the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第26章
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had compassion for him called to the others。 They spoke together while
Perseus stayed far away from them； polishing his shield of bronze。 At last
the nymph who had listened to him came back； the others following her。
They brought to Perseus and they put into his hands the things they had
guardedthe cap made from dogskin that had been brought up out of
Hades； a pair of winged shoes； and a long pouch that he could hang across
his shoulder。
And so with the shoes of flight and the cap of darkness and the magic
pouch； Perseus went to seek the Gorgons。 The sickle…sword that Hermes
gave him was at his side； and on his arm he held the bronze shield that was
now well polished。
He went through the air； taking a way that the nymphs had shown him。
He came to Oceanus that was the rim around the world。 He saw forms that
were of living creatures all in stone； and he knew that he was near the
place where the Gorgons had their lair。
Then； looking upon the surface of his polished shield； he saw the
Gorgons below him。 Two were covered with hard serpent scales； they had
tusks that were long and were like the tusks of boars； and they had hands
of gleaming brass and wings of shining gold。 Still looking upon the
shining surface of his shield Perseus went down and down。 He saw the
third sistershe who was not immortal。 She had a woman's face and form；
and her countenance was beautiful； although there was something deadly
in its fairness。 The two scaled and winged sisters were asleep； but the third；
Medusa； was awake； and she was tearing with her hands a lizard that had
come near her。
Upon her head was a tangle of serpents all with heads raised as though
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they were hissing。 Still looking into the mirror of his shield Perseus came
down and over Medusa。 He turned his head away from her。 Then； with a
sweep of the sicklesword he took her head off。 There was no scream from
the Gorgon； but the serpents upon her head hissed loudly。
Still with his face turned from it he lifted up the head by its tangle of
serpents。 He put it into the magic pouch。 He rose up in the air。 But now the
Gorgon sisters were awake。 They had heard the hiss of Medusa's serpents；
and now they looked upon her headless body。 They rose up on their golden
wings； and their brazen hands were stretched out to tear the one who had
slain Medusa。 As they flew after him they screamed aloud。
Although he flew like the wind the Gorgon sisters would have
overtaken him if he had been plain to their eyes。 But the dogskin cap of
Hades saved him； for the Gorgon sisters did not know whether he was
above or below them； behind or before them。 On Perseus went； flying
toward where Atlas stood。 He flew over this place； over Libya。 Drops of
blood from Medusa's head fell down upon the desert。 They were changed
and became the deadly serpents that are on these sands and around these
rocks。 On and on Perseus flew toward Atlas and toward the hidden valley
where the nymphs who were again to guard the magic treasures had their
dwelling place。 But before he came to the nymphs Perseus had another
adventure。
In Ethopia； which is at the other side of Libya； there ruled a king
whose name was Cepheus。 This king had permitted his queen to boast that
she was more beautiful than the nymphs of the sea。 In punishment for the
queen's impiety and for the king's folly Poseidon sent a monster out of the
sea to waste that country。 Every year the monster came； destroying more
and more of the country of Ethopia。 Then the king asked of an oracle what
he should do to save his land and his people。 The oracle spoke of a
dreadful thing that he would have to dohe would have to sacrifice his
daughter； the beautiful Princess Andromeda。
The king was forced by his savage people to take the maiden
Andromeda and chain her to a rock on the seashore； leaving her there for
the monster to devour her； satisfying himself with that prey。
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Perseus； flying near； heard the maiden's laments。 He saw her lovely
body bound with chains to the rock。 He came near her； taking the cap of
darkness off his head。 She saw him； and she bent her head in shame； for
she thought that he would think that it was for some dreadful fault of her
own that she had been left chained in that place。
Her father had stayed near。 Perseus saw him； and called to him； and
bade him tell why the maiden was chained to the rock。 The king told
Perseus of the sacrifice that he had been forced to make。 Then Perseus
came near the maiden； and he saw how she looked at him with pleading
eyes。
Then Perseus made her father promise that he would give Andromeda
to him for his wife if he should slay the sea monster。 Gladly Cepheus
promised this。 Then Perseus once again drew his sickle…sword； by the rock
to which Andromeda was still chained he waited for sight of the sea
monster。
It came rolling in from the open sea； a shapeless and unsightly thing。
With the shoes of flight upon his feet Perseus rose above it。 The monster
saw his shadow upon the water； and savagely it went to attack the shadow。
Perseus swooped down as an eagle swoops down； with his sickle…sword he
attacked it； and he struck the hook through the monster's shoulder。 Terribly
it reared up from the sea。 Perseus rose over it； escaping its wide…opened
mouth with its treble rows of fangs。 Again he swooped and struck at it。 Its
hide was covered all over with hard scales and with the shells of sea things；
but Perseus's sword struck through it。 It reared up again； spouting water
mixed with blood。 On a rock near the rock that Andromeda was chained to
Perseus alighted。 The monster； seeing him； bellowed and rushed swiftly
through the water to overwhelm him。 As it reared up he plunged the sword
again and again into its body。 Down into the water the monster sank； and
water mixed with blood was spouted up from the depths into which it
sank。
Then was Andromeda loosed from her chains。 Perseus； the conqueror；
lifted up the fainting maiden and carried her back to the king's palace。 And
Cepheus there renewed his promise to give her in marriage to her
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deliverer。
Perseus went on his way。 He came to the hidden valley where the
nymphs had their dwelling place； and he restored to them the three magic
treasures that they had given himthe cap of darkness； the shoes of flight；
and the magic pouch。 And these treasures are still there； and the hero who
can win his way to the nymphs may have them as Perseus had them。
Again he returned to the place where he had found Andromeda
chained。 With face averted he drew forth the Gorgon's head from where he
had hidden it between the rocks。 He made a bag for it out of the horny skin
of the monster he had slain。 Then； carrying his tremendous trophy； he went
to the palace of King Cepheus to claim his bride。
Now before her father had thought of sacrificing her to the sea monster
he had offered Andromeda in marriage to a prince of Ethopiato a prince
whose name was Phineus。 Phineus did not strive to save Andromeda。 But；
hearing that she had been delivered from the monster； he came to take her
for his wife； he came to Cepheus's palace； and he brought with him a
thousand armed men。
The palace of Cepheus was filled with armed men when Perseus
entered it。 He saw Andromeda on a raised place in the hall。 She was pale
as when she was chained to the rock； and when she saw him in the palace
she uttered a cry of gladness。
Cepheus； the craven king； would have let him who had come with the
armed bands take the maiden。 Perseus came beside Andromeda and he
made his claim。 Phineus spoke insolently to him； and then he urged one of
his captains to strike Perseus down。 Many sprang forward to attack him。
Out of the bag Perseus drew Medusa's head。 He held it before those who
were bringing strife into the hall。 They were turned to stone。 One of
Cepheus's men wished to defend Perseus： he struck at the captain who had
come near； his sword made a clanging sound as it struck this one who had
looked upon Medusa's head。
Perseus went from the land of Ethopia taking fair Andromeda with him。
They went into Greece； for he had thought of going to Argos； to the
country that his grandfather ruled over。 At this very time Acrisius got
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tidings of Danae； and her son； and he knew that they had not perished on
the waves of the sea。 Fearful of the prophecy that told he would be slain
by his grandson and fearing that he would come to Argos to seek him；
Acrisius fled out of his country。
He came into Thessaly。 Perseus and Andromeda were there。 Now； one
day the old king was brought to games that were being celebrated in honor
of a dead hero。 He was leaning on his staff； watching a youth throw a
metal disk； when something in that youth's appearance made him want to
watch him more closely。 About him there was something of a being of the
upper air； it made Acrisius think of a brazen tower and of a daughter
whom he had shut up there。
He moved so that he might come nearer to the disk…thrower。 But as he
left where he had been standing he came into the line of the thrown disk。 It
struck the old man on the temple。 He fell down dead； and as he fell the
people cried out his name〃Acrisius； King Acrisius！〃 Then Perseus knew
whom the disk； thrown by his hand； had slain。
And because he had slain the king by chance Perseus would not go to
Argos； nor take over the kingdom that his
