The Heroes | Page 8

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, 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 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