Trojans landed they saw herds of oxen and flocks of goats grazing in
the fields. They killed some of them and prepared a feast upon the
shore, and having first, in accordance with their invariable custom,
made offerings to the gods, they proceeded "to banquet on the rich
viands." But they had hardly begun their meal when the Harpies, with
noisy flapping of wings and fearful cries, swooped down upon them,
snatched off a great portion of the meat, and so spoiled the rest
with their unclean touch that it was unfit to eat.

From the mountain-tops with hideous cry,
And clattering wings, the hungry Harpies fly:
And snatch the meat, defiling all they find,
And parting, leave a loathsome stench behind.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK III.

The Trojans got ready another meal and again sat down to eat, but the
Harpies again came down upon them as before, and did in like manner.
AEneas and his companions then resolved to fight, so they took their
swords and drove the foul monsters off, though they could not kill any
of them, for their skins were proof against wounds. One of them,
however, remained behind, and perching on a rock, cried out in words
of anger against the intruders. "Do you dare, base Trojans," said she,
"to make war upon us after killing our oxen? Do you dare to drive the
Harpies from the place which is their own? Listen then to what I have
to tell you, which the father of the gods revealed to Phoe'bus Apollo,
and Apollo revealed to me. Italy is the land you seek, and Italy you
shall reach; but you shall not build the walls of your city until dire
famine, visiting you because you have injured us, shall compel you to
devour even your tables."