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his head； and called to him to stop and play； and the dolphins gambolled
up as he passed； and offered to carry him on their backs。 And all
night long the sea…nymphs sang sweetly； and the Tritons blew upon their
conchs； as they played round Galataea their queen； in her car of pearled
shells。 Day by day the sun rose higher； and leaped more swiftly into
the sea at night； and more swiftly out of the sea at dawn； while Perseus
skimmed over the billows like a sea…gull； and his feet were never
wetted； and leapt on from wave to wave； and his limbs were never weary；
till he saw far away a mighty mountain； all rose…red in the setting sun。
Its feet were wrapped in forests； and its head in wreaths of cloud； and
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Perseus knew that it was Atlas； who holds the heavens and the earth
apart。
He came to the mountain； and leapt on shore； and wandered upward；
among pleasant valleys and waterfalls； and tall trees and strange ferns
and flowers； but there was no smoke rising from any glen； nor house；
nor sign of man。
At last he heard sweet voices singing； and he guessed that he was
come to the garden of the Nymphs； the daughters of the Evening Star。
They sang like nightingales among the thickets； and Perseus stopped
to hear their song； but the words which they spoke he could not
understand； no； nor no man after him for many a hundred years。 So he
stepped forward and saw them dancing； hand in hand around the
charmed tree； which bent under its golden fruit； and round the tree…foot
was coiled the dragon； old Ladon the sleepless snake； who lies there for
ever； listening to the song of the maidens； blinking and watching with
dry bright eyes。
Then Perseus stopped； not because he feared the dragon； but because
he was bashful before those fair maids； but when they saw him； they too
stopped； and called to him with trembling voices …
'Who are you？ Are you Heracles the mighty； who will come to rob
our garden； and carry off our golden fruit？' And he answered …
'I am not Heracles the mighty； and I want none of your golden fruit。
Tell me； fair Nymphs； the way which leads to the Gorgon； that I may go
on my way and slay her。'
'Not yet； not yet； fair boy； come dance with us around the tree in the
garden which knows no winter； the home of the south wind and the sun。
Come hither and play with us awhile； we have danced alone here for a
thousand years； and our hearts are weary with longing for a playfellow。
So come； come； come！'
'I cannot dance with you； fair maidens； for I must do the errand of
the Immortals。 So tell me the way to the Gorgon； lest I wander and
perish in the waves。'
Then they sighed and wept； and answered … 'The Gorgon！ she will
freeze you into stone。'
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'It is better to die like a hero than to live like an ox in a stall。 The
Immortals have lent me weapons； and they will give me wit to use them。'
Then they sighed again and answered； 'Fair boy； if you are bent on
your own ruin； be it so。 We know not the way to the Gorgon； but we
will ask the giant Atlas； above upon the mountain peak； the brother of
our father； the silver Evening Star。 He sits aloft and sees across the
ocean； and far away into the Unshapen Land。'
So they went up the mountain to Atlas their uncle； and Perseus went
up with them。 And they found the giant kneeling； as he held the
heavens and the earth apart。
They asked him； and he answered mildly； pointing to the sea… board
with his mighty hand； 'I can see the Gorgons lying on an island far away；
but this youth can never come near them； unless he has the hat of
darkness； which whosoever wears cannot be seen。'
Then cried Perseus； 'Where is that hat； that I may find it？'
But the giant smiled。 'No living mortal can find that hat； for it lies
in the depths of Hades； in the regions of the dead。 But my nieces are
immortal； and they shall fetch it for you； if you will promise me one
thing and keep your faith。'
Then Perseus promised； and the giant said； 'When you come back
with the head of Medusa； you shall show me the beautiful horror； that I
may lose my feeling and my breathing； and become a stone for ever； for
it is weary labour for me to hold the heavens and the earth apart。'
Then Perseus promised； and the eldest of the Nymphs went down；
and into a dark cavern among the cliffs； out of which came smoke and
thunder； for it was one of the mouths of Hell。
And Perseus and the Nymphs sat down seven days； and waited
trembling； till the Nymph came up again； and her face was pale； and her
eyes dazzled with the light； for she had been long in the dreary darkness；
but in her hand was the magic hat。
Then all the Nymphs kissed Perseus； and wept over him a long while；
but he was only impatient to be gone。 And at last they put the hat upon
his head； and he vanished out of their sight。
But Perseus went on boldly； past many an ugly sight； far away into
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the heart of the Unshapen Land； beyond the streams of Ocean； to the
isles where no ship cruises； where is neither night nor day； where
nothing is in its right place； and nothing has a name； till he heard the
rustle of the Gorgons' wings and saw the glitter of their brazen talons；
and then he knew that it was time to halt； lest Medusa should freeze him
into stone。
He thought awhile with himself； and remembered Athene's words。
He rose aloft into the air； and held the mirror of the shield above his
head； and looked up into it that he might see all that was below him。
And he saw the three Gorgons sleeping as huge as elephants。 He
knew that they could not see him； because the hat of darkness hid him；
and yet he trembled as he sank down near them； so terrible were those
brazen claws。
Two of the Gorgons were foul as swine； and lay sleeping heavily； as
swine sleep； with their mighty wings outspread； but Medusa tossed to
and fro restlessly； and as she tossed Perseus pitied her； she looked so fair
and sad。 Her plumage was like the rainbow； and her face was like the
face of a nymph； only her eyebrows were knit； and her lips clenched；
with everlasting care and pain； and her long neck gleamed so white in
the mirror that Perseus had not the heart to strike； and said； 'Ah； that it
had been either of her sisters！'
But as he looked； from among her tresses the vipers' heads awoke；
and peeped up with their bright dry eyes； and showed their fangs； and
hissed； and Medusa； as she tossed； threw back her wings and showed her
brazen claws； and Perseus saw that； for all her beauty； she was as foul
and venomous as the rest。
Then he came down and stepped to her boldly； and looked
steadfastly on his mirror； and struck with Herpe stoutly once； and he did
not need to strike again。
Then he wrapped the head in the goat…skin； turning away his eyes；
and sprang int