Phineus

Nay, that word is weak, nor may I match the Gorgon's shape with theirs.

Such have I seen in painted semblance erst, winged harpies snatching food from Phineus' board.

But these are wingless, black, and all their shape the eye's abomination to behold.

Fell is the breath, let none draw nigh to it, wherewith they snort in slumber.

Problem solved, except not quite.

It turns out Andromeda was already promised to her uncle, Phineus.

This tale had understandably faded into the background while she was tied to a rock waiting to be eaten by a sea monster.

But now that she was alive again, Phineus suddenly remembered the engagement.

He arrived at the wedding with an armed group of supporters, fully intending to reclaim his bride by force.

Cepheus' response is very Cepheus.

And then he mostly stays out of it.

Perseus settles the disagreement the same way he solved the sea monster problem, by producing Medusa's head.

Jason and his friends went boldly to meet them, slew a great many, and made the rest take to their heels; so that if the giants had had six legs apiece instead of six arms, it would have served them better to run away with.

Another strange adventure happened when the voyagers came to Thrace, where they found the poor blind king, named Phineus, deserted by his subjects, and living in a very sorrowful way, all by himself.

On Jason's inquiring whether they could do him any service, the king answered that he was terribly tormented by three winged creatures called Harpies, which had the faces of women, and the wings, bodies, and claws of vultures.

These ugly wretches were in the habit of snatching away his dinner, and allowed him no peace of his life.

And so it turned out; for hardly was the table set before the three hideous vulture-women came flapping their wings, seized the food in their talons, and flew off as fast as they could.

But the two sons of the North Wind drew their swords, spread their pinions, and set off through the air in pursuit of the thieves, whom they at last overtook among some islands, after a chase of hundreds of miles.

The two winged youths blustered terribly at the Harpies, for they had the rough temper of their father, and so frightened them with their drawn swords that they solemnly promised never to trouble King Phineus again.

Then the Argonauts sailed onward, and met with many other marvelous incidents, any one of which could have made a story by itself.

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For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Elizabeth Klett The Golden Fleece and the Heroes who lived before Achilles by Pauric Colum Part 1 Chapter 7 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 well be that we shall have to carry Argo over land to the Sea of Pontus.

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 over land.

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.

Sephus, read by Alan Matstone.

Phineus,

read by Winifred Asman.

Footnote.

Then, with my waving wings, I mounted on high, even to the stars.

A tumult is heard outside.

Phineus, the betrothed of Andromeda, rises in with his friends.

Behold!

The slave fell upon his knees.

And with eyes that were full of majesty and wisdom, and limbs that were full of strength and speed, the king centaur stood above him.

O my lord, the slave said, I have come before thee sent by Aeson, my master, who told me where to come and what blasts to blow upon the horn.

And Aeson, once king of Iolcus, bade me to say to thee that if thou dost remember his ancient friendship with thee, thou wilt perchance take this child and guard and foster him, and as he grows instruct him with thy wisdom.

For Aeson's sake I will rear and foster this child, said Chiron the king centaur in a deep voice.

The child lying on the moss had been looking up at the four-footed and two-handed centaur.

Now the slave lifted him up and placed him in the centaur's arms.

He said, Aeson bade me tell thee that the child's name is Jason.

So they by the steering craft of Tiphys escaped, unhurt but sore dismayed; and on the next day they fastened their hawsers to the coast opposite the Bithynian land.

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 joys of the dainties untold that the dwellers around ever brought to his house, when they came to inquire 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.

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." 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: "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 god through thy skill in prophecy? For this are they greatly wroth with thee.