has driven to your
land, and let me live in your house as a servant. But treat me
honorably, for I was once a king's daughter, and this my boy is of
no common race. I will not be a charge to you, or eat the bread of
idleness, for I am more skilful in weaving and embroidery than all the
maidens of my land."

And she was going on, but Dictys stopped her and raised her up and
said, "My daughter, I am old, and my hairs are growing gray, while I
have no children to make my home cheerful. Come with me, then, and you
shall be a daughter to me and to my wife, and this babe shall be our
grandchild."

So Danae was comforted and went home with Dictys, the good fisherman,
and was a daughter to him and to his wife, till fifteen years were
past.

II

HOW PERSEUS VOWED A RASH VOW

Fifteen years were past and gone, and the babe was now grown to be a
tall lad and a sailor.

His mother called him Perseus, but all the people in the isle called
him the King of the Immortals.

For though he was but fifteen, Perseus was taller by a head than
any man in the island. And he was brave and truthful, and gentle and
courteous, for good old Dictys had trained him well, and well it was
for Perseus that he had done so. For now Danae and her son fell into
great danger, and Perseus had need of all his strength to defend his
mother and himself.

Polydectes, the King of the island, was not a good man like his
brother Dictys, but he was greedy and cunning and cruel.

And when he saw fair Danae, he wanted to marry her. But she would not,
for she did not love him, and cared for no one but her boy.

At last Polydectes became furious, and while Perseus was away at sea,
he took poor Danae away from Dictys, saying, "If you will not be my
wife, you shall be my slave."

So Danae was made a slave, and had to fetch water from the well, and
grind in the mill.

But Perseus was far away over the seas, little thinking that his
mother was in great grief and sorrow.

Now one day, while the ship was lading, Perseus wandered into a
pleasant wood to get out of the sun, and sat down on the turf and fell
asleep. And as he slept a strange dream came to him, the strangest
dream he had ever had in his life.

There came a lady to him through the wood, taller than he, or any
mortal man, but beautiful exceedingly, with great gray eyes, clear and
piercing, but strangely soft and mild. On her head was a helmet, and
in her hand a spear. And over her shoulde