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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
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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
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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 the Attic shore； and through Euripus； and up
the long Euboean sea； till he came to the town of Larissa； where the wild
Pelasgi dwelt。
And when he came there； all the people were in the fields； and there
was feasting； and all kinds of games； for Teutamenes their king wished
to honour Acrisius； because he was the king of a mighty land。
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So Perseus did not tell his name； but went up to the games unknown；
for he said； 'If I carry away the prize in the games； my grandfather's
heart will be softened toward me。'
So he threw off his helmet； and his cuirass； and all his clothes； and
stood among the youths of Larissa； while all wondered at him； and said；
'Who is this young stranger； who stands like a wild bull in his pride？
Surely he is one of the heroes； the sons of the Immortals； from
Olympus。'
And when the games began； they wondered yet more； for Perseus
was the best man of all at running； and leaping； and wrestling and
throwing the javelin； and he won four crowns； and took them； and then
he said to himself； 'There is a fifth crown yet to be won： I will win that；
and lay them all upon the knees of my grandfather。'
And as he spoke； he saw where Acrisius sat； by the side of
Teutamenes the king； with his white beard flowing down upon his knees；
and his royal staff in his hand； and Perseus wept when he looked at him；
for his heart yearned after his kin； and he said； 'Surely he is a kingly old
man； yet he need not be ashamed of his grandson。'
Then he