the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第31节
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that the Gorgon's head appeared before me； and that I was then and there
turned into stone。
〃The day of the wedding feast came。 I came and I brought no gift。 I
stood with my head hanging for shame。 Then the princes and the lords
came forward； and they showed the great gifts of horses that they had
brought。 I thought that the king would forget about me and about my boast。
And then I heard him call my name。 'Perseus；' he said； 'Perseus； bring
before us now the Gorgon's head that； as you told us； you would bring for
the wedding gift。'
〃The princes and lords and people looked toward me； and I was fiIled
with a deeper shame。 I had to say that I had failed to bring a present。 Then
that harsh and overbearing king shouted at me。 'Go forth；' he said； 'go forth
and fetch the present that you spoke of。 If you do not bring it remain
forever out of my country； for in Seriphus we will have no empty
boasters。' The lords and the princes applauded what the king said； the
people were sad for me and sad for my mother； but they might not do
anything to help me； so just and so due to me did the words of the king
seem。 There was no help for it； and I had to go from the country of
Seriphus； leaving my mother at the mercy of Polydectes。
〃I bade good…by to my sorrowful mother and I went from Seriphus
from that land that I might not return to without the Gorgon's head。 I
traveled far from that country。 One day I sat down in a lonely place and
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prayed to the gods that my strength might be equal to the will that now
moved in methe will to take the Gorgon's head； and take from my name
the shame of a broken promise； and win back to Seriphus to save my
mother from the harshness of the king。
〃When I looked up I saw one standing before me。 He was a youth； too；
but I knew by the way he moved； and I knew by the brightness of his face
and eyes； that he was of the immortals。 I raised my hands in homage to
him； and he came near me。 'Perseus；' he said； 'if you have the courage to
strive； the way to win the Gorgon's head will be shown you。' I said that I
had the courage to strive； and he knew that I was making no boast。
〃He gave me this bright sickle…sword that I carry。 He told me by what
ways I might come near enough to the Gorgons without being turned into
stone by their gaze。 He told me how I might slay the one of the three
Gorgons who was not immortal； and how； having slain her； I might take
her head and flee without being torn to pieces by her sister Gorgons。
〃Then I knew that I should have to come on the Gorgons from the air。 I
knew that having slain the one that could be slain I should have to fly with
the speed of the wind。 And I knew that that speed even would not save me…
…I should have to be hidden in my flight。 To win the head and save myself
I would need three magic thingsthe shoes of flight and the magic pouch；
and the dogskin cap of Hades that makes its wearer invisible。
〃The youth said： 'The magic pouch and the shoes of flight and the
dogskin cap of Hades are in the keeping of the nymphs whose dwelling
place no mortal knows。 I may not tell you where their dwelling place is。
But from the Gray Ones； from the ancient daughters of Phorcys who live
in a cave near where Atlas stands； you may learn where their dwelling
place is。'
〃Thereupon he told me how I might come to the Graiai； and how I
might get them to tell me where you； the nymphs； had your dwelling。 The
one who spoke to me was Hermes； whose dwelling is on Olympus。 By this
sickle…sword that he gave me you will know that I speak the truth。〃
Perseus ceased speaking； and she who was the youngest and fairest of
the nymphs came nearer to him。 She knew that he spoke truthfully； and
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besides she had pity for the youth。 〃But we are the keepers of the magic
treasures；〃 she said； 〃and some one whose need is greater even than yours
may some time require them from us。 But will you swear that you will
bring the magic treasures back to us when you have slain the Gorgon and
have taken her head？〃
Perseus declared that he would bring the magic treasures back to the
nymphs and leave them once more in their keeping。 Then the nymph who
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 h
