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the heroes-第8章

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Who then so proud as Perseus; as he leapt back to the rock;  and lifted his fair Andromeda in his arms; and flew with her  to the cliff…top; as a falcon carries a dove?

Who so proud as Perseus; and who so joyful as all the AEthiop  people?  For they had stood watching the monster from the  cliffs; wailing for the maiden's fate。  And already a  messenger had gone to Cepheus and Cassiopoeia; where they sat  in sackcloth and ashes on the ground; in the innermost palace  chambers; awaiting their daughter's end。  And they came; and  all the city with them; to see the wonder; with songs and  with dances; with cymbals and harps; and received their  daughter back again; as one alive from the dead。

Then Cepheus said; 'Hero of the Hellens; stay here with me  and be my son…in…law; and I will give you the half of my  kingdom。'

'I will be your son…in…law;' said Perseus; 'but of your  kingdom I will have none; for I long after the pleasant land  of Greece; and my mother who waits for me at home。'

Then Cepheus said; 'You must not take my daughter away at  once; for she is to us like one alive from the dead。  Stay  with us here a year; and after that you shall return with  honour。'  And Perseus consented; but before he went to the  palace he bade the people bring stones and wood; and built  three altars; one to Athene; and one to Hermes; and one to  Father Zeus; and offered bullocks and rams。

And some said; 'This is a pious man;' yet the priests said;  'The Sea Queen will be yet more fierce against us; because  her monster is slain。'  But they were afraid to speak aloud;  for they feared the Gorgon's head。  So they went up to the  palace; and when they came in; there stood in the hall  Phineus; the brother of Cepheus; chafing like a bear robbed  of her whelps; and with him his sons; and his servants; and  many an armed man; and he cried to Cepheus …

'You shall not marry your daughter to this stranger; of whom  no one knows even the name。  Was not Andromeda betrothed to  my son?  And now she is safe again; has he not a right to  claim her?'

But Perseus laughed; and answered; 'If your son is in want of  a bride; let him save a maiden for himself。  As yet he seems  but a helpless bride…groom。  He left this one to die; and  dead she is to him。  I saved her alive; and alive she is to  me; but to no one else。  Ungrateful man! have I not saved  your land; and the lives of your sons and daughters; and will  you requite me thus?  Go; or it will be worse for you。'  But  all the men…at…arms drew their swords; and rushed on him like  wild beasts。

Then he unveiled the Gorgon's head; and said; 'This has  delivered my bride from one wild beast:  it shall deliver her  from many。'  And as he spoke Phineus and all his men…at…arms  stopped short; and stiffened each man as he stood; and before  Perseus had drawn the goat…skin over the face again; they  were all turned into stone。

Then Persons bade the people bring levers and roll them out;  and what was done with them after that I cannot tell。

So they made a great wedding…feast; which lasted seven whole  days; and who so happy as Perseus and Andromeda?

But on the eighth night Perseus dreamed a dream; and he saw  standing beside him Pallas Athene; as he had seen her in  Seriphos; seven long years before; and she stood and called  him by name; and said …

'Perseus; you have played the man; and see; you have your  reward。  Know now that the Gods are just; and help him who  helps himself。  Now give me here Herpe the sword; and the  sandals; and the hat of darkness; that I may give them back  to their owners; but the Gorgon's head you shall keep a  while; for you will need it in your land of Greece。  Then you  shall lay it up in my temple at Seriphos; that I may wear it  on my shield for ever; a terror to the Titans and the  monsters; and the foes of Gods and men。  And as for this  land; I have appeased the sea and the fire; and there shall  be no more floods nor earthquakes。  But let the people build  altars to Father Zeus; and to me; and worship the Immortals;  the Lords of heaven and earth。'

And Perseus rose to give her the sword; and the cap; and the  sandals; but he woke; and his dream vanished away。  And yet  it was not altogether a dream; for the goat…skin with the  head was in its place; but the sword; and the cap; and the  sandals were gone; and Perseus never saw them more。

Then a great awe fell on Perseus; and he went out in the  morning to the people; and told his dream; and bade them  build altars to Zeus; the Father of Gods and men; and to  Athene; who gives wisdom to heroes; and fear no more the  earthquakes and the floods; but sow and build in peace。  And  they did so for a while; and prospered; but after Perseus was  gone they forgot Zeus and Athene; and worshipped again  Atergatis the queen; and the undying fish of the sacred lake;  where Deucalion's deluge was swallowed up; and they burnt  their children before the Fire King; till Zeus was angry with  that foolish people; and brought a strange nation against  them out of Egypt; who fought against them and wasted them  utterly; and dwelt in their cities for many a hundred years。


PART V … HOW PERSEUS CAME HOME AGAIN


AND when a year was ended Perseus hired Phoenicians from  Tyre; and cut down cedars; and built himself a noble galley;  and painted its cheeks with vermilion; and pitched its sides  with pitch; and in it he put Andromeda; and all her dowry of  jewels; and rich shawls; and spices from the East; and great  was the weeping when they rowed away。  But the remembrance of  his brave deed was left behind; and Andromeda's rock was  shown at Iopa in Palestine till more than a thousand years  were past。

So Perseus and the Phoenicians rowed to the westward; across  the sea of Crete; till they came to the blue AEgean and the  pleasant Isles of Hellas; and Seriphos; his ancient home。

Then he left his galley on the beach; and went up as of old;  and he embraced his mother; and Dictys his good foster… father; and they wept over each other a long while; for it  was seven years and more since they had met。

Then Perseus went out; and up to the hall of Polydectes; and  underneath the goat…skin he bore the Gorgon's head。

And when he came into the hall; Polydectes sat at the table… head; and all his nobles and landowners on either side; each  according to his rank; feasting on the fish and the goat's  flesh; and drinking the blood…red wine。  The harpers harped;  and the revellers shouted; and the wine…cups rang merrily as  they passed from hand to hand; and great was the noise in the  hall of Polydectes。

Then Persons stood upon the threshold; and called to the king  by name。  But none of the guests knew Perseus; for he was  changed by his long journey。  He had gone out a boy; and he  was come home a hero; his eye shone like an eagle's; and his  beard was like a lion's beard; and he stood up like a wild  bull in his pride。

But Polydectes the wicked knew him; and hardened his heart  still more; and scornfully he called …

'Ah; foundling! have you found it more easy to promise than  to fulfil?'

'Those whom the Gods help fulfil their promises; and those  who despise them; reap as they have sown。  Behold the  Gorgon's head!'

Then Perseus drew back the goat…skin; and held aloft the  Gorgon's head。

Pale grew Polydectes and his guests as they looked upon that  dreadful face。  They tried to rise up from their seats:  but  from their seats they never rose; but stiffened; each man  where he sat; into a ring of cold gray stones。

Then Perseus turned and left them; and went down to his  galley in the bay; and he gave the kingdom to good Dictys;  and sailed away with his mother and his bride。

And Polydectes and his guests sat still; with the wine…cups  before them on the board; till the rafters crumbled down  above their heads; and the walls behind their backs; and the  table crumbled down between them; and the grass sprung up  about their feet:  but Polydectes and his guests sit on the  hillside; a ring of gray stones until this day。

But Perseus rowed westward toward Argos; and landed; and went  up to the town。  And when he came; he found that Acrisius his  grandfather had fled。  For Proetus his wicked brother had  made war against him afresh; and had come across the river  from Tiryns; and conquered Argos; and Acrisius had fled to  Larissa; in the country of the wild Pelasgi。

Then Perseus called the Argives together; and told them who  he was; and all the noble deeds which he had done。  And all  the nobles and the yeomen made him king; for they saw that he  had a royal heart; and they fought with him against Argos;  and took it; and killed Proetus; and made the Cyclopes serve  them; and build them walls round Argos; like the walls which  they had built at Tiryns; and there were great rejoicings in  the vale of Argos; because they had got a king from Father  Zeus。

But Perseus' heart yearned after his grandfather; and he  said; 'Surely he is my flesh and blood; and he will love me  now that I am come home with honour:  I will go and find him;  and bring him home; and we will reign together in peace。'

So Perseus sailed away with his Phoenicians; round Hydrea and  Sunium; past Marathon and t
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