is　dismayed　within　us　for　all　our　desire　to　aid　thee；　if　indeed　the　god　has　granted　this　privilege　to　us　two。　　For　plain　to　discern　to　men　of　earth　are　the　reproofs　of　the　immortals。　　And　we　will　never　check　the　Harpies　when　they　come；　for　all　our　desire；　until　thou　hast　sworn　that　for　this　we　shall　not　lose　the　favour　of　heaven。〃
  （ll。　254…255）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　towards　him　the　aged　sire　opened　his　sightless　eyes；　and　lifted　them　up　and　replied　with　these　words：
  （ll。　256…261）　　〃Be　silent；　store　not　up　such　thoughts　in　thy　heart；　my　child。　　Let　the　son　of　Leto　be　my　witness；　he　who　of　his　gracious　will　taught　me　the　lore　of　prophecy；　and　be　witness　the　ill…starred　doom　which　possesses　me　and　this　dark　cloud　upon　my　eyes；　and　the　gods　of　the　underworldand　may　their　curse　be　upon　me　if　I　die　perjured　thusno　wrath　from　heaven　will　fall　upon　you　two　for　your　help　to　me。〃
  （ll。　262…287）　　Then　were　those　two　eager　to　help　him　because　of　the　oath。　　And　quickly　the　younger　heroes　prepared　a　feast　for　the　aged　man；　a　last　prey　for　the　Harpies；　and　both　stood　near　him；　to　smite　with　the　sword　those　pests　when　they　swooped　down。　Scarcely　had　the　aged　man　touched　the　food　when　they　forthwith；　like　bitter　blasts　or　flashes　of　lightning；　suddenly　darted　from　the　clouds；　and　swooped　down　with　a　yell；　fiercely　craving　for　food；　and　the　heroes　beheld　them　and　shouted　in　the　midst　of　their　onrush；　but　they　at　the　cry　devoured　everything　and　sped　away　over　the　sea　after；　and　an　intolerable　stench　remained。　　And　behind　them　the　two　sons　of　Boreas　raising　their　swords　rushed　in　pursuit。　　For　Zeus　imparted　to　them　tireless　strength；　but　without　Zeus　they　could　not　have　followed；　for　the　Harpies　used　ever　to　outstrip　the　blasts　of　the　west　wind　when　they　came　to　Phineus　and　when　they　left　him。　　And　as　when；　upon　the　mountain…　side；　hounds；　cunning　in　the　chase；　run　in　the　track　of　horned　goats　or　deer；　and　as　they　strain　a　little　behind　gnash　their　teeth　upon　the　edge　of　their　jaws　in　vain；　so　Zetes　and　Calais　rushing　very　near　just　grazed　the　Harpies　in　vain　with　their　finger…tips。　　And　assuredly　they　would　have　torn　them　to　pieces；　despite　heaven's　will；　when　they　had　overtaken　them　far　off　at　the　Floating　Islands；　had　not　swift　Iris　seen　them　and　leapt　down　from　the　sky　from　heaven　above；　and　cheeked　them　with　these　words：
  （ll。　288…290）　　〃It　is　not　lawful；　O　sons　of　Boreas；　to　strike　with　your　swords　the　Harpies；　the　hounds　of　mighty　Zeus；　but　I　myself　will　give　you　a　pledge；　that　hereafter　they　shall　not　draw　near　to　Phineus。〃
  （ll。　291…300）　　With　these　words　she　took　an　oath　by　the　waters　of　Styx；　which　to　all　the　gods　is　most　dread　and　most　awful；　that　the　Harpies　would　never　thereafter　again　approach　the　home　of　Phineus；　son　of　Agenor；　for　so　it　was　fated。　　And　the　heroes　yielding　to　the　oath；　turned　back　their　flight　to　the　ship。　　And　on　account　of　this　men　call　them　the　Islands　of　Turning　though　aforetime　they　called　them　the　Floating　Islands。　　And　the　Harpies　and　Iris　parted。　　They　entered　their　den　in　Minoan　Crete；　but　she　sped　up　to　Olympus；　soaring　aloft　on　her　swift　wings。
  （ll。　301…310）　　Meanwhile　the　chiefs　carefully　cleansed　the　old　man's　squalid　skin　and　with　due　selection　sacrificed　sheep　which　they　had　borne　away　from　the　spoil　of　Amycus。　　And　when　they　had　laid　a　huge　supper　in　the　hall；　they　sat　down　and　feasted；　and　with　them　feasted　Phineus　ravenously；　delighting　his　soul；　as　in　a　dream。　　And　there；　when　they　had　taken　their　fill　of　food　and　drink；　they　kept　awake　all　night　waiting　for　the　sons　of　Boreas。　And　the　aged　sire　himself　sat　in　the　midst；　near　the　hearth；　telling　of　the　end　of　their　voyage　and　the　completion　of　their　journey：
  （ll。　311…315）　　〃Listen　then。　　Not　everything　is　it　lawful　for　you　to　know　clearly；　but　whatever　is　heaven's　will；　I　will　not　hide。　I　was　infatuated　aforetime；　when　in　my　folly　I　declared　the　will　of　Zeus　in　order　and　to　the　end。　　For　he　himself　wishes　to　deliver　to　men　the　utterances　of　the　prophetic　art　incomplete；　in　order　that　they　may　still　have　some　need　to　know　the　will　of　heaven。
  （ll。　316…340）　　〃First　of　all；　after　leaving　me；　ye　will　see　the　twin　Cyanean　rocks　where　the　two　seas　meet。　　No　one；　I　ween；　has　won　his　escape　between　them。　　For　they　are　not　firmly　fixed　with　roots　beneath；　but　constantly　clash　against　one　another　to　one　point；　and　above　a　huge　mass　of　salt　water　rises　in　a　crest；　boiling　up；　and　loudly　dashes　upon　the　hard　beach。　　Wherefore　now　obey　my　counsel；　if　indeed　with　prudent　mind　and　reverencing　the　blessed　gods　ye　pursue　your　way；　and　perish　not　foolishly　by　a　self…sought　death；　or　rush　on　following　the　guidance　of　youth。　First　entrust　the　attempt　to　a　dove　when　ye　have　sent　her　forth　from　the　ship。　　And　if　she　escapes　safe　with　her　wings　between　the　rocks　to　the　open　sea；　then　no　more　do　ye　refrain　from　the　path；　but　grip　your　oars　well　in　your　hands　and　cleave　the　sea's　narrow　strait；　for　the　light　of　safety　will　be　not　so　much　in　prayer　as　in　strength　of　hands。　　Wherefore　let　all　else　go　and　labour　boldly　with　might　and　main；　but　ere　then　implore　the　gods　as　ye　will；　I　forbid　you　not。　　But　if　she　flies　onward　and　perishes　midway；　then　do　ye　turn　back；　for　it　is　better　to　yield　to　the　immortals。　　For　ye　could　not　escape　an　evil　doom　from　the　rocks；　not　even　if　Argo　were　of　iron。
  （ll。　341…359）　　〃O　hapless　ones；　dare　not　to　transgress　my　divine　warning；　even　though　ye　think　that　I　am　thrice　as　much　hated　by　the　sons　of　heaven　as　I　am；　and　even　more　than　thrice；　dare　not　to　sail　further　with　your　ship　in　despite　of　the　omen。　　And　as　these　things　will　fall；　so　shall　they　fall。　　But　if　ye　shun　the　clashing　rocks　and　come　scatheless　inside　Pontus；　straightway　keep　the　land　of　the　Bithynians　on　your　right　and　sail　on；　and　beware　of　the　breakers；　until　ye　round　the　swift　river　Rhebas　and　the　black　beach；　and　reach　the　harbour　of　the　Isle　of　Thynias。　Thence　ye　must　turn　back　a　little　space　through　the　sea　and　beach　your　ship　on　the　land　of　the　Mariandyni　lying　opposite。　　Here　is　a　downward　path　to　the　abode　of　Hades；　and　the　headland　of　Acherusia　stretches　aloft；　and　eddying　Acheron　cleaves　its　way　at　the　bottom；　even　through　the　headland；　and　sends　its　waters　forth　from　a　huge　ravine。　　And　near　it　ye　will　sail　past　many　hills　of　the　Paphlagonians；　over　whom　at　the　first　Eneteian　Pelops　reigned；　and　of　his　blood　they　boast　themselves　to　be。
  （ll。　360…406）　　〃Now　there　is　a　headland　opposite　Helice　the　Bear；　steep　on　all　sides；　and　they　call　it　Carambis；　about　whose　crests　the　blasts　of　the　north　wind　are　sundered。　　So　high　in　the　air　does　it　rise　turned　towards　the　sea。　　And　when　ye　have　rounded　it　broad　Aegialus　stretches　before　you；　and　at　the　end　of　broad　Aegialus；　at　a　jutting　point　of　coast；　the　waters　of　the　river　Halys　pour　forth　with　a　terrible　roar；　and　after　it　his　flowing　near；　but　smaller　in　stream；　rolls　into　the　sea　with　white　eddies。　　Onward　from　thence　the　bend　of　a　huge　and　towering　cape　reaches　out　from　the　land；　next　Thermodon　at　its　mouth　flows　into　a　quiet　bay　at　the　Themiscyreian　headland；　after　wandering　through　a　broad　continent。　　And　here　is　the　plain　of　Doeas；　and　near　are　the　three　cities　of　the　Amazons；　and　after　them　the　Chalybes；　most　wretched　of　men；　possess　a　soil　rugged　and　unyielding　sons　of　toil；　they　busy　themselves　with　working　iron。　And　near　them　dwell　the　Tibareni；　rich　in　sheep；　beyond　the　Genetaean　headland　of　Zeus；　lord　of　hospitality。　　And　bordering　on　it　the　Mossynoeci　next　in　order　inhabit　the　well…wooded　mainland　and　the　parts　beneath　the　mountains；　who　have　built　in　towers　made　from　trees　their　wooden　homes　and　well…fitted　chambers；　which　they　call　Mossynes；　and　the　people　themselves　take　their　name　from　them。　　After　passing　them　ye　must　beach　your　ship　upon　a　smooth　island；　when　ye　have　driven　away　with　all　manner　of　skill　the　ravening　birds；　which　in　countless　numbers　haunt　the　desert　island。　　In　it　the　Queens　of　the　Amazons；　Otrere　and　Antiope；　built　a　stone　temple　of　Ares　what　time　they　went　forth　to　war。　　Now　here　an　unspeakable　help　will　come　to　you　from　the　bitter　sea；　wherefore　with　kindly　intent　I　bid　you　stay。　　But　what　need　is　there　that　I　should　sin　yet　again　declaring　everything　to　the　end　by　my　prophetic　art？　　And　beyond　the　island　and　opposite　mainland　dwell　the　Philyres：　and　above　the　Philyres　are　the　Macrones；　and　after　them　the　vast　tribes　of　the　Becheiri。　And　next　in　order　to　them　dwell　the　Sapeires；　and　the　Byzeres　have　the　lands　adjoining　to　them；　and　beyond　them　at　last　live　the　warlike　Colchians　themselves。　　But　speed　on　in　your　ship；　till　ye　touch　the　inmost　bourne　of　the　sea。　　And　here　at　the　Cytaean　mainland　and　from　the　Amarantine　mountains　far　away　and　the　Circaean　plain；　eddying　Phasis　rolls　his　broad　stream　to　the　sea。　　Guide　your　ship　to　the　mouth　of　that　river　and　ye　shall　behold　the　towers　of　Cytaean　Aeetes　and　the　shady　grove　of　Ares；　where　a　dragon；　a　monster　terrible　to　behold；　ever　glares　around；　keeping　watch　over　the　fleece　that　is　spread　upon　the　top　of　an　oak；　neither　by　day　nor　by　night　does　sweet　sleep　subdue　his　restless　eyes。〃
  （ll。　408…410）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　straightway　fear　seized　them　as　they　heard。　　And　for　a　long　while　they　were　struck　with　silence；　till　at　la