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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 Zeus。 Let them cower
here and hide themselves； and I； who come from Zeus； will swear the oath
that the gods most dread； that they will never again come to Salmydessus
to trouble Phineus； the king。〃
The heroes yielded to the words of Iris。 She took the oath that the gods
most dreadthe oath by the Water of Styxthat never again would the
Harpies show themselves to Phineus。 Then Zetes and Calais turned back
toward the city of Salmydessus。 The island that they drove the Harpies to
had been called the Floating Island； but thereafter it was called the Island
of Turning。 It was evening when they turned back； and all night long the
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Argonauts and King Phineus sat in the hall of the palace and awaited the
return of Zetes and Calais； the sons of the North Wind。
VIII。 King Phineus's Counsel； the Landing in Lemnos
They came into King Phineus's hall； their bright swords in their hands。
The Argonauts crowded around them and King Phineus raised his head
and stretched out his thin hands to them。 And Zetes and Calais told their
comrades and told the king how they had driven the Harpies down to the
Floating Island； and how Iris； the messenger of Zeus； had sworn the great
oath that was by the Water of Styx that never again would the Snatchers
show themselves in the palace。
Then a great golden cup brimming with wine was brought to the king。
He stood holding it in his trembling hands； fearful even then that the
Harpies would tear the cup out of his hands。 He dranklong and deeply he
drankand the dread shapes of the Snatchers did not appear。 Down
amongst the heroes he came and he took into his the hands of Zetes and
Calais； the sons of the North Wind。
〃O heroes greater than any kings；〃 he said； 〃ye have delivered me from
the terrible curse that the gods had sent upon me。 I thank ye； and I thank
ye all； heroes of the quest。 And the thanks of Phineus will much avail you
all。〃
Clasping the hands of Zetes and Calais he led the heroes through hall
after hall of his palace and down into his treasure chamber。 There he
bestowed upon the banishers of the Harpies crowns and arm rings of gold
and richly…colored garments and brazen chests in which to store the
treasure that he gave。 And to Jason he gave an ivory…hilted and golden…
cased sword； and on each of the voyagers he bestowed a rich gift； not
forgetting the heroes who had remained on the Argo； Heracles and Tiphys。
They went back to the great hall； and a feast was spread for the king
and for the Argonauts。 They ate from rich dishes and they drank from
flowing wine cups。 Phineus ate and drank as the heroes did； and no dread
shapes came before him to snatch from him nor to buffet him。 But as
Jason looked upon the man who had striven to equal the gods in wisdom；
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
and noted his blinded eyes and shrunken face； he resolved never to harbor
in his heart such presumption as Phineus had harbored。
When the feast was finished the king spoke to Jason； telling him how
the Argo might be guided through the Symplegades； the dread passage into
the Sea of Pontus。 He told them to bring their ship near to the Clashing
Rocks。 And one who had the keenest sight amongst them was to stand at
the prow of the ship holding a pigeon in his hands。 As the rocks came
together he was to loose the pigeon。 If it found a space to fly through they
would know that the Argo could make the passage； and they were to steer
straight toward where the pigeon had flown。 But if it fluttered down to the
sea； or flew back to them； or became lost in the clouds of spray； they were
to know that the Argo might not make that passage。 Then the heroes would
have to take their ship overland to where they might reach the Sea of
Pontus。
That day they bade farewell to Phineus； and with the treasures he had
bestowed upon them they went down to the Argo。 To Heracles and Tiphys
they gave the presents that the king had sent them。 In the morning they
drew the Argo out of the harbor of Salmydessus； and set sail again。
But not until long afterward did they come to the Symplegades； the
passage that was to be their great trial。 For they landed first in a country
that was full of woods； where they were welcomed by a king who had
heard of the voyagers and of their quest。 There they stayed and hunted for
many days in the woods。 And there a great loss befell the Argonauts； for
Tiphys； as he went through the woods； was bitten by a snake and died。 He
who had braved so many seas and so many storms lost his life away from
the ship。 The Argonauts made a tomb for him on the shore of that landa
great pile of stones； in which they fixed upright his steering oar。 Then they
set sail again； and Nauplius was made the steersman of the ship。
The course was not so clear to Nauplius as it had been to Tiphys。 The
steersman did not find his bearings； and for many days and nights the Argo
was driven on a backward course。 They came to an island that they knew
to be that Island of Lemnos that they had passed on the first days of the
voyage； and they resolved to rest there for a while； and then to press on for
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THE GOLDEN FLE