按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
thing better brought a basket of grapes； or of game； but Perseus brought nothing； for he had nothing to bring； being but a poor sailor…lad。
He was ashamed； however； to go into the king's presence without his gift； and he was too proud to ask Dictys to lend him one。 So he stood at the door sorrowfully； watching the rich men go in； and his face grew very red as they pointed at him； and smiled； and whispered； 'What has that foundling to give？'
Now this was what Polydectes wanted； and as soon as he heard that Perseus stood without； he bade them bring him in； and asked him scornfully before them all； 'Am I not your king； Perseus； and have I not invited you to my feast？ Where is your present； then？'
Perseus blushed and stammered； while all the proud men round laughed； and some of them began jeering him openly。 'This fellow was thrown ashore here like a piece of weed or drift… wood； and yet he is too proud to bring a gift to the king。'
'And though he does not know who his father is； he is vain enough to let the old women call him the son of Zeus。'
And so forth； till poor Perseus grew mad with shame； and hardly knowing what he said； cried out； … 'A present！ who are you who talk of presents？ See if I do not bring a nobler one than all of yours together！'
So he said boasting； and yet he felt in his heart that he was braver than all those scoffers； and more able to do some glorious deed。
'Hear him！ Hear the boaster！ What is it to be？' cried they all； laughing louder than ever。
Then his dream at Samos came into his mind； and he cried aloud； 'The head of the Gorgon。'
He was half afraid after he had said the words for all laughed louder than ever； and Polydectes loudest of all。
'You have promised to bring me the Gorgon's head？ Then never appear again in this island without it。 Go！'
Perseus ground his teeth with rage； for he saw that he had fallen into a trap； but his promise lay upon him； and he went out without a word。
Down to the cliffs he went； and looked across the broad blue sea； and he wondered if his dream were true； and prayed in the bitterness of his soul。
'Pallas Athene； was my dream true？ and shall I slay the Gorgon？ If thou didst really show me her face； let me not come to shame as a liar and boastful。 Rashly and angrily I promised； but cunningly and patiently will I perform。'
But there was no answer； nor sign； neither thunder nor any appearance； not even a cloud in the sky。
And three times Perseus called weeping； 'Rashly and angrily I promised； but cunningly and patiently will I perform。'
Then he saw afar off above the sea a small white cloud； as bright as silver。 And it came on； nearer and nearer； till its brightness dazzled his eyes。
Perseus wondered at that strange cloud； for there was no other cloud all round the sky； and he trembled as it touched the cliff below。 And as it touched； it broke； and parted； and within it appeared Pallas Athene； as he had seen her at Samos in his dream； and beside her a young man more light… limbed than the stag； whose eyes were like sparks of fire。 By his side was a scimitar of diamond； all of one clear precious stone； and on his feet were golden sandals； from the heels of which grew living wings。
They looked upon Perseus keenly； and yet they never moved their eyes； and they came up the cliffs towards him more swiftly than the sea…gull； and yet they never moved their feet； nor did the breeze stir the robes about their limbs； only the wings of the youth's sandals quivered； like a hawk's when he hangs above the cliff。 And Perseus fell down and worshipped； for he knew that they were more than man。
But Athene stood before him and spoke gently； and bid him have no fear。 Then …
'Perseus；' she said； 'he who overcomes in one trial merits thereby a sharper trial still。 You have braved Polydectes； and done manfully。 Dare you brave Medusa the Gorgon？'
And Perseus said； 'Try me； for since you spoke to me in Samos a new soul has come into my breast； and I should be ashamed not to dare anything which I can do。 Show me； then； how I can do this！'
'Perseus；' said Athene； 'think well before you attempt； for this deed requires a seven years' journey； in which you cannot repent or turn back nor escape； but if your heart fails you； you must die in the Unshapen Land； where no man will ever find your bones。'
'Better so than live here； useless and despised；' said Perseus。 'Tell me； then； oh tell me； fair and wise Goddess； of your great kindness and condescension； how I can do but this one thing； and then； if need be； die！'
Then Athene smiled and said …
'Be patient； and listen； for if you forget my words； you will indeed die。 You must go northward to the country of the Hyperboreans； who live beyond the pole； at the sources of the cold north wind； till you find the three Gray Sisters； who have but one eye and one tooth between them。 You must ask them the way to the Nymphs； the daughters of the Evening Star； who dance about the golden tree； in the Atlantic island of the west。 They will tell you the way to the Gorgon； that you may slay her； my enemy； the mother of monstrous beasts。 Once she was a maiden as beautiful as morn； till in her pride she sinned a sin at which the sun hid his face； and from that day her hair was turned to vipers； and her hands to eagle's claws； and her heart was filled with shame and rage； and her lips with bitter venom； and her eyes became so terrible that whosoever looks on them is turned to stone； and her children are the winged horse and the giant of the golden sword； and her grandchildren are Echidna the witch…adder； and Geryon the three…headed tyrant； who feeds his herds beside the herds of hell。 So she became the sister of the Gorgons； Stheino and Euryte the abhorred； the daughters of the Queen of the Sea。 Touch them not； for they are immortal； but bring me only Medusa's head。'
'And I will bring it！' said Perseus； 'but how am I to escape her eyes？ Will she not freeze me too into stone？'
'You shall take this polished shield；' said Athene； 'and when you come near her look not at her herself； but at her image in the brass； so you may strike her safely。 And when you have struck off her head； wrap it； with your face turned away； in the folds of the goat…skin on which the shield hangs； the hide of Amaltheie； the nurse of the AEgis…holder。 So you will bring it safely back to me； and win to yourself renown； and a place among the heroes who feast with the Immortals upon the peak where no winds blow。'
Then Perseus said； 'I will go； though I die in going。 But how shall I cross the seas without a ship？ And who will show me my way？ And when I find her； how shall I slay her； if her scales be iron and brass？'
Then the young man spoke： 'These sandals of mine will bear you across the seas； and over hill and dale like a bird； as they bear me all day long； for I am Hermes； the far…famed Argus…slayer； the messenger of the Immortals who dwell on Olympus。'
Then Perseus fell down and worshipped； while the young man spoke again：
'The sandals themselves will guide you on the road； for they are divine and cannot stray； and this sword itself； the Argus…slayer； will kill her； for it is divine； and needs no second stroke。 Arise； and gird them on； and go forth。'
So Perseus arose； and girded on the sandals and the sword。
And Athene cried； 'Now leap from the cliff and be gone。'
But Perseus lingered。
'May I not bid farewell to my mother and to Dictys？ And may I not offer burnt…offerings to you； and to Hermes the far… famed Argus…slayer； and to Father Zeus above？'
'You shall not bid farewell to your mother； lest your heart relent at her weeping。 I will comfort her and Dictys until you return in peace。 Nor shall you offer burnt…offerings to the Olympians； for your offering shall be Medusa's head。 Leap； and trust in the armour of the Immortals。'
Then Perseus looked down the cliff and shuddered； but he was ashamed to show his dread。 Then he thought of Medusa and the renown before him； and he leaped into the empty air。
And behold； instead of falling he floated； and stood； and ran along the sky。 He looked back； but Athene had vanished； and Hermes； and the sandals led him on northward ever； like a crane who follows the spring toward the Ister fens。
PART III … HOW PERSEUS SLEW THE GORGON
SO Perseus started on his journey； going dry…shod over land and sea； and his heart was high and joyful； for the winged sandals bore him each day a seven days' journey。
And he went by Cythnus； and by Ceos； and the pleasant Cyclades to Attica； and past Athens and Thebes； and the Copaic lake； and up the vale of Cephissus； and past the peaks of OEta and Pindus； and over the rich Thessalian plains； till the sunny hills of Greece were behind him； and before him were the wilds of the north。 Then he passed the Thracian mountains； and many a barbarous tribe； Paeons and Dardans and Triballi； till he came to the Ister stream； and the dreary Scythian plains。 And he walked across the Ister dry…shod； and away through the moors and fens； day and night toward the bleak north…west； turning