Tom is caught between Scylla and Charybdis.

He is chary of offending people.

Behold / Charybdis!" cries Anchises, "'tis the shore, / the dreaded rocks that Helenus foretold. / Row, comrades, for dear life, and let the oars catch hold."

Here Scylla, leftward sits Charybdis fell, / who, yawning thrice, her lowest depths laid bare, / sucks the vast billows in her throat's dark hell, / then starward spouts the refluent surge in air."

Between Scylla and Charybdis.