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upon the peak where no winds blow。'
Then Perseus said； 'I will go； though I die in going。 But how shall I
cross the seas without a ship？ And who will show me my way？ And
when I find her； how shall I slay her； if her scales be iron and brass？'
Then the young man spoke： 'These sandals of mine will bear you
across the seas； and over hill and dale like a bird； as they bear me all day
long； for I am Hermes； the far…famed Argus…slayer； the messenger of the
Immortals who dwell on Olympus。'
Then Perseus fell down and worshipped； while the young man spoke
again：
'The sandals themselves will guide you on the road； for they are
divine and cannot stray； and this sword itself； the Argus…slayer； will kill
her； for it is divine； and needs no second stroke。 Arise； and gird them
on； and go forth。'
So Perseus arose； and girded on the sandals and the sword。
And Athene cried； 'Now leap from the cliff and be gone。'
But Perseus lingered。
'May I not bid farewell to my mother and to Dictys？ And may I not
offer burnt…offerings to you； and to Hermes the far… famed Argus…slayer；
and to Father Zeus above？'
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'You shall not bid farewell to your mother； lest your heart relent at
her weeping。 I will comfort her and Dictys until you return in peace。
Nor shall you offer burnt…offerings to the Olympians； for your offering
shall be Medusa's head。 Leap； and trust in the armour of the Immortals。'
Then Perseus looked down the cliff and shuddered； but he was
ashamed to show his dread。 Then he thought of Medusa and the
renown before him； and he leaped into the empty air。
And behold； instead of falling he floated； and stood； and ran along
the sky。 He looked back； but Athene had vanished； and Hermes； and
the sandals led him on northward ever； like a crane who follows the
spring toward the Ister fens。
PART III … HOW PERSEUS SLEW THE
GORGON
SO Perseus started on his journey； going dry…shod over land and sea；
and his heart was high and joyful； for the winged sandals bore him each
day a seven days' journey。
And he went by Cythnus； and by Ceos； and the pleasant Cyclades to
Attica； and past Athens and Thebes； and the Copaic lake； and up the vale
of Cephissus； and past the peaks of OEta and Pindus； and over the rich
Thessalian plains； till the sunny hills of Greece were behind him； and
before him were the wilds of the north。 Then he passed the Thracian
mountains； and many a barbarous tribe； Paeons and Dardans and Triballi；
till he came to the Ister stream； and the dreary Scythian plains。 And he
walked across the Ister dry…shod； and away through the moors and fens；
day and night toward the bleak north…west； turning neither to the right
hand nor the left； till he came to the Unshapen Land； and the place
which has no name。
And seven days he walked through it； on a path which few can tell；
for those who have trodden it like least to speak of it； and those who go
there again in dreams are glad enough when they awake； till he came to
the edge of the everlasting night； where the air was full of feathers； and
the soil was hard with ice； and there at last he found the three Gray
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The Heroes
Sisters； by the shore of the freezing sea； nodding upon a white log of
drift…wood； beneath the cold white winter moon； and they chaunted a
low song together； 'Why the old times were better than the new。'
There was no living thing around them； not a fly； not a moss upon
the rocks。 Neither seal nor sea…gull dare come near； lest the ice should
clutch them in its claws。 The surge broke up in foam； but it fell again
in flakes of snow； and it frosted the hair of the three Gray Sisters； and
the bones in the ice…cliff above their heads。 They passed the eye from
one to the other； but for all that they could not see； and they passed the
tooth from one to the other； but for all that they could not eat； and they
sat in the full glare of the moon； but they were none the warmer for her
beams。 And Perseus pitied the three Gray Sisters； but they did not pity
themselves。
So he said； 'Oh； venerable mothers； wisdom is the daughter of old
age。 You therefore should know many things。 Tell me； if you can； the
path to the Gorgon。'
Then one cried； 'Who is this who reproaches us with old age？' And
another； 'This is the voice of one of the children of men。'
And he； 'I do not reproach； but honour your old age； and I am one of
the sons of men and of the heroes。 The rulers of Olympus have sent me
to you to ask the way to the Gorgon。'
Then one； 'There are new rulers in Olympus； and all new things are
bad。' And another； 'We hate your rulers； and the heroes； and all the
children of men。 We are the kindred of the Titans； and the Giants； and
the Gorgons； and the ancient monsters of the deep。' And another； 'Who
is this rash and insolent man who pushes unbidden into our world？'
And the first； 'There never was such a world as ours； nor will be； if we
let him see it； he will spoil it all。'
Then one cried； 'Give me the eye； that I may see him；' and another；
'Give me the tooth； that I may bite him。' But Perseus； when he saw that
they were foolish and proud； and did not love the children of men； left
off pitying them； and said to himself； 'Hungry men must needs be hasty；
if I stay making many words here； I shall be starved。' Then he stepped
close to them； and watched till they passed the eye from hand to hand。
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And as they groped about between themselves； he held out his own hand
gently； till one of them put the eye into it； fancying that it was the hand
of her sister。 Then he sprang back； and laughed； and cried …
'Cruel and proud old women； I have your eye； and I will throw it into
the sea； unless you tell me the path to the Gorgon； and swear to me that
you tell me right。'
Then they wept； and chattered； and scolded； but in vain。 They were
forced to tell the truth； though； when they told it； Perseus could hardly
make out the road。
'You must go；' they said； 'foolish boy； to the southward； into the ugly
glare of the sun； till you come to Atlas the Giant； who holds the heaven
and the earth apart。 And you must ask his daughters； the Hesperides；
who are young and foolish like yourself。 And now give us back our
eye； for we have forgotten all the rest。'
So Perseus gave them back their eye； but instead of using it； they
nodded and fell fast asleep； and were turned into blocks of ice； till the
tide came up and washed them all away。 And now they float up and
down like icebergs for ever； weeping whenever they meet the sunshine；
and the fruitful summer and the warm south wind； which fill young
hearts with joy。
But Perseus leaped away to the southward； leaving the snow and the
ice behind： past the isle of the Hyperboreans； and the tin isles； and the
long Iberian shore； while the sun rose higher day by day upon a bright
blue summer sea。 And the terns and the sea…gulls swept laughing round
his head； and called to him to stop and play； and the dolphins gambolled
up as he passed