He went to his palace, expecting to meet with an hospitable reception from
Atlas, by announcing himself the son of Jupiter, but he found himself
grievously deceived. It occurred to the recollection of Atlas, that an
ancient tradition had announced that his gardens were to be plundered of
their fruits by one of the sons of the King of Heaven; and not only did he
rudely refuse to shelter him, but offered violence to his person, and
attempted to slay him.
Finding himself unable to contend with so powerful a foe, Perseus was
obliged to have recourse to the head of Medusa, and Atlas was instantly
changed into a large mountain, which bore the same name in the deserts of
Africa.
"At this confession Atlas ghastly stared,
Mindful of what an oracle declared,
That the dark womb of time concealed a day,
Which should, disclosed, the gloomy gold betray:
{192}
All should at once be ravished from his eyes,
And Jove's own progeny enjoy the prize.
For this, the fruit he loftily immured,
And a fierce dragon the strait pass secured;
For this, all strangers he forbade to land,
And drove them from the inhospitable strand,
To Perseus then: 'Fly quickly, fly this coast,
Nor falsely dare thy acts and race to boast.'
In vain the hero for one night entreats;
Threat'ning he storms, and next adds force to threats.
By strength not Perseus could himself defend,
For who in strength with Atlas could contend?--
'But since short rest to me thou wilt not give,
A gift of endless rest from me receive.--'
He said, and backward turned, no more concealed
The present, and Medusa's head reveal'd.
Soon the high Atlas a high mountain stood;
His locks, and beard, became a leafy wood:
His hands and shoulders into ridges went,
The summit head still crowned the deep ascent:
His bones a solid, rocky hardness gained:
He thus immensely grown (as fate ordained),
The stars, the heavens, and all the gods sustained.
[Illustration]
As Perseus pursued his journey, after inflicting this just punishment upon
his foe, across the territories of Lybia, he discovered on the coast of
Ethiopia, the beautiful Andromeda, exposed to the fury of a sea-monster,
which for some time had ravaged the country, and to appease which, the
oracle of Jupiter Ammon had declared, {193} nothing could avail, excepting
the exposure of the maiden to its anger. At this moment, when the monster
was going to destroy her, Perseus saw, and was captivated with her beauty.
[Illustration]
He offered Cepheus, her father, his aid in delivering her from danger,
provided he would give the maiden to him in marriage, as a reward for his
exertions.
"Chained to a rock she stood; young Perseus stayed
His rapid flight, to view the beauteous maid.
So sweet her form, so exquisitely fine,
She seemed a statue by a hand divine,
Had not the wind her waving tresses shewed
And down her cheeks the melting sorrows flowed.
Her faultless form the hero's bosom fires,
The more he looks, the more he still admires.
Th' admirer almost had forgot to fly,
And swift descended, fluttering, from on high."