The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-01-18
miscellaneous.
The Story OF Perseus and the GOrgOns
BY REV. j. NJ. NEALE, ID. ID.

BY REV. j. NJ. NEALE, I'D.
A long, long time ago, there reigned in the
little island of Seriphosa king named Poly
dectes. One day, as he was feasting in his
palace, and his mobiles were with him, word
was brought that a lady and little child had
been shpwrecked on the sea, shore, that they
seemed in need of everything. and had been
therefore brought by the fisherman who had
first seen them to the kings dwelling.
"And so, my lord )" said the messenger who
bore the news, "they are waiting at the gate,
in hopes that you will have pity on them"
bid them come In" said good King Poly
dectes "they shall fare no worse than we do
ourselves Or stay they are strangers; l
will go to them myself and comfort them; it
is II sad thing TO be n stranger in an unknown
country"
So Polydectcs went down to the gate, and
there stood lady very beautiful to look upon,
but full of grief. In her arms she held a
baby. that seemed but few weeks old; and
as it lay quietly on its mothers bosom, its
peace was strange TO compare with her trou-
BILE She would have said somewhat to the
king, but her voice failed her, and she could
only kneel before him and hold out her
baby, as if to ask his protection for it.
This is very sad, said the kind. hearted
you need, you shall find protection with me.
know that the immortal gods are good to
those that have compassion on strangers,
and for their sakes, as well as for your own,
you shall be safe under my roof. Another
time you shall tell me your name and your
history but now you shall eat and drink,
and rest yourself" For it was then the Gus
tom not to inquire the name of visitor till
he had spent some time with his host.
The next day Polydectes sent gentleman
of his court to inquire of the lady whether
he might come and see her. And she made
answer that he might. So the king, with his
great officers, went to that part of the palace
in which she was lodged. They spoke
together at first OF common matters and at
last the stranger told him her history. She
was called Dame, and her little son Perseus;
and she had been put into boat by her cruel
father, who wished to Stay his little grand.
son, and hoped that the fury of the sea would
swallow them up. Where she was to 90
next, and what she was to do, she could not
tell she, kings daughter, was poorer than
the poorest beggar, and could never hope to
return to her own people and to the place of
her BIRTH
"Be of good cheer, lady" said Polydectes,
when he had heard her story; will be a
father to your son. and a brother to yourself.
Seriphos is rich in corn and in barley, in
vineyards and olive yards, in herds and in
hocks. You shall dwell in the best of the
land, and while rule you stall know no
| want"
And the king kept his word. Perseus
grew up strong, brave and active; he could
hur the quot and throw the lance better than
any ofhis fellows and, above all, he was be-
loved by the gods, whose dwelling Is not
ha hoe
man, King Polydectes, ON his birthday, made
| great feast to all his servants; and it was
expected that all should bring some present
as a token of their love to this good king.
But what could poor Perseus do? He had
nothing of his own; all that he possessed had
been given to him and he had no power of
making any return. Day after day he would
| sit by himself, and devise some means of
showing his love to the king, but for long
| time he could think of nothing.
Now at that time there dwelt beyond the
Western Ocean three monsters that were the
enemies of Polydectes They were called the
three Gorgons; they had the faces of beauti-
| full women but the rest of their bodies was
like to dragons. They were very dangerous
to be approached, for they had the power of
turning everything into stone on which they
| fixed their eyes, Two of them were immor-
u
attacking them but the third, whose name
was Medusa, was mortal. Therefore Perseus
said to himself, II will cut off the head of
Medusa, Gorgon, and that will be a present
which the king will be glad to receive at my
hands"
When he had thus resolved within himself,
he went to Polydectes, and spoke to him
| thus:
my lord" he said, II owe you more than
/ can ever pay. You saved me from death
when l was child; you had compassion on
me when l was stranger; you have brought
me up to mans estate; you have never suffer.
ed me to be in want of anything, and all that
have came from you first. | can give you
nothing, because Ihave nothing Of my own ;
but am determined, if you will give me
leave, to go and fight with your enemy Me-
dusa, who is also mine enemy, because she is
yours"
Then answered Poydectes: "To fight
with Medusa is indeed thing that would
please me much, but il is far above your
strength, or the strength Of any other man ;
and instead of Staying her, you will yourself
be rent in pieces by her."