“Well, then,” continued the king, still with a cunning smile on his lips, “I have a little adventure to propose to you; and, as you are a brave and enterprising youth, you will doubtless look upon it as a great piece of good luck to have so rare an opportunity of distinguishing yourself.  You must know, my good Perseus, I think of getting married to the beautiful Princess Hippodamia; and it is customary, on these occasions, to make the bride a present of some far-fetched and elegant curiosity.  I have been a little perplexed, I must honestly confess, where to obtain anything likely to please a princess of her exquisite taste.  But, this morning, I flatter myself, I have thought of precisely the article.”

“And can I assist Your Majesty in obtaining it?” cried Perseus, eagerly.

“You can, if you are as brave a youth as I believe you to be,” replied King Polydectes, with the utmost graciousness of manner.  “The bridal gift which I have set my heart on presenting to the beautiful Hippodamia is the head of the Gorgon Medusa with the snaky locks; and I depend on you, my dear Perseus, to bring it to me.  So, as I am anxious to settle affairs with the princess, the sooner you go in quest of the Gorgon, the better I shall be pleased.”

“I will set out to-morrow morning,” answered Perseus.

“Pray do so, my gallant youth,” rejoined the king.  “And, Perseus, in cutting off the Gorgon’s head, be careful to make a clean stroke, so as not to injure its appearance.  You must bring it home in the very best condition, in order to suit the exquisite taste of the beautiful Princess Hippodamia.”

Perseus left the palace, but was scarcely out of hearing before Polydectes burst into a laugh; being greatly amused, wicked king that he was, to find how readily the young man fell into the snare.  The news quickly spread abroad that Perseus had undertaken to cut off the head of Medusa with the snaky locks.  Everybody was rejoiced; for most of the inhabitants of the island were as wicked as the king himself, and would have liked nothing better than to see some enormous mischief happen to Danae and her son.  The only good man in this unfortunate island of Seriphus appears to have been the fisherman.  As Perseus walked along, therefore, the people pointed after him, and made mouths, and winked to one another, and ridiculed him as loudly as they dared.

“Ho, ho!” cried they; “Medusa’s snakes will sting him soundly!”

Now, there were three Gorgons alive at that period; and they were the most strange and terrible monsters that had ever been since the world was made, or that have been seen in after days, or that are likely to be seen in all time to come.  I hardly know what sort of creature or hobgoblin to call them.  They were three sisters, and seem to have borne some distant resemblance to women, but were really a very frightful and mischievous species of dragon.  It is, indeed, difficult to imagine what hideous beings these three