hered the neighbours who used to come thither aforetime
day by day and constantly bring a portion of their food. To all alike,
however poor he was that came, the aged man gave his oracles with good
will, and freed many from their woes by his prophetic art; wherefore
they visited and tended him. And with them came Paraebius, who was
dearest to him, and gladly did he perceive these strangers in the house.
For long ere now the seer himself had said that a band of chieftains,
faring from Hellas to the city of Aceres, would make fast their hawsers
to the Thynian land, and by Zeus' will would check the approach of the
Harpies. The rest the old man pleased with words of wisdom and let them
go; Paraebius only he bade remain there with the chiefs; and straightway
he sent him and bade him bring back the choicest of his sheep. And when
he had left the hall Phineus spake gently amid the throng of oarsmen:

(ll. 468-489) "O my friends, not all men are arrogant, it seems, nor
unmindful of benefits. Even as this man, loyal as he is, came hither to
learn his fate. For when he laboured the most and toiled the most, then
the needs of life, ever growing more and more, would waste him, and day
after day ever dawned more wretched, nor was there any respite to his
toil. But he was paying the sad penalty of his father's sin. For he when
alone on the mountains, felling trees, once slighted the prayers of a
Hamadryad, who wept and sought to soften him with plaintive words, not
to cut down the stump of an oak tree coeval with herself, wherein for
a long time she had lived continually; but he in the arrogance of youth
recklessly cut it down. So to him the nymph thereafter made her death
a curse, to him and to his children. I indeed knew of the sin when he
came; and I bid him build an altar to the Thynian nymph, and offer on
it an atoning sacrifice, with prayer to escape his father's fate. Here,
ever since he escaped the god-sent doom, never has he forgotten or
neglected me; but sorely and against his will do I send him from my
doors, so eager is he to remain with me in my affliction."

(ll. 490-499) Thus spake Agenor's son; and his friend straightway came
near leading two sheep from the flock. And up rose Jason and up rose the
sons of Boreas at the bidding of the aged sire. And quickly they called
upon Apollo, lord of prophecy, and offered sacrifice upon the health as
the day was just sinking. And the younger comrades made ready a feast
to their