a man roofs
over a house with tiles, to be an ornament of his home and a defence
against rain, and one the fits firmly into another, each after each; so
they roofed over the ship with their shields, locking them together. And
as a din arises from a warrior-host of men sweeping on, when lines of
battle meet, such a shout rose upward from the ship into the air. Now
they saw none of the birds yet, but when they touched the island and
clashed upon their shields, then the birds in countless numbers rose in
flight hither and thither. And as when the son of Cronos sends from the
clouds a dense hailstorm on city and houses, and the people who dwell
beneath hear the din above the roof and sit quietly, since the stormy
season has not come upon them unawares, but they have first made strong
their roofs; so the birds sent against the heroes a thick shower of
feather-shafts as they darted over the sea to the mountains of the land
opposite.

(ll. 1090-1092) What then was the purpose of Phineus in bidding the
divine band of heroes land there? Or what kind of help was about to meet
their desire?

(ll. 1093-1122) The sons of Phrixus were faring towards the city of
Orchomenus from Aea, coming from Cytaean Aeetes, on board a Colchian
ship, to win the boundless wealth of their father; for he, when dying,
had enjoined this journey upon them. And lo, on that day they were very
near that island. But Zeus had impelled the north wind's might to blow,
marking by rain the moist path of Arcturus; and all day long he was
stirring the leaves upon the mountains, breathing gently upon the
topmost sprays; but at night he rushed upon the sea with monstrous
force, and with his shrieking blasts uplifted the surge; and a dark mist
covered the heavens, nor did the bright stars anywhere appear from among
the clouds, but a murky gloom brooded all around. And so the sons of
Phrixus, drenched and trembling in fear of a horrible doom, were borne
along by the waves helplessly. And the force of the wind had snatched
away their sails and shattered in twain the hull, tossed as it was by
the breakers. And hereupon by heaven's prompting those four clutched a
huge beam, one of many that were scattered about, held together by sharp
bolts, when the ship broke to pieces. And on to the island the waves and
the blasts of wind bore the men in their distress, within a little of
death. And straightway a mighty rain burst forth, and rained upon the
sea and the island, and all