, it has
seemed to me as though it wore the look of one who rested in death
from a mighty pain. So, as the giant Atlas looked on that
grief-stricken brow, he felt no more the weight of the heaven as it
rested on him, and the gray hair which streamed from his head seemed
to me, when I left him, like the snow which clothes the mountain-tops
in winter. So, when from the happy gardens of the Hyperboreans I came
to the rich Libyan plain, and had killed the monster who sought to
slay Andromeda, the Gorgon's face turned Phineus and his people into
stone, when they sought to slay me because I had won her love." Then
Danae answered the questions of Perseus, and told him how Polydektes
had vexed her with his evil words, and how Diktys alone had shielded
her from his brother. And Perseus bade Danae be of good cheer, because
the recompense of Polydektes was nigh at hand.

There was joy and feasting in Seriphos when the news was spread abroad
that Perseus had brought back for the King the head of the Gorgon
Medusa, and Polydektes made a great feast, and the wine sparkled in
the goblets as the minstrels sang of the great deeds of the son of
Danae. Then Perseus told him of all that Hermes and Athene had done
for him. He showed them the helmet of Hades, and the golden sandals,
and the unerring sword, and then he unveiled the face of Medusa before
Polydektes and the men who had aided him against his mother, Danae. So
Perseus looked upon them, as they sat at the rich banquet, stiff and
cold as a stone, and he felt that his mighty work was ended. Then, at
his prayer, came Hermes, the messenger of Zeus, and Perseus gave him
back the helmet of Hades, and the sword which had slain the Gorgon,
and the sandals which had borne him through the air like a dream. And
Hermes gave the helmet again to Hades, and the sandals to the Ocean
nymphs, but Athene took the Gorgon's head, and it was placed upon her
shield.

Then Perseus spake to Danae, and said, "My mother, it is time for thee
to go home. The Gorgon's face has turned Polydektes and his people
into stone, and Diktys rules in Seriphos." So once more the white
sails were filled with the eastern breeze, and Danae saw once more the
Argive land. From city to city spread the tidings that Perseus was
come, who had slain the Gorgon, and the youths and maidens sang "Io
Paian," as they led the conqueror to the halls of Akrisios.

AKRISIOS.

The shouts of "Io Paian" reached the ear of Akrisios, as