Hearing the king speak like this, the Harpies gathered together
and gnashed with their teeth, and chattered to one another. Then,
seeing Zetes and Calais with their hands upon their swords, they
rose up on their wings and flew through the wide doors of the
hall. The king cried out to Zetes and Calais. But the sons of the
North Wind had already risen with their wings, and they were
after the Harpies, their bright swords in their hands.

On flew the Harpies, screeching and gnashing their teeth in anger
and dismay, for now they felt that they might be driven from
Salmydessus, where they had had such royal feasts. They rose high
in the air and flew out toward the sea. But high as the Harpies
rose, the sons of the North Wind rose higher. The Harpies cried
pitiful cries as they flew on, but Zetes and Calais felt no pity
for them, for they knew that these dread Snatchers, with the
stains of blood upon their breasts and wings, had shown pity
neither to Phineus nor to any other.

On they flew until they came to the island that is called the
Floating Island. There the Harpies sank down with wearied wings.
Zetes and Calais were upon them now, and they would have cut them
to pieces with their bright swords, if the messenger of Zeus,
Iris, with the golden wings, had not come between.

"Forbear to slay the Harpies, sons of Boreas," cried Iris
warningly, "forbear to slay the Harpies that are the hounds of
Zeus. Let them cower here and hide themselves, and I, who come
from Zeus, will swear the oath that the gods most dread, that
they will never again come to Salmydessus to trouble Phineus, the
king."