" And he
led them in, and set meat before them; but before they could put their
hands to their mouths, down came two fearful monsters, the like of whom
man never saw; for they had the faces and the hair of fair maidens, but
the wings and claws of hawks; and they snatched the meat from off the
table, and flew shrieking out above the roofs.
Then Phineus beat his breast and cried, "These are the Harpies, whose
names are the Whirlwind and the Swift, the daughters of Wonder and of
the Amber nymph, and they rob us night and day. They carried off the
daughters of Pandareus, whom all the Gods had blest; for Aphrodite fed
them on Olympus with honey and milk and wine; and Hera gave them beauty
and wisdom, and Athene skill in all the arts; but when they came to
their wedding, the Harpies snatched them both away, and gave them to be
slaves to the Erinnues, and live in horror all their days. And now they
haunt me, and my people, and the Bosphorus, with fearful storms; and
sweep away our food from off our tables, so that we starve in spite of
all our wealth."
Then up rose Zetes and Calais, the winged sons of the North wind, and
said, "Do you not know us, Phineus, and these wings which grow upon our
backs?" And Phineus hid his face in terror; but he answered not a word.
"Because you have been a traitor, Phineus, the Harpies haunt you night
and day.
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