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！
On the appointed day they all came； and as the custom was then；
each guest brought his present with him to the king： one a horse；
another a shawl； or a ring； or a sword； and those who had nothing 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；
15
… Page 16…
The Heroes
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
16
… Page 17…
The Heroes
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
17
… Page 18…
The Heroes
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 Per