Their office was to spin the thread of human destiny, and they were armed with shears, with which they cut it off when they pleased. […] In peace they were closed; but they were shut only once between the reign of Numa and that of Augustus. […] Such words they uttered on different sides of the wall; and when night came and they must say farewell, they pressed their lips upon the wall, she on her side, he on his, as they could come no nearer. […] If they had not seen his footprints in the sand they would have thought he flew. […] no sooner had they reached the surface than they began to brandish their weapons and rush upon Jason.