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were said Telamon stood up and faced him。 〃Jason；〃 he said angrily； 〃you
do not bid Heracles come on board； and you would have the Argo leave
without him。 You would leave Heracles here so that he may not be with us
on the quest where his glory might overshadow your glory； Jason。〃
Jason said no word； but he sat back on his bench with head bowed。
And then； even as Telamon said these angry words； a strange figure rose
up out of the waves of the sea。
It was the figure of a man； wrinkled and old； with seaweed in his beard
and his hair。 There was a majesty about him； and the Argonauts all knew
that this was one of the immortalshe was Nereus； the ancient one of the
sea。
〃To Heracles； and to you； the rest of the Argonauts； I have a thing to
say；〃 said the ancient one； Nereus。 〃Know； first； that Hylas has been taken
by the nymphs who love him and who think to win his love； and that he
will stay forever with them in their cold and glimmering cave。 For Hylas
seek no more。 And to you； Heracles； I will say this： Go aboard the Argo
again； the ship will take you to where a great labor awaits you； and which；
in accomplishing； you will work out the will of Zeus。 You will know what
this labor is when a spirit seizes on you。〃 So the ancient one of the sea said；
and he sank back beneath the waves。
Heracles went aboard the Argo once more； and he took his place on the
bench； the new oar in his hand。 Sad he was to think that young Hylas who
used to sit at his knee would never be there again。 The breeze filled the
sail； the Argonauts pulled at the oars； and in sadness they watched the
island where young Hylas had been lost to them recede from their view。
VII。 KING PHINEUS
Said Tiphys； the steersman： 〃If we could enter the Sea of Pontus； we
could make our way across that sea to Colchis in a short time。 But the
passage into the Sea of Pontus is most perilous； and few mortals dare even
to make approach to it。〃
Said Jason； the chieftain of the host： 〃The dangers of the passage；
Tiphys； we have spoken of； and it may be that we shall have to carry Argo
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
overland to the Sea of Pontus。 But You； Tiphys； have spoken of a wise
king who is hereabouts； and who might help us to make the dangerous
passage。 Speak again to us； and tell us what the dangers of the passage are；
and who the king is who may be able to help us to make these dangers
less。〃
Then said Tiphys； the steersman of the Argo： 〃No ship sailed by
mortals has as yet gone through the passage that brings this sea into the
Sea of Pontus。 In the way are the rocks that mariners call The Clashers。
These rocks are not fixed as rocks should be； but they rush one against the
other； dashing up the sea； and crushing whatever may be between。 Yea； if
Argo were of iron； and if she were between these rocks when they met；
she would be crushed to bits。 I have sailed as far as that passage； but
seeing The Clashers strike together I turned back my ship； and journeyed
as far as the Sea of Pontus overland。
〃But I have been told of one who knows how a ship may be taken
through the passage that The Clashers make so perilous。 He who knows is
a king hereabouts； Phineus； who has made himself as wise as the gods。 To
no one has Phineus told how the passage may be made； but knowing what
high favor has been shown to us； the Argonauts； it may be that he will tell
us。〃
So Tiphys said； and Jason commanded him to steer the Argo toward
the city where ruled Phineus； the wise king。
To Salmydessus； then； where Phineus ruled； Tiphys steered the Argo。
They left Heracles with Tiphys aboard to guard the ship； and； with the rest
of the heroes； Jason went through the streets of the city。 They met many
men； but when they asked any of them how they might come to the palace
of King Phineus the men turned fearfully away。
They found their way to the king's palace。 Jason spoke to the servants
and bade them tell the king of their coming。 The servants； too； seemed
fearful； and as Jason and his comrades were wondering what there was
about him that made men fearful at his name； Phineus； the king； came
amongst them。
Were it not that he had a purple border to his robe no one would have
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known him for the king； so miserable did this man seem。 He crept along；
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 cr