the heroes(英雄们)-第4章
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Polydectes。
Grinding his teeth with rage； he went out； and away to the king's
palace； and through the men's rooms； and the women's rooms； and so
through all the house （for no one dared stop him； so terrible and fair was
he）； till he found his mother sitting on the floor； turning the stone hand…
mill； and weeping as she turned it。 And he lifted her up； and kissed
her； and bade her follow him forth。 But before they could pass out of
the room Polydectes came in； raging。 And when Perseus saw him； he
flew upon him as the mastiff flies on the boar。 'Villain and tyrant！' he
cried； 'is this your respect for the Gods； and thy mercy to strangers and
widows？ You shall die！' And because he had no sword he caught up
the stone hand…mill； and lifted it to dash out Polydectes' brains。
But his mother clung to him； shrieking； 'Oh； my son； we are
strangers and helpless in the land； and if you kill the king； all the people
will fall on us； and we shall both die。'
Good Dictys； too； who had come in； entreated him。 'Remember
that he is my brother。 Remember how I have brought you up； and
trained you as my own son； and spare him for my sake。'
Then Perseus lowered his hand； and Polydectes； who had been
trembling all this while like a coward； because he knew that he was in
the wrong； let Perseus and his mother pass。
Perseus took his mother to the temple of Athene； and there the
priestess made her one of the temple…sweepers； for there they knew she
would be safe； and not even Polydectes would dare to drag her away
from the altar。 And there Perseus； and the good Dictys； and his wife；
came to visit her every day； while Polydectes； not being able to get what
he wanted by force； cast about in his wicked heart how he might get it
by cunning。
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Now he was sure that he could never get back Danae as long as
Perseus was in the island； so he made a plot to rid himself of him。 And
first he pretended to have forgiven Perseus； and to have forgotten Danae；
so that； for a while； all went as smoothly as ever。
Next he proclaimed a great feast； and invited to it all the chiefs； and
landowners； and the young men of the island； and among them Perseus；
that they might all do him homage as their king； and eat of his banquet
in his hall。
On the appointed day they all came； and as the custom was then；
each guest brought his present with him to the king： one a horse；
another a shawl； or a ring； or a sword； and those who had nothing better
brought a basket of grapes； or of game； but Perseus brought nothing； for
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；
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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
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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 than live here； useless and despised；' said Perseus。 'Tell
me； then； oh tell me； fair and wise Goddess； of your great kindness and
condescension； how I can do but this one thing； and then； if need be；
die！'
Then Athene smiled and said …
'Be patient； and listen； for if you forget my words； you will indeed
die。 You must go northward to the country of the Hyperboreans； who
live beyond the pole； at the sources of the cold north wind； till you find
the three Gray Sisters； who have but one eye and one tooth between
them。 You must ask them the way to the Nymphs； the daughters of the
Evening Star； who dance about the golden tree； in the Atlantic island of
the west。 They will tell you the way to the Gorgon； that you may slay
her； my enemy； the mother of monstrous beasts。 Once she was a maiden
as beautiful as morn； till in her pride she sinned a sin at which the sun
hid his face； and from that day her hair was turned to vipers； and her
hands to eagle's claws； and her heart was filled with shame and rage； and
her lips with bitter venom； and her eyes became so terrible that
whosoever looks on them is turned to stone； and her children are the
winged horse and the giant of the golden sword； and her grandchildren
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are Echidna the witch…adder； and Geryon the three…headed tyrant； who
feeds his herds beside the herds of hell。 So she became the sister of the
Gorgons； Stheino and Eury
