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For at that hour their vineyards and villages were being ravaged by the
hostile spear of Lycus and the Mariandyni； now that their king was gone。
For they were ever at strife about the ironbearing land。 And now the foe
was destroying their steadings and farms； and now the heroes from all
sides were driving off their countless sheep； and one spake among his
fellows thus：
（ll。 145…153） 〃Bethink ye what they would have done in their
cowardice if haply some god had brought Heracles hither。 Assuredly； if he
had been here； no trial would there have been of fists； I ween； but when
the king drew near to proclaim his rules； the club would have made him
forget his pride and the rules to boot。 Yea； we left him uncared for on the
strand and we sailed oversea； and full well each one of us shall know our
baneful folly； now that he is far away。〃
（ll。 154…163） Thus he spake； but all these things had been wrought by
the counsels of Zeus。 Then they remained there through the night and
tended the hurts of the wounded men； and offered sacrifice to the
immortals； and made ready a mighty meal； and sleep fell upon no man
beside the bowl and the blazing sacrifice。 They wreathed their fair brows
with the bay that grew by the shore； whereto their hawsers were bound；
and chanted a song to the lyre of Orpheus in sweet harmony； and the
windless shore was charmed by their song； and they celebrated the
Therapnaean son of Zeus。 （1）
（ll。 164…177） But when the sun rising from far lands lighted up the
dewy hills and wakened the shepherds； then they loosed their hawsers
from the stem of the baytree and put on board all the spoil they had need
to take； and with a favouring wind they steered through the eddying
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Bosporus。 Hereupon a wave like a steep mountain rose aloft in front as
though rushing upon them； ever upheaved above the clouds； nor would
you say that they could escape grim death； for in its fury it hangs over the
middle of the ship； like a cloud； yet it sinks away into calm if it meets with
a skilful helmsman。 So they by the steering…craft of Tiphys escaped；
unhurt but sore dismayed。 And on the next day they fastened the hawsers
to the coast opposite the Bithynian land。
（ll。 178…208） There Phineus； son of Agenor； had his home by the sea；
Phineus who above all men endured most bitter woes because of the gift
of prophecy which Leto's son had granted him aforetime。 And he
reverenced not a whit even Zeus himself； for he foretold unerringly to men
his sacred will。 Wherefore Zeus sent upon him a lingering old age； and
took from his eyes the pleasant light； and suffered him not to have joy of
the dainties untold that the dwellers around ever brought to his house；
when they came to enquire the will of heaven。 But on a sudden；
swooping through the clouds； the Harpies with their crooked beaks
incessantly snatched the food away from his mouth and hands。 And at
times not a morsel of food was left； at others but a little； in order that he
might live and be tormented。 And they poured forth over all a loathsome
stench； and no one dared not merely to carry food to his mouth but even to
stand at a distance； so foully reeked the remnants of the meal。 But
straightway when he heard the voice and the tramp of the band he knew
that they were the men passing by； at whose coming Zeus' oracle had
declared to him that he should have joy of his food。 And he rose from his
couch； like a lifeless dream； bowed over his staff； and crept to the door on
his withered feet； feeling the walls； and as he moved； his limbs trembled
for weakness and age； and his parched skin was caked with dirt； and
naught but the skill held his bones together。 And he came forth from the
hall with wearied knees and sat on the threshold of the courtyard； and a
dark stupor covered him； and it seemed that the earth reeled round beneath
his feet； and he lay in a strengthless trance； speechless。 But when they
saw him they gathered round and marvelled。 And he at last drew
laboured breath from the depths of his chest and spoke among them with
prophetic utterance：
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（ll。 209…239） 〃Listen； bravest of all the Hellenes； if it be truly ye；
whom by a king's ruthless command Jason is leading on the ship Argo in
quest of the fleece。 It is ye truly。 Even yet my soul by its divination
knows everything。 Thanks I render to thee； O king； son of Leto； plunged
in bitter affliction though I be。 I beseech you by Zeus the god of
suppliants； the sternest foe to sinful men； and for the sake of Phoebus and
Hera herself； under whose especial care ye have come hither； help me；
save an ill…fated man from misery； and depart not uncaring and leaving me
thus as ye see。 For not only has the Fury set her foot on my eyes and I
drag on to the end a weary old age； but besides my other woes a woe
hangs over me the bitterest of all。 The Harpies； swooping down from
some unseen den of destruction； ever snatch the food from my mouth。
And I have no device to aid me。 But it were easier； when I long for a meal；
to escape my own thoughts than them； so swiftly do they fly through the
air。 But if haply they do leave me a morsel of food it reeks of decay and
the stench is unendurable； nor could any mortal bear to draw near even for
a moment； no； not if his heart were wrought of adamant。 But necessity；
bitter and insatiate； compels me to abide and abiding to put food in my
cursed belly。 These pests； the oracle declares； the sons of Boreas shall
restrain。 And no strangers are they that shall ward them off if indeed I
am Phineus who was once renowned among men for wealth and the gift of
prophecy； and if I am the son of my father Agenor； and； when I ruled
among the Thracians； by my bridal gifts I brought home their sister
Cleopatra to be my wife。〃
（ll。 240…243） So spake Agenor's son； and deep sorrow seized each of
the heroes； and especially the two sons of Boreas。 And brushing away a
tear they drew nigh； and Zetes spake as follows； taking in his own the
hand of the grief…worn sire：
（ll。 244…253） 〃Unhappy one； none other of men is more wretched
than thou； methinks。 Why upon thee is laid the burden of so many
sorrows？ Hast thou with baneful folly sinned against the gods through
thy skill in prophecy？ For this are they greatly wroth with thee？ Yet
our spirit 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
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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 h