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man； yet he need not be ashamed of his grandson。'
Then he took the quoits； and hurled them； five fathoms beyond all
the rest； and the people shouted； 'Further yet； brave stranger！ There has
never been such a hurler in this land。'
Then Perseus put out all his strength； and hurled。 But a gust of
wind came from the sea； and carried the quoit aside； and far beyond all
the rest； and it fell on the foot of Acrisius； and he swooned away with
the pain。
Perseus shrieked； and ran up to him； but when they lifted the old
man up he was dead； for his life was slow and feeble。
Then Perseus rent his clothes； and cast dust upon his head； and wept
a long while for his grandfather。 At last he rose； and called to all the
people aloud； and said …
'The Gods are true； and what they have ordained must be。 I am
Perseus； the grandson of this dead man； the far…famed slayer of the
Gorgon。'
Then he told them how the prophecy had declared that he should kill
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his grandfather； and all the story of his life。
So they made a great mourning for Acrisius； and burnt him on a right
rich pile； and Perseus went to the temple； and was purified from the guilt
of the death； because he had done it unknowingly。
Then he went home to Argos； and reigned there well with fair
Andromeda； and they had four sons and three daughters； and died in a
good old age。
And when they died； the ancients say； Athene took them up into the
sky； with Cepheus and Cassiopoeia。 And there on starlight nights you
may see them shining still； Cepheus with his kingly crown； and
Cassiopoeia in her ivory chair； plaiting her star…spangled tresses； and
Perseus with the Gorgon's head； and fair Andromeda beside him；
spreading her long white arms across the heaven； as she stood when
chained to the stone for the monster。
All night long； they shine； for a beacon to wandering sailors； but all
day they feast with the Gods； on the still blue peaks of Olympus。
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STORY II。 … THE ARGONAUTS
PART I … HOW THE CENTAUR TRAINED THE
HEROES ON PELION
I HAVE told you of a hero who fought with wild beasts and with
wild men； but now I have a tale of heroes who sailed away into a distant
land； to win themselves renown for ever； in the adventure of the Golden
Fleece。
Whither they sailed； my children； I cannot clearly tell。 It all
happened long ago； so long that it has all grown dim； like a dream which
you dreamt last year。 And why they went I cannot tell： some say that
it was to win gold。 It may be so； but the noblest deeds which have been
done on earth have not been done for gold。 It was not for the sake of
gold that the Lord came down and died； and the Apostles went out to
preach the good news in all lands。 The Spartans looked for no reward
in money when they fought and died at Thermopylae； and Socrates the
wise asked no pay from his countrymen； but lived poor and barefoot all
his days； only caring to make men good。 And there are heroes in our
days also； who do noble deeds； but not for gold。 Our discoverers did
not go to make themselves rich when they sailed out one after another
into the dreary frozen seas； nor did the ladies who went out last year to
drudge in the hospitals of the East； making themselves poor； that they
might be rich in noble works。 And young men； too； whom you know；
children； and some of them of your own kin； did they say to themselves；
'How much money shall I earn？' when they went out to the war； leaving
wealth； and comfort； and a pleasant home； and all that money can give；
to face hunger and thirst； and wounds and death； that they might fight for
their country and their Queen？ No； children； there is a better thing on
earth than wealth； a better thing than life itself； and that is； to have done
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something before you die； for which good men may honour you； and
God your Father smile upon your work。
Therefore we will believe … why should we not？ … of these same
Argonauts of old； that they too were noble men； who planned and did a
noble deed； and that therefore their fame has lived； and been told in
story and in song； mixed up； no doubt； with dreams and fables； and yet
true and right at heart。 So we will honour these old Argonauts； and
listen to their story as it stands； and we will try to be like them； each of
us in our place； for each of us has a Golden Fleece to seek； and a wild
sea to sail over ere we reach it； and dragons to fight ere it be ours。
And what was that first Golden Fleece？ I do not know； nor care。
The old Hellens said that it hung in Colchis； which we call the
Circassian coast； nailed to a beech…tree in the war… God's wood； and that it
was the fleece of the wondrous ram who bore Phrixus and Helle across
the Euxine sea。 For Phrixus and Helle were the children of the cloud…
nymph； and of Athamas the Minuan king。 And when a famine came
upon the land； their cruel step…mother Ino wished to kill them； that her
own children might reign； and said that they must be sacrificed on an
altar； to turn away the anger of the Gods。 So the poor children were
brought to the altar； and the priest stood ready with his knife； when out
of the clouds came the Golden Ram； and took them on his back； and
vanished。 Then madness came upon that foolish king； Athamas； and
ruin upon Ino and her children。 For Athamas killed one of them in
his fury； and Ino fled from him with the other in her arms； and leaped
from a cliff into the sea； and was changed into a dolphin； such as you
have seen； which wanders over the waves for ever sighing； with its little
one clasped to its breast。
But the people drove out King Athamas； because he had killed his
child； and he roamed about in his misery； till he came to the Oracle in
Delphi。 And the Oracle told him that he must wander for his sin； till
the wild beasts should feast him as their guest。 So he went on in
hunger and sorrow for many a weary day； till he saw a pack of wolves。
The wolves were tearing a sheep； but when they saw Athamas they fled；
and left the sheep for him； and he ate of it； and then he knew that the
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oracle was fulfilled at last。 So he wandered no more； but settled； and
built a town； and became a king again。
But the ram carried the two children far away over land and sea； till
he came to the Thracian Chersonese； and there Helle fell into the sea。
So those narrow straits are called 'Hellespont；' after her； and they bear
that name until this day。
Then the ram flew on with Phrixus to the north…east across the sea
which we call the Black Sea now； but the Hellens call it Euxine。 And
at last； they say； he stopped at Colchis； on the steep Circassian coast； and
there Phrixus married Chalciope； the daughter of Aietes the king； and
offered the ram in sacrifice； and Aietes nailed the ram's fleece to