The Yale expositor., 1894-10-26
The Gorgeous Head

that their names might become |
famous in the land, there lived on the
island of Seriphus n wicked people
with their king, Polydectes. Some !
years before this story opens n good |
fisherman saw a casll floating on the !
waters, and drawing it to shore he
found that it contained the beautiful |
princess Dane and her little son
Perseus.
You may wonder how they came to
be in the caslS on the water. They
had floated over the ocean from
another kingdom, where the people
had intended to drown them. But
Jove, the mighty god of Olympus. had
commanded Poseidon to calm the
waters, and that is how they fell to
the mercy and kindness OF the fisher
nap who rescued them.
The king of Seriphus was a wicked
nan, and he wished nothing better
than the destruction of young Perseus
So when he had grown to be tall,
supple youth, surprising in strength
md beauty all the young men in
tolydectes kingdom, he was COM
handed TO go forth and conquer the
iorgon Medusa, and to bring to the
zing the head of this monster as
proof OF his valor.
Now, there were three OF these
1orgons sisters, ani they were the
most awful monst RS imaginable. Re-
,embling in part the form of women,
but being covered with scales of
steel impenetrable 10 the sharpest
Snife, and having claws of Furnished
brass, wings of pure gold, and in
stead of teeth, great tusks protrud-
ng from cavernous mouths, they pre-
tented startling appearance; yet
J when living about in the sunlight
weird kind Of beauty was lent to
hem by the reflected light
But have not told you the worst
u them yet. In place of hair, hum
lred snakes curled and twisted anl
brithed on the head of each, and woe
20 the mortal that looked any OF
;hese horrors in the face, for at that
,ame moment he would be turned
from warm flesh and blood To cold,
hard marble.
rerseus, however, with the fire of
1outh and strength and bravery fill
me- his dauntless breast, proudly uu-
iertook this perilous task, with no
hope Of reward save the fame that his
Iced, if accomplished, would bring
lin. lie left the kings chamber full
If hope and ambition, bat the after
thought of the peril that he was about
; 20 encounter male him SO sad that he
.oull not bear to tell his mother Of
us undertaking. So, girliug on his
rustv sword and taking his shield
,gcr his arm, he crossed the water to
The mainland AMI sat down in the
, woods to think what he should do
lcXt.
Suddenly he heard clear, tInklinz
voice asking what troubled him, and
oolSing up he behrld Quicksilver be-
,ore him. All his sorrow and misgiv-
, ngs left him at sight of this person
lge, and well they might, for his very
oolls forbade repinings. He had a
ace, bright but ever changeful, as If
) .he sun in dancing over IL struck some
! inward chord that brought smiles
I ind dimp'es to the surface. as bub-
t bles rise TO the surface of water. He
. wore an odd cap on his golden hair,
. ind carried stick in his hand, around
which snakes seemed twining. On
: lis feet were sandals, and cap, staff
: Ind sandals seemed to be supplied
: With wings, So light were all his
. movements, so quick and buoyant his
T manner.
r After hearing the tale of Perseus,
( quicksilver, or Mercury, as he is some
: lines called, told the young man tc
jolish his shield till it shone like q
Mirror and taking a short crooked
!word that hung by his side, he fas'
encl it to Perseus in place of his
d, .arth-forge1 one.
: Even yet. however, he might not at
J .acll the Gorgon so they repaire tC
= he forest of Twilight, where lived
), the three sisters of the Dusk, who
:. lrected them where to find the
y winged sandals, the cap of Aides
!" which rendered the wearer invisible
: md the magic wallet.
~ After getting possession OF these
precious gifts, Perseus and Quicksil
yer rose into the air. It was nov
: light, and Perseus, looking down. be
:, held the beautiful earth bathed il
' moonlight and fetched like q magic
: .ity below.
q Over valleys and mountains they
sped, like two huge birds, till they
- approached the seashore. Then ou
y over the water. and there on an isl
:, and, rock. bound. except on one side
a where stretch OF silver sand sparkleC
n n the moonlight, lay tho three Cor
yons asleep, their huge golden wing
- dropped backward on the glistenini
n ,and, the snalIy rinylets rearin!
!. themselves ana kissing drowsily.
- Now, said a low, calm voice. whicl
= Prseus reco rnize as bel lnying e
= Minerva, "loolS into your shield and
Il strike quickly. That is Medusa NOV
- ng. If you -ook at her, your erranC
"a in vain"
A And quickly ohying, Perseus struct
a ,H the head OF Medusa, just as sh
! was awakening from horribl
dream.
= 'Quick," cried Mercury, put it il