PERSEUS RESCUES ANDROMEDA
On his way back to the island of Seriphos, Perseus met with many
adventures. He visited Atlas, expecting the hospitality which the
Greeks consider due to all strangers. But Atlas did not receive him
with courtesy, and Perseus in return held up the Gorgon's head for
Atlas to gaze at. Atlas was turned into a rocky mountain, and there he
stands and always will stand with the firmament resting on his head.
In his flight Perseus reached Ætheopia, where King Kepheus reigned.
There he saw an immense rock on the coast and a charming maiden was
chained to the rock. Perseus approached her in pity and said, "Tell
me, oh maiden, why thou art bound to this rock! What is thy name and
which is thy country?" "I am a princess, the daughter of King
Kepheus," answered the girl, "and my name is Andromeda. My mother
praised my beauty above that of the daughters of Nereus, displeasing
the nymphs themselves and offending the god.
"The Nereids complained to Poseidon, and in his wrath he sent a
sea-monster on shore to destroy the people and their flocks and herds
and devastate the country. The king, my father, inquired of the Oracle
how the country might be freed from this calamity. The Oracle made
reply that the country would be delivered if the king would give up
his own daughter to be devoured by the monster. When the people of
Ætheopia heard of the answer of the Oracle they forced my father to
accede to the terms. They themselves chained me to this rock, and
every moment I expect the monster to come and tear me to pieces."
No sooner had Andromeda finished her tale than the monster appeared in
the distance. Her father and mother saw him too and wept in despair.
Crying out to their beloved child, with extended hands they bewailed
her fate.
"A truce to tears!" cried Perseus. "The brave man sheds no tears in
the face of danger! He wastes no words but dares! Shall Perseus, the
son of Zeus and Danäe, having slain Medusa, quail before a
sea-serpent? I will save thy daughter, but thou must give her to me to
be my wife!"
"Thou shalt have our daughter for thy wife and our kingdom as well,"
cried the king, "if thou wilt save her!"
The waves rose higher and higher around the cliff and the sea-monster
came roaring and hissing, with open jaws showing his savage teeth, his
neck outstretched, and his head reared high above the breakers. Over
the waves rose his tremendous back covered with thick, heavy scales,
and he lashed the waters to a foam with his coiling tail.
Then Perseus, with the aid of his winged sandals, rose up into the air
and attacked the monster from above. The beast plunged this way and
that, leaping up and striking at Perseus with his fangs, diving again
into the water and springing out, bellowing in a frightful manner.
Time after time Perseus thrust his sword into the monster, until a
stream of black blood ran from its throat, and it grew motionless and
died. Perseus quickly flew to Andromeda and took off the chains that
bound her, and she sprang into her father's arms with a cry of joy.
The king and queen threw their arms around their beloved daughter and
covered her with kisses, and they clasped the hand of Perseus with
gratitude which they could not express.
Then they returned to the grand castle of Kepheus, promising to
celebrate the nuptials of Perseus and Andromeda. The wedding took
place amidst great pomp and splendor, but while they were in the midst
of their festivities the din of arms and battle-cries resounded
through the hall. Phineus, the brother of the king, had come with a
crowd of warriors to steal the bride. For Andromeda, before her
misfortunes, had been promised to him in marriage, but in the hour of
danger he had left her to her fate, a prey to the sea-monster.
Now that she was safe again and in favor, Phineus had come to claim
her. He said petulantly to Perseus, "Andromeda belongs to me. I come
to get her. Neither thy winged sandals nor thy father Zeus shall save
thee from my wrath. Thou art a robber trying to take my bride from
me."
Then the king answered him angrily. "Phineus," he said, "thou art a
boastful coward. In no way does Perseus rob thee of Andromeda. Thou
hast lost her through thine own fault, for when she was in peril thou
didst desert her like a coward, and she would have been devoured by
the sea-monster before now if this noble youth had not saved her. My
daughter shall wed the man who has saved her from a terrible death."
But Phineus would not yield. Wishing to kill Perseus, he shot an arrow
at him. At the same time he ordered his band of followers to rush upon
him. The arrow did not hit Perseus, who fought single-handed against
them all, but as soon as he struck down one foe a new one sprang up in
his place. Perseus saw that he could keep on fighting for all time,
and never conquer this army, which could furnish a new warrior as
often as one was slain. Having thus fought alone against great numbers
until he saw it was hopeless, Perseus took the head of Medusa out of
the pouch where he had kept it and held it up for Phineus and his
warriors to gaze upon. Instantly everyone of them was changed to
stone, and Perseus, taking his bride, returned to the island of
Seriphos.