ir king sits
in the loftiest hut and dispenses upright judgments to the multitude,
poor wretch! For if haply he err at all in his decrees, for that day
they keep him shut up in starvation.
(ll. 1030-1046) They passed them by and cleft their way with oars over
against the island of Ares all day long; for at dusk the light breeze
left them. At last they spied above them, hurtling through the air, one
of the birds of Ares which haunt that isle. It shook its wings down over
the ship as she sped on and sent against her a keen feather, and it fell
on the left shoulder of goodly Oileus, and he dropped his oar from his
hands at the sudden blow, and his comrades marvelled at the sight of the
winged bolt. And Eribotes from his seat hard by drew out the feather,
and bound up the wound when he had loosed the strap hanging from his
own sword-sheath; and besides the first, another bird appeared swooping
down; but the hero Clytius, son of Eurytus--for he bent his curved bow,
and sped a swift arrow against the bird--struck it, and it whirled round
and fell close to the ship. And to them spake Amphidamas, son of Aleus:
(ll. 1047-1067) "The island of Ares is near us; you know it yourselves
now that ye have seen these birds. But little will arrows avail us, I
trow, for landing. But let us contrive some other device to help us, if
ye intend to land, bearing in mind the injunction of Phineus. For not
even could Heracles, when he came to Arcadia, drive away with bow and
arrow the birds that swam on the Stymphalian lake. I saw it myself. But
he shook in his hand a rattle of bronze and made a loud clatter as
he stood upon a lofty peak, and the birds fled far off, screeching in
bewildered fear. Wherefore now too let us contrive some such device, and
I myself will speak, having pondered the matter beforehand. Set on your
heads your helmets of lofty crest, then half row by turns, and half
fence the ship about with polished spears and shields. Then all together
raise a mighty shout so that the birds may be scared by the unwonted
din, the nodding crests, and the uplifted spears on high. And if we
reach the island itself, then make mighty noise with the clashing of
shields."
(ll. 1068-1089) Thus he spake, and the helpful device pleased all. And
on their heads they placed helmets of bronze, gleaming terribly, and the
blood-red crests were tossing. And half of them rowed in turn, and the
rest covered the ship with spears and shields. And as when
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