Heroes Every Child Should Know | Page 7

only
because they owe them a great deal of gratitude, but because they see in
their heroes the kind of men they would like to be; for the possibilities
of the heroic are in almost all men. Stories of the heroes have often
made other men strong and brave and true in the face of great perils and
tasks, and this book is put forth in the faith that it will not only pass on
the fame of the heroes of the past but help make heroes in the present.
H. W. M.
CHAPTER I
PERSEUS
Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins. Their names
were Acrisius and Proetus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos,
far away in Hellas. They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep

and oxen, great herds of horses feeding down in Lerna Fen, and all that
men could need to make them blest: and yet they were wretched,
because they were jealous of each other. From the moment they were
born they began to quarrel; and when they grew up each tried to take
away the other's share of the kingdom, and keep all for himself.
But there came a prophet to Acrisius and prophesied against him, and
said, "Because you have risen up against your own blood, your own
blood shall rise up against you; because you have sinned against your
kindred, by your kindred you shall be punished. Your daughter Danae
shall have a son, and by that son's hands you shall die. So the gods have
ordained, and it will surely come to pass."
And at that Acrisius was very much afraid; but he did not mend his
ways. He had been cruel to his own family, and, instead of repenting
and being kind to them, he went on to be more cruel than ever: for he
shut up his fair daughter Danae in a cavern underground, lined with
brass, that no one might come near her. So he fancied himself more
cunning than the gods: but you will see presently whether he was able
to escape them.
Now it came to pass that in time a son came to Danae: so beautiful a
babe that any but King Acrisius would have had pity on it. But he had
no pity; for he took Danae and her babe down to the seashore, and put
them into a great chest and thrust them out to sea, for the winds and the
waves to carry them whithersoever they would.
The northwest wind blew freshly out of the blue mountains, and down
the pleasant vale of Argos, and away and out to sea. And away and out
to sea before it floated the mother and her babe, while all who watched
them wept, save that cruel father, King Acrisius.
So they floated on and on, and the chest danced up and down upon the
billows, and the baby slept upon its mother's breast: but the poor
mother could not sleep, but watched and wept, and she sang to her baby
as they floated; and the song which she sang you shall learn yourselves
some day.

And now they are past the last blue headland, and in the open sea; and
there is nothing round them but the waves, and the sky, and the wind.
But the waves are gentle, and the sky is clear, and the breeze is tender
and low.
So a night passed, and a day, and a long day it was for Danae; and
another night and day beside, till Danae was faint with hunger and
weeping, and yet no land appeared. And all the while the babe slept
quietly; and at last poor Danae drooped her head and fell asleep
likewise with her cheek against the babe's.
After a while she was awakened suddenly; for the chest was jarring and
grinding, and the air was full of sound. She looked up, and over her
head were mighty cliffs, all red in the setting sun, and around her rocks
and breakers, and flying flakes of foam. She clasped her hands together,
and shrieked aloud for help. And when she cried, help met her: for now
there came over the rocks a tall and stately man, and looked down
wonderingly upon poor Danae tossing about in the chest among the
waves.
He wore a rough cloak of frieze, and on his head a broad hat to shade
his face; in his hand he carried a trident for spearing fish, and over his
shoulder was a casting-net; but Danae could see that he was no
common man by his stature, and his walk, and his flowing golden hair
and beard; and by the two servants who came behind him, carrying
baskets for his fish. But she had hardly time to