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！
became furious； and while Perseus was away at sea he took poor Danae
away from Dictys； saying； 'If you will not be my wife； you shall be my
slave。' So Danae was made a slave； and had to fetch water from the
well； and grind in the mill； and perhaps was beaten； and wore a heavy
chain； because she would not marry that cruel king。 But Perseus was
far away over the seas in the isle of Samos； little thinking how his
mother was languishing in grief。
Now one day at Samos； while the ship was lading； Perseus wandered
into a pleasant wood to get out of the sun； and sat down on the turf and
fell asleep。 And as he slept a strange dream came to him … the strangest
dream which he had ever had in his life。
There came a lady to him through the wood； taller than he； or any
mortal man； but beautiful exceedingly； with great gray eyes； clear and
piercing； but strangely soft and mild。 On her head was a helmet； and in
her hand a spear。 And over her shoulder； above her long blue robes；
hung a goat…skin； which bore up a mighty shield of brass； polished like a
mirror。 She stood and looked at him with her clear gray eyes； and
Perseus saw that her eye…lids never moved； nor her eyeballs； but looked
straight through and through him； and into his very heart； as if she could
see all the secrets of his soul； and knew all that he had ever thought or
longed for since the day that he was born。 And Perseus dropped his
eyes； trembling and blushing； as the wonderful lady spoke。
'Perseus； you must do an errand for me。'
'Who are you； lady？ And how do you know my name？'
'I am Pallas Athene； and I know the thoughts of all men's hearts； and
discern their manhood or their baseness。 And from the souls of clay I
turn away； and they are blest； but not by me。 They fatten at ease； like
sheep in the pasture； and eat what they did not sow； like oxen in the stall。
They grow and spread； like the gourd along the ground； but； like the
12
… Page 13…
The Heroes
gourd； they give no shade to the traveller； and when they are ripe death
gathers them； and they go down unloved into hell； and their name
vanishes out of the land。
'But to the souls of fire I give more fire； and to those who are manful
I give a might more than man's。 These are the heroes； the sons of the
Immortals； who are blest； but not like the souls of clay。 For I drive
them forth by strange paths； Perseus； that they may fight the Titans and
the monsters； the enemies of Gods and men。 Through doubt and need；
danger and battle； I drive them； and some of them are slain in the flower
of youth； no man knows when or where； and some of them win noble
names； and a fair and green old age； but what will be their latter end I
know not； and none； save Zeus； the father of Gods and men。 Tell me
now； Perseus； which of these two sorts of men seem to you more blest？'
Then Perseus answered boldly： 'Better to die in the flower of youth；
on the chance of winning a noble name； than to live at ease like the
sheep； and die unloved and unrenowned。'
Then that strange lady laughed； and held up her brazen shield； and
cried： 'See here； Perseus； dare you face such a monster as this； and slay
it； that I may place its head upon this shield？'
And in the mirror of the shield there appeared a face； and as Perseus
looked on it his blood ran cold。 It was the face of a beautiful woman；
but her cheeks were pale as death； and her brows were knit with
everlasting pain； and her lips were thin and bitter like a snake's； and
instead of hair； vipers wreathed about her temples； and shot out their
forked tongues； while round her head were folded wings like an eagle's；
and upon her bosom claws of brass。
And Perseus looked awhile； and then said： 'If there is anything so
fierce and foul on earth； it were a noble deed to kill it。 Where can I
find the monster？'
Then the strange lady smiled again； and said： 'Not yet； you are too
young； and too unskilled； for this is Medusa the Gorgon； the mother of a
monstrous brood。 Return to your home； and do the work which waits
there for you。 You must play the man in that before I can think you
worthy to go in search of the Gorgon。'
13
… Page 14…
The Heroes
Then Perseus would have spoken； but the strange lady vanished； and
he awoke； and behold； it was a dream。 But day and night Perseus saw
before him the face of that dreadful woman； with the vipers writhing
round her head。
So he returned home； and when he came to Seriphos； the first thing
which he heard was that his mother was a slave in the house of
Polydectes。
Grinding his teeth with rage； he went out； and away to the king's
palace； and through the men's rooms； and the women's rooms； and so
through all the house （for no one dared stop him； so terrible and fair was
he）； till he found his mother sitting on the floor； turning the stone hand…
mill； and weeping as she turned it。 And he lifted her up； and kissed
her； and bade her follow him forth。 But before they could pass out of
the room Polydectes came in； raging。 And when Perseus saw him； he
flew upon him as the mastiff flies on the boar。 'Villain and tyrant！' he
cried； 'is this your respect for the Gods； and thy mercy to strangers and
widows？ You shall die！' And because he had no sword he caught up
the stone hand…mill； and lifted it to dash out Polydectes' brains。
But his mother clung to him； shrieking； 'Oh； my son； we are
strangers and helpless in the land； and if you kill the king； all the people
will fall on us； and we shall both die。'
Good Dictys； too； who had come in； entreated him。 'Remember
that he is my brother。 Remember how I have brought you up； and
trained you as my own son； and spare him for my sake。'
Then Perseus lowered his hand； and Polydectes； who had been
trembling all this while like a coward； because he knew that he was in
the wrong； let Perseus and his mother pass。
Perseus took his mother to the temple of Athene； and there the
priestess made her one of the temple…sweepers； for there they knew she
would be safe； and not even Polydectes would dare to drag her away
from the altar。 And there Perseus； and the good Dictys； and his wife；
came to visit her every day； while Polydectes； not being able to get what
he wanted by force； cast about in his wicked heart how he might get it
by cunning。
14
… Page 15…
The Heroes
Now he was sure that he could never get back Danae as long as
Perseus was in the island； so he made a plot to rid himself of him。 And
first he pretended to have forgiven Perseus； and to have forgotten Danae；
so that； for a while； all went as smoothly as ever。
Next he proclaimed a great feast； and invited to it all the chiefs； and
landowners； and the young men of the island； and among them Perseus；
that they might all do him homage as their king； and eat of his banquet
in his hall。
On the appointed day they all came； and as the custom was then；
each guest brought hi