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time； for he said； 'Surely Athene hath sent me hither； and will not have
me go homeward yet。 What if there be another noble deed to be done；
before I see the sunny hills of Hellas？'
So he went east； and east for ever； by fresh oases and fountains； date…
palms； and lawns of grass； till he saw before him a mighty mountain…
wall； all rose…red in the setting sun。
Then he towered in the air like an eagle； for his limbs were strong
again； and he flew all night across the mountain till the day began to
dawn； and rosy…fingered Eos came blushing up the sky。 And then；
behold； beneath him was the long green garden of Egypt and the shining
stream of Nile。
And he saw cities walled up to heaven； and temples； and obelisks；
and pyramids； and giant Gods of stone。 And he came down amid fields
of barley； and flax； and millet； and clambering gourds； and saw the
people coming out of the gates of a great city； and setting to work； each
in his place； among the water…courses； parting the streams among the
plants cunningly with their feet； according to the wisdom of the
Egyptians。 But when they saw him they all stopped their work； and
gathered round him； and cried …
'Who art thou； fair youth？ and what bearest thou beneath thy goat…
skin there？ Surely thou art one of the Immortals； for thy skin is white
like ivory； and ours is red like clay。 Thy hair is like threads of gold；
and ours is black and curled。 Surely thou art one of the Immortals；' and
they would have worshipped him then and there； but Perseus said …
'I am not one of the Immortals； but I am a hero of the Hellens。 And
I have slain the Gorgon in the wilderness； and bear her head with me。
Give me food； therefore； that I may go forward and finish my work。'
Then they gave him food； and fruit； and wine； but they would not let
him go。 And when the news came into the city that the Gorgon was
slain； the priests came out to meet him； and the maidens； with songs and
dances； and timbrels and harps； and they would have brought him to
their temple and to their king； but Perseus put on the hat of darkness； and
vanished away out of their sight。
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Therefore the Egyptians looked long for his return； but in vain； and
worshipped him as a hero； and made a statue of him in Chemmis； which
stood for many a hundred years； and they said that he appeared to them
at times； with sandals a cubit long； and that whenever he appeared the
season was fruitful； and the Nile rose high that year。
Then Perseus went to the eastward； along the Red Sea shore； and
then； because he was afraid to go into the Arabian deserts； he turned
northward once more； and this time no storm hindered him。
He went past the Isthmus； and Mount Casius； and the vast Serbonian
bog； and up the shore of Palestine； where the dark… faced AEthiops dwelt。
He flew on past pleasant hills and valleys； like Argos itself； or
Lacedaemon； or the fair Vale of Tempe。 But the lowlands were all
drowned by floods； and the highlands blasted by fire； and the hills
heaved like a babbling cauldron； before the wrath of King Poseidon； the
shaker of the earth。
And Perseus feared to go inland； but flew along the shore above the
sea； and he went on all the day； and the sky was black with smoke； and
he went on all the night； and the sky was red with flame。
And at the dawn of day he looked toward the cliffs； and at the
water's edge； under a black rock； he saw a white image stand。
'This；' thought he； 'must surely be the statue of some sea… God； I will
go near and see what kind of Gods these barbarians worship。'
So he came near； but when he came； it was no statue； but a maiden
of flesh and blood； for he could see her tresses streaming in the breeze；
and as he came closer still； he could see how she shrank and shivered
when the waves sprinkled her with cold salt spray。 Her arms were
spread above her head； and fastened to the rock with chains of brass；
and her head drooped on her bosom； either with sleep； or weariness； or
grief。 But now and then she looked up and wailed； and called her
mother； yet she did not see Perseus； for the cap of darkness was on his
head。
Full of pity and indignation； Perseus drew near and looked upon the
maid。 Her cheeks were darker than his were； and her hair was blue…
black like a hyacinth； but Perseus thought； 'I have never seen so
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beautiful a maiden； no； not in all our isles。 Surely she is a king's
daughter。 Do barbarians treat their kings' daughters thus？ She is too
fair； at least； to have done any wrong I will speak to her。'
And； lifting the hat from his head； he flashed into her sight。 She
shrieked with terror； and tried to hide her face with her hair； for she
could not with her hands； but Perseus cried …
'Do not fear me； fair one； I am a Hellen； and no barbarian。 What
cruel men have bound you？ But first I will set you free。'
And he tore at the fetters； but they were too strong for him； while the
maiden cried …
'Touch me not； I am accursed； devoted as a victim to the sea… Gods。
They will slay you； if you dare to set me free。'
'Let them try；' said Perseus； and drawing； Herpe from his thigh； he
cut through the brass as if it had been flax。
'Now；' he said； 'you belong to me； and not to these sea…Gods；
whosoever they may be！' But she only called the more on her mother。
'Why call on your mother？ She can be no mother to have left you
here。 If a bird is dropped out of the nest； it belongs to the man who
picks it up。 If a jewel is cast by the wayside； it is his who dare win it
and wear it； as I will win you and will wear you。 I know now why
Pallas Athene sent me hither。 She sent me to gain a prize worth all my
toil and more。'
And he clasped her in his arms； and cried； 'Where are these sea…Gods；
cruel and unjust； who doom fair maids to death？ I carry the weapons of
Immortals。 Let them measure their strength against mine！ But tell me；
maiden； who you are； and what dark fate brought you here。'
And she answered； weeping …
〃I am the daughter of Cepheus； King of Iopa； and my mother is
Cassiopoeia of the beautiful tresses； and they called me Andromeda； as
long as life was mine。 And I stand bound here； hapless that I am； for
the sea…monster's food； to atone for my mother's sin。 For she boasted
of me once that I was fairer than Atergatis； Queen of the Fishes； so she
in her wrath sent the sea…floods； and her brother the Fire King sent the
earthquakes； and wasted all the land； and after the floods a monster bred
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of the slime； who devours all living things。 And now he must devour
me； guiltless though I am … me who never harmed a living thing； nor saw
a fish upon the shore but I gave it life； and threw it back into the sea； for
in our land we eat no fish； for fear of Atergatis their queen。 Yet the
priests say that nothing but my bloo