THE STORY OF PERSUS

Perseus escapes death

These things are told/said by the poets about Perseus. Perseus was the son of Iuppiter, the king of men /mankind and gods. His mother Danae,the grandfather was named Acrisius. Acrisius wanted to kill Perseus, his grandson; for he feared the boy because of an oracle. Oracle had warned him: --------to kill his grandson.

He therefore seized Perseus, still a baby, and with his mother closed in a box. Then he threw this same box into the sea. Danaê, the mother of Perseus, was very frightened; for a great storm was churning up the sea. What am I to do, she shouted. Nothing salute to see through. Later on, death final miserable life-----.’ Perseus, however, was sleeping in his mother's bossom.

Iuppiter nevertheless saw all these things, and he decided to save his son. He therefore made the sea calm, and he led the box to the island [of] Seriphus. Of this island, Polydectes was at that time the king. After the box was pushed to the shore, Danaê, therefore rested on the sand. After a brief time, a fisherman found perseus and his mother and was taken to the home of the king Polydectes.

That [man] generously received mother and boy, and gave [them] a save place in his borders. Danaê accepted this gift willingly, and for such great act of kindness, she made thanks to the king.

Perseus is sent to get the head of Medusa

Perseus therefore lived there for many years and led a happy life with his mother. But Polydectes greatly loved Danae and he wanted to lead her into marriage. This plan, nevertheless, was hardly pleasant to Perseus. Polydectes therefore decided to send perseus away from the king. Then he called the young man to him and said these things: It's shameful to live this worthless life; you've been a young man for a long time; until when will you stay here? It is time to take up arms and show some manliness [virtue]. Depart from here, and bring me the head of Medusa.

Perseus, when he heard these things, left the island and, after he came to the mainland, he sought Medusa. For a long time he sought in vain, for he did not know the nature of the place. Finally, Apollo and Minerva showed the way. . First he came to the Graeae, sister of Medusa. From them [these] he got sandals and a magic helmet. Apollo and Minerva, moreover, gave a sickle and a mirror. Then after he put the sandals on his feet, he went up into the air. For a long time he flew through the air; finally nevertheless he came to the place where Medusa lived with the other Gorgons. (The Gorgons were monsters with a horrible appearance; for their heads were completely covered with snakes; and even [their] hands were made from bronze).

Persues kills medusa

It was a most difficult to kill medusa and cut off his head. For men were turned into a stone by her sight. On account of this reason, Minerva had given that mirror. Perseus therefore turned his back. He therefore looked back and looked into the mirror. In this way he came to the place where Medusa was sleeping. Then with the sickle he cut off her head. The other Gorgons immediately were roused from sleep and, when they saw the situation, they were angered [moved by anger]. They seized weapons, and they wanted to kill Perseus; that [man], however, while he was fleeing, put on the magic helmet and, when he did this, immediately he escaped from their sight.

After these things, Perseus came into the borders of the Aethiopians. There a certain Cepheus was ruling at that time. This [man] had formerly offended Neptune, the god of the sea. Neptune accordingly had sent a most savage monster. This [monster] would come from the sea every day and eat people. For this reason, fear filled the minds of everybody. Cepheus, therefore sent a messenger to oracle, and so was ordered by the god to give his daughter over to the monster. His daughter, you know, by the name of Andromeda, was a beautiful virgin. When he heard a reply from the oracle,  Cepheus, felt a great sorrow. He however wanted to rescue his citizens from such a great danger, and so for this reason decided to do the commands of the god.