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‘Beshrew thee!—thy thoughts thus soon to thyself are deadly and fell!

Hath the strong wine caused thy reckless heart for thy ruin to swell

In thy breast, and eggeth thee on to set the Gods at nought?

Other words of comfort there be wherewithal a man might have sought

To hearten his friend; but thy words were wholly presumptuous-bold!{480}

So blustered, as telleth the tale, against the Blessèd of old

The sons of Alôeus: and thou—thou art nothing so mighty as they

In manhood: yet both did the swift shafts overmaster and slay

Of the Son of Latona, though giants they were and passing strong.’

Then Aphareus’ son brake forth into laughter loud and long,

And blinking upon him in drunken wise flung back the jeer:

‘Come now, by thy deep divination reveal unto me, thou seer,

If the Gods for me also be bringing to pass such doom as that

Which was dealt of that father of thine to the sons that Alôeus begat.

And bethink thee how thou shalt escape from mine hands alive, if we find{490}

Thee guilty of boding a prophecy vain as the idle wind!’