Cepheus consented to bestow his daughter upon Perseus, and immediately the
hero raised himself in the air, flew towards the monster, as it advanced to
devour Andromeda, and plunging his dagger in his right shoulder, destroyed
it. This happy event was attended with great rejoicings, and the nuptials
of Andromeda with Perseus, soon followed.
The universal joy, was, however, quickly interrupted: for Phineus,
dissatisfied with thus losing his promised bride, entered the palace with a
number of armed men, and attempted to carry her off. In vain did the father
and mother of Andromeda interfere.
"Chief in the riot, Phineus first appeared,
The rash ringleader of this boisterous herd,
And brandishing his brazen pointed lance,
'Behold,' he said, 'an injured man advance,'
Stung with resentment for his ravished wife,
Nor shall thy wings O Perseus, save thy life;
Nor Jove himself, tho' we've been often told
He got thee in the form of tempting gold.
His lance was aimed, when Cepheus ran and said;
'Hold, brother, hold, what brutal rage has made
Your frantic mind so black a crime conceive?
Are these the thanks that you to Perseus give?
This the reward that to his worth you pay,
Whose timely valour saved Andromeda?
Nor was it he, if you would reason right,
That forced her from you, but the jealous spite
Of envious Nereids, and Jove's high degree,
And that devouring monster of the sea,
That, ready with his jaws wide gaping stood,
To eat my child, the fairest of my blood.
You lost her then when she seemed past relief,
And wish'd, perhaps, her death, to ease your grief
With my afflictions; not content to view
Andromeda in chains, unhelped by you,
Her spouse and uncle, will you grieve that he
Exposed his life, the dying maid to free?
And shall you claim his merit? Had you thought
Her charms so great, you should have bravely sought,
That blessing on the rocks where fixed she lay;
But now let Perseus bear his prize away.
By service gained, by promised faith possessed;
To him I owe it, that my age is blest
Still with a child: nor think that I prefer
Perseus to thee, but to the loss of her."