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touching the walls； for the eyes in his head were blind and withered。 His
body was shrunken； and when he stood before them leaning on his staff he
was like to a lifeless thing。 He turned his blinded eyes upon them； looking
from one to the other as if he were searching for a face。
Then his sightless eyes rested upon Zetes and Calais； the sons of
Boreas； the North Wind。 A change came into his face as it turned upon
them。 One would think that he saw the wonder that these two were
endowed withthe wings that grew upon their ankles。 It was awhile before
he turned his face from them； then he spoke to Jason and said：
〃You have come to have counsel with one who has the wisdom of the
gods。 Others before you have come for such counsel； but seeing the misery
that is visible upon me they went without asking for counsel： I would
strive to hold you here for a while。 Stay； and have sight of the misery the
gods visit upon those who would be as wise as they。 And when you have
seen the thing that is wont to befall me； it may be that help will come from
you for me。〃
Then Phineus； the blind king； left them； and after a while the heroes
were brought into a great hall； and they were invited to rest themselves
there while a banquet was being prepared for them。 The hall was richly
adorned； but it looked to the heroes as if it had known strange happenings；
rich hangings were strewn upon the ground； an ivory chair was overturned；
and the dais where the king sat had stains upon it。 The servants who went
through the hall making ready the banquet were white…faced and fearful。
The feast was laid on a great table； and the heroes were invited to sit
down to it。 The king did not come into the hall before they sat down； but a
table with food was set before the dais。 When the heroes had feasted； the
king came into the hall。 He sat at the table； blind； white…faced； and
shrunken； and the Argonauts all turned their faces to him。
Said Phineus； the blind king： 〃You see； O heroes； how much my
wisdom avails me。 You see me blind and shrunken； who tried to make
myself in wisdom equal to the gods。 And yet you have not seen all。 Watch
now and see what feasts Phineus； the wise king； has to delight him。〃
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He made a sign； and the white…faced and trembling servants brought
food and set it upon the table that was before him。 The king bent forward
as if to eat； and they saw that his face was covered with the damp of fear。
He took food from the dish and raised it to his mouth。 As he did； the doors
of the hall were flung open as if by a storm。 Strange shapes flew into the
hall and set themselves beside the king。 And when the Argonauts looked
upon them they saw that these were terrible and unsightly shapes。
They were things that had the wings and claws of birds and the heads
of women。 Black hair and gray feathers were mixed upon them； they had
red eyes； and streaks of blood were upon their breasts and wings。 And as
the king raised the food to his mouth they flew at him and buffeted his
head with their wings； and snatched the food from his hands。 Then they
devoured or scattered what was upon the table； and all the time they
screamed and laughed and mocked。
〃Ah； now ye see；〃 Phineus panted； 〃what it is to have wisdom equal to
the wisdom of the gods。 Now ye all see my misery。 Never do I strive to put
food to my lips but these foul things； the Harpies； the Snatchers； swoop
down and scatter or devour what I would eat。 Crumbs they leave me that
my life may not altogether go from me； but these crumbs they make foul
to my taste and my smell。〃
And one of the Harpies perched herself on the back of the king's
throne and looked upon the heroes with red eyes。 〃Hah；〃 she screamed；
〃you bring armed men into your feasting hall； thinking to scare us away。
Never； Phineus； can you scare us from you！ Always you will have us； the
Snatchers； beside you when you would still your ache of hunger。 What can
these men do against us who are winged and who can travel through the
ways of the air？〃
So said the unsightly Harpy； and the heroes drew together； made
fearful by these awful shapes。 All drew back except Zetes and Calais； the
sons of the North Wind。 They laid their hands upon their swords。 The
wings on their shoulders spread out and the wings at their heels trembled。
Phineus； the king； leaned forward and panted： 〃By the wisdom I have I
know that there are two amongst you who can save me。 O make haste to
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
help me； ye who can help me； and I will give the counsel that you
Argonauts have come to me for； and besides I will load down your ship
with treasure and costly stuffs。 Oh； make haste； ye who can help me！〃
Hearing the king speak like this； the Harpies gathered together and
gnashed with their teeth； and chattered to one another。 Then； seeing Zetes
and Calais with their hands upon their swords； they rose up on their wings
and flew through the wide doors of the hall。 The king cried out to Zetes
and Calais。 But the sons of the North Wind had already risen with their
wings； and they were after the Harpies； their bright swords in their hands。
On flew the Harpies； screeching and gnashing their teeth in anger and
dismay； for now they felt that they might be driven from Salmydessus；
where they had had such royal feasts。 They rose high in the air and flew
out toward the sea。 But high as the Harpies rose； the sons of the North
Wind rose higher。 The Harpies cried pitiful cries as they flew on； but Zetes
and Calais felt no pity for them； for they knew that these dread Snatchers；
with the stains of blood upon their breasts and wings； had shown pity
neither to Phineus nor to any other。
On they flew until they came to the island that is called the Floating
Island。 There the Harpies sank down with wearied wings。 Zetes and Calais
were upon them now； and they would have cut them to pieces with their
bright swords； if the messenger of Zeus； Iris； with the golden wings； had
not come between。
〃Forbear to slay the Harpies； sons of Boreas；〃 cried Iris warningly；
〃forbear to slay the Harpies that are the hounds of Zeu