volume 52