The Argonautica

and gladly saw the visiting chiefs inside the hall.

For long before, the seer himself had once prophesied

that chiefs sailing far from Hellas toward Aeetes' city

would fasten Argo's cables firm on Thynian land,

and by Zeus' will restrain the Harpies' fierce attack.

The old man pleased those neighbors with discerning words

and sent the others off, but bade Paraebius remain

there with the leading men; at once Phineus urged him

to choose his flock's best sheep and bring it to him.

Thus urged, Paraebius went out from the great hall;

Phineus gently addressed the assembled company of rowers:

“My friends, not every man, it seems, is overbearing,

nor forgetful of a kindness. Such is this man here,

who came to learn his destined portion, loyal still.

For though he labored hard and toiled beyond all measure,

pressing want for daily food assailed him harder,

wearing him down; day after day hardships rose,

more bitter, with no breathing-space from all his labor.

He paid the bitter price for his own father's error:

his father, all alone, while cutting mountain trees,

once spurned the urgent prayers a Hamadryad made,

mourning, she kept soothing him with soft and earnest words

not to cut down the oak trunk, her companion in age,

she shared its long, unbroken lifetime; even so, he