But necessity, bitter and insatiate, compels me to abide and abiding to put food in my cursed belly.

These pests, the oracle declares, the sons of Boreas shall restrain.

And no strangers are they that shall ward them off if indeed I am Phineus who was once renowned among men for wealth and the gift of prophecy, and if I am the son of my father Agenor; and, when I ruled among the Thracians, by my bridal gifts I brought home their sister Cleopatra to be my wife." So spake Agenor's son; and deep sorrow seized each of the heroes, and especially the two sons of Boreas.

And brushing away a tear they drew nigh, and Zetes spake as follows, taking in his own the hand of the grief-worn sire: "Unhappy one, none other of men is more wretched than thou, methinks.
Why upon thee is laid the burden of so many sorrows?
Hast thou with baneful folly sinned against the gods through thy skill in prophecy?
For this are they greatly wroth with thee?
Yet our spirit is dismayed within us for all our desire to aid thee, if indeed the god has granted this privilege to us two.

For plain to discern to men of earth are the reproofs of the immortals.