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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
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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
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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
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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？