THE GORGON’S HEAD
the kind-hearted fisherman, who had first shown hospitality to Danaë and little Perseus when he found them afloat in the chest, seem to have been the only persons on the island who cared about doing right. All the rest of the people, as well as King Polydectes himself, were remarkably ill-behaved, and deserved no better destiny than that which was now to happen.
Not finding his mother at home, Perseus went straight to the palace, and was immediately ushered into the presence of the king. Polydectes was by no means rejoiced to see him; for he had felt almost certain in his own evil mind, that the Gorgons would have torn the poor young man to pieces, and have eaten him up, out of the way. However, seeing him safely returned, he put the best face he could upon the matter and asked Perseus how he had succeeded.
‘Have you performed your promise?’ inquired he. ‘Have you brought me the head of Medusa with the snaky locks? If not, young man, it will cost you dear; for I must have a bridal present for the beautiful Princess Hippodamia, and there is nothing else that she would admire so much.’
‘Yes, please your Majesty,’ answered Perseus, in a quiet way, as if it were no very wonderful deed for such a young man as he to perform. ‘I have brought you the Gorgon’s head, snaky locks and all!’
‘Indeed! Pray let me see it,’ quoth King Polydectes. ‘It must be a very curious spectacle, if all that travellers tell about it be true!’
‘Your Majesty is in the right,’ replied Perseus. ‘It is really an object that will be pretty certain to fix the
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