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diff --git a/old/haw8210.txt b/old/haw8210.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c218850..0000000 --- a/old/haw8210.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1498 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg EBook, The Gorgon's Head, by Nathaniel Hawthorne -From "A Wonder-Book For Girls and Boys" -#82 in our series by Nathaniel Hawthorne - -Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the -copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing -this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. - -This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project -Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the -header without written permission. - -Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the -eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is -important information about your specific rights and restrictions in -how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a -donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. - - -**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** - -**EBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** - -*****These EBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers***** - - - -Title: The Gorgon's Head - (From: "A Wonder-Book For Girls and Boys") - -Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne - -Release Date: Nov, 2005 [EBook #9255] -[This file was first posted on September 25, 2003] -[Last updated on February 6, 2007] - -Edition: 10 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - - - - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE GORGON'S HEAD *** - - - - -This eBook was produced by David Widger - - - - - - A WONDER-BOOK FOR GIRLS AND BOYS - - By Nathaniel Hawthorne - - - THE GORGON'S HEAD - - - - -CONTENTS: - -TANGLEWOOD PORCH--Introductory to "The Gorgon's Head" -THE GORGON'S HEAD -TANGLEWOOD PORCH--After the Story - - - -The author has long been of opinion that many of the classical myths -were capable of being rendered into very capital reading for children. - -In the little volume here offered to the public, he has worked up half a -dozen of them, with this end in view. A great freedom of treatment was -necessary to his plan; but it will be observed by every one who attempts -to render these legends malleable in his intellectual furnace, that they -are marvellously independent of all temporary modes and circumstances. -They remain essentially the same, after changes that would affect the -identity of almost anything else. - -He does not, therefore, plead guilty to a sacrilege, in having sometimes -shaped anew, as his fancy dictated, the forms that have been hallowed by -an antiquity of two or three thousand years. No epoch of time can claim -a copyright in these immortal fables. They seem never to have been -made; and certainly, so long as man exists, they can never perish; but, -by their indestructibility itself, they are legitimate subjects for -every age to clothe with its own garniture of manners and sentiment, and -to imbue with its own morality. In the present version they may have -lost much of their classical aspect (or, at all events, the author has -not been careful to preserve it), and have, perhaps, assumed a Gothic or -romantic guise. - -In performing this pleasant task,--for it has been really a task fit for -hot weather, and one of the most agreeable, of a literary kind, which he -ever undertook,--the author has not always thought it necessary to write -downward, in order to meet the comprehension of children. He has -generally suffered the theme to soar, whenever such was its tendency, -and when he himself was buoyant enough to follow without an effort. -Children possess an unestimated sensibility to whatever is deep or high, -in imagination or feeling, so long as it is simple, likewise. It is -only the artificial and the complex that bewilder them. - -Lenox, July 15, 1851. - - - - -THE GORGON'S HEAD - -TANGLEWOOD PORCH - -INTRODUCTORY TO "THE GORGON'S HEAD." - -Beneath the porch of the country-seat called Tanglewood, one fine -autumnal morning, was assembled a merry party of little folks, with a -tall youth in the midst of them. They had planned a nutting expedition, -and were impatiently waiting for the mists to roll up the hill-slopes, -and for the sun to pour the warmth of the Indian summer over the fields -and pastures, and into the nooks of the many-colored woods. There was a -prospect of as fine a day as ever gladdened the aspect of this beautiful -and comfortable world. As yet, however, the morning mist filled up the -whole length and breadth of the valley, above which, on a gently sloping -eminence, the mansion stood. - -This body of white vapor extended to within less than a hundred yards of -the house. It completely hid everything beyond that distance, except a -few ruddy or yellow tree-tops, which here and there emerged, and were -glorified by the early sunshine, as was likewise the broad surface of -the mist. Four or five miles off to the southward rose the summit of -Monument Mountain, and seemed to be floating on a cloud. Some fifteen -miles farther away, in the same direction, appeared the loftier Dome of -Taconic, looking blue and indistinct, and hardly so substantial as the -vapory sea that almost rolled over it. The nearer hills, which bordered -the valley, were half submerged, and were specked with little -cloud-wreaths all the way to their tops. On the whole, there was so much -cloud, and so little solid earth, that it had the effect of a vision. - -The children above-mentioned, being as full of life as they could hold, -kept overflowing from the porch of Tanglewood, and scampering along the -gravel-walk, or rushing across the dewy herbage of the lawn. I can -hardly tell how many of these small people there were; not less than -nine or ten, however, nor more than a dozen, of all sorts, sizes, and -ages, whether girls or boys. They were brothers, sisters, and cousins, -together with a few of their young acquaintances, who had been invited -by Mr. and Mrs. Pringle to spend some of this delightful weather with -their own children, at Tanglewood. I am afraid to tell you their names, -or even to give them any names which other children have ever been -called by; because, to my certain knowledge, authors sometimes get -themselves into great trouble by accidentally giving the names of real -persons to the characters in their books. For this reason, I mean to -call them Primrose, Periwinkle, Sweet Fern, Dandelion, Blue Eye, Clover, -Huckleberry, Cowslip, Squash-blossom, Milkweed, Plantain, and Buttercup; -although, to be sure, such titles might better suit a group of fairies -than a company of earthly children. - -It is not to be supposed that these little folks were to be permitted by -their careful fathers and mothers, uncles, aunts, or grandparents, to -stray abroad into the woods and fields, without the guardianship of some -particularly grave and elderly person. O no, indeed! In the first -sentence of my book, you will recollect that I spoke of a tall youth, -standing in the midst of the children. His name--(and I shall let you -know his real name, because he considers it a great honor to have told -the stories that are here to be printed)--his name was Eustace Bright. -He was a student at Williams College, and had reached, I think, at this -period, the venerable age of eighteen--years; so that he felt quite like -a grandfather towards Periwinkle, Dandelion, Huckleberry, Squash- -blossom, Milkweed, and the rest, who were only half or a third as -venerable as he. A trouble in his eyesight (such as many students think -it necessary to have, nowadays, in order to prove their diligence at -their books) had kept him from college a week or two after the beginning -of the term. But, for my part, I have seldom met with a pair of eyes -that looked as if they could see farther or better than those of Eustace -Bright. - -This learned student was slender, and rather pale, as all Yankee -students are; but yet of a healthy aspect, and as light and active as if -he had wings to his shoes. By the by, being much addicted to wading -through streamlets and across meadows, he had put on cowhide boots for -the expedition. He wore a linen blouse, a cloth cap, and a pair of -green spectacles, which he had assumed, probably, less for the -preservation of his eyes, than for the dignity that they imparted to his -countenance. In either case, however, he might as well have let then -alone; for Huckleberry, a mischievous little elf, crept behind Eustace -as he sat on the steps of the porch, snatched the spectacles from his -nose, and clapped them on her own; and as the student forgot to take -them back, they fell off into the grass, and lay there till the next -spring. - -Now, Eustace Bright, you must know, had won great fame among the -children, as a narrator of wonderful stories; and though he sometimes -pretended to be annoyed, when they teased him for more, and more, and -always for more, yet I really doubt whether he liked anything quite so -well as to tell them. You might have seen his eyes twinkle, therefore, -when Clover, Sweet Fern, Cowslip, Buttercup, and most of their -playmates, besought him to relate one of his stories, while they were -waiting for the mist to clear up. - -"Yes, Cousin Eustace," said Primrose, who was a bright girl of twelve, -with laughing eyes, and a nose that turned up a little, "the morning is -certainly the best time for the stories with which you so often tire out -our patience. We shall be in less danger of hurting your feelings, by -falling asleep at the most interesting points,--as little Cowslip and I -did last night!" - -"Naughty Primrose," cried Cowslip, a child of six years old; "I did not -fall asleep, and I only shut my eyes, so as to see a picture of what -Cousin Eustace was telling about. His stories are good to hear at -night, because we can dream about them asleep; and good in the morning, -too, because then we can dream about them awake. So I hope he will tell -us one this very minute." - -"Thank you, my little Cowslip," said Eustace; "certainly you shall have -the best story I can think of, if it were only for defending me so well -from that naughty Primrose. But, children, I have already told you so -many fairy tales, that I doubt whether there is a single one which you -have not heard at least twice over. I am afraid you will fall asleep in -reality, if I repeat any of them again." - -"No, no, no!" cried Blue Eye, Periwinkle, Plantain, and half a dozen -others. "We like a story all the better for having heard it two or -three tunes before." - -And it is a truth, as regards children, that a story seems often to -deepen its mark in their interest, not merely by two or three, but by -numberless repetitions. But Eustace Bright, in the exuberance of his -resources, scorned to avail himself of an advantage which an older -story-teller would have been glad to grasp at. - -"It would be a great pity," said he, "if a man of my learning (to say -nothing of original fancy) could not find a new story every day, year in -and year out, for children such as you. I will tell you one of the -nursery tales that were made for the amusement of our great old -grandmother, the Earth, when she was a child in frock and pinafore. -There are a hundred such; and it is a wonder to me that they have not -long ago been put into picture-books for little girls and boys. But, -instead of that, old gray-bearded grandsires pore over them, in musty -volumes of Greek, and puzzle themselves with trying to find out when, -and how, and for what they were made." - -"Well, well, well, well, Cousin Eustace!" cried all the children at -once; "talk no more about your stories, but begin." - -"Sit down, then, every soul of you," said Eustace Bright, "and be all as -still as so many mice. At the slightest interruption, whether from -great, naughty Primrose, little Dandelion, or any other, I shall bite -the story short off between my teeth, and swallow the untold part. But, -in the first place, do any of you know what a Gorgon is?" - -"I do," said Primrose. - -"Then hold your tongue!" rejoined Eustace, who had rather she would have -known nothing about the matter. "Hold all your tongues, and I shall -tell you a sweet pretty story of a Gorgon's head." - -And so he did, as you may begin to read on the next page. Working up -his sophomorical erudition with a good deal of tact, and incurring great -obligations to Professor Anthon, he, nevertheless, disregarded all -classical authorities, whenever the vagrant audacity of his imagination -impelled him to do so. - - - -THE GORGON'S HEAD. - -Perseus was the son of Danae, who was the daughter of a king. And when -Perseus was a very little boy, some wicked people put his mother and -himself into a chest, and set them afloat upon the sea. The wind blew -freshly, and drove the chest away from the shore, and the uneasy billows -tossed it up and down; while Danae clasped her child closely to her -bosom, and dreaded that some big wave would dash its foamy crest over -them both. The chest sailed on, however, and neither sank nor was -upset; until, when night was coming, it floated so near an island that -it got entangled in a fisherman's nets, and was drawn out high and dry -upon the sand. The island was called Seriphus, and it was reigned over -by King Polydectes, who happened to be the fisherman's brother. - -This fisherman, I am glad to tell you, was an exceedingly humane and -upright man. He showed great kindness to Danae and her little boy; and -continued to befriend them, until Perseus had grown to be a handsome -youth, very strong and active, and skilful in the use of arms. Long -before this time, King Polydectes had seen the two strangers--the mother -and her child--who had come to his dominions in a floating chest. As he -was not good and kind, like his brother the fisherman, but extremely -wicked, he resolved to send Perseus on a dangerous enterprise, in which -he would probably be killed, and then to do some great mischief to Danae -herself. So this bad-hearted king spent a long while in considering -what was the most dangerous thing that a young man could possibly -undertake to perform. At last, having hit upon an enterprise that -promised to turn out as fatally as he desired, he sent for the youthful -Perseus. - -The young man came to the palace, and found the king sitting upon his -throne. - -"Perseus," said King Polydectes, smiling craftily upon him, "you are -grown up a fine young man. You and your good mother have received a -great deal of kindness from myself, as well as from my worthy brother -the fisherman, and I suppose you would not be sorry to repay some of -it." - -"Please your Majesty," answered Perseus, "I would willingly risk my life -to do so." - -"Well, then," continued the king, still with a curving 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 sisters were. Why, instead of locks of hair, -if you can believe me, they had each of them a hundred enormous snakes -growing on their heads, all alive, twisting, wriggling, curling, and -thrusting out their venomous' tongues, with forked stings at the end! -The teeth of the Gorgons were terribly long tusks; their hands were made -of brass; and their bodies were all over scales, which, if not iron, -were something as hard and impenetrable. They had wings, too, and -exceedingly splendid ones, I can assure you; for every feather in them -was pure, bright, glittering, burnished gold, and they looked very -dazzlingly, no doubt, when the Gorgons were flying about in the -sunshine. - -But when people happened to catch a glimpse of their glittering -brightness, aloft in the air, they seldom stopped to gaze, but ran and -hid themselves as speedily as they could. You will think, perhaps, that -they were afraid of being stung by the serpents that served the Gorgons -instead of hair,--or of having their heads bitten off by their ugly -tusks,--or of being torn all to pieces by their brazen claws. Well, to -be sure, these were some of the dangers, but by no means the greatest, -nor the most difficult to avoid. For the worst thing about these -abominable Gorgons was, that, if once a poor mortal fixed his eyes full -upon one of their faces, he was certain, that very instant, to be -changed from warm flesh and blood into cold and lifeless stone! - -Thus, as you will easily perceive, it was a very dangerous adventure -that the wicked King Polydectes had contrived for this innocent young -man. Perseus himself, when he had thought over the matter, could not -help seeing that he had very little chance of coming safely through it, -and that he was far more likely to become a stone image than to bring -back the head of Medusa with the snaky locks. For, not to speak of -other difficulties, there was one which it would have puzzled an older -man than Perseus to get over. Not only must he fight with and slay this -golden-winged, iron-scaled, long-tusked, brazen-clawed, snaky-haired -monster, but he must do it with his eyes shut, or, at least, without so -much as a glance at the enemy with whom he was contending. Else, while -his arm was lifted to strike, he would stiffen into stone, and stand -with that uplifted arm for centuries, until time, and the wind and -weather, should crumble him quite away. This would be a very sad thing -to befall a young mail who wanted to perform a great many brave deeds, -and to enjoy a great deal of happiness, in this bright and beautiful -world. - -So disconsolate did these thoughts make him, that Perseus could not bear -to tell his another what he had undertaken to do. He therefore took his -shield, girded on his sword, and crossed over from the island to the -mainland, where he sat down in a solitary place, and hardly refrained -from shedding tears. - -But, while he was in this sorrowful mood, he heard a voice close beside -him. - -"Perseus," said the voice, "why are you sad?" - -He lifted his head from his hands, in which he had hidden it, and, -behold! all alone as Perseus had supposed himself to be, there was a -stranger in the solitary place. It was a brisk, intelligent, and -remarkably shrewd-looking young man, with a cloak over his shoulders, -an odd sort of cap on his head, a strangely twisted staff in his hand, -and a short and very crooked sword hanging by his side. He was -exceedingly light and active in his figure, like a person much -accustomed to gymnastic exercises, and well able to leap or run. Above -all, the stranger had such a cheerful, knowing, and helpful aspect -(though it was certainly a little mischievous, into the bargain), that -Perseus could not help feeling his spirits grow livelier, as he gazed at -him. Besides, being really a courageous youth, he felt greatly ashamed -that anybody should have found him with tears in his eyes, like a timid -little school-boy, when, after all, there might be no occasion for -despair. So Perseus wiped his eyes, and answered the stranger pretty -briskly, putting on as brave a look as he could. - -"I am not so very sad," said he; "only thoughtful about an adventure -that I have undertaken." - -"Oho!" answered the stranger. "Well, tell me all about it, and possibly -I may be of service to you. I have helped a good many young men through -adventures that looked difficult enough beforehand. Perhaps you may -have heard of me. I have more names than one; but the name of -Quicksilver suits me as well as any other. Tell me what your trouble -is, and we will talk the matter over, and see what can be done." - -The stranger's words and manner put Perseus into quite a different mood -from his former one. He resolved to tell Quicksilver all his -difficulties, since he could not easily be worse off than he already -was, and, very possibly, his new friend might give him some advice that -would turn out well in the end. So he let the stranger know, in few -words, precisely what the case was;--how that King Polydeetes wanted the -head of Medusa with the snaky locks as a bridal gift for the beautiful -Princess Hippodamia, and how that he had undertaken to get it for him, -but was afraid of being turned into stone. - -"And that would be a great pity," said Quicksilver, with his mischievous -smile. "You would make a very handsome marble statue, it is true, and -it would be a considerable number of centuries before you crumbled away; -but, on the whole, one would rather be a young man for a few years, than -a stone image for a great many." - -"O, far rather!" exclaimed Perseus, with the tears again standing in his -eyes. "And, besides, what would my dear mother do, if her beloved son -were turned into a stone?" - -"Well, well; let us hope that the affair will not turn out so very -badly," replied Quicksilver, in an encouraging tone. "I am the very -person to help you, if anybody can. My sister and myself will do our -utmost to bring you safe through the adventure, ugly as it now looks." - -"Your sister?" repeated Perseus. - -"Yes, my sister," said the stranger. "She is very wise, I promise you; -and as for myself, I generally have all my wits about me, such as they -are. If you show yourself bold and cautious, and follow our advice, you -need not fear being a stone image yet awhile. But, first of all, you -must polish your shield, till you can see your face in it as distinctly -as in a mirror." - -This seemed to Perseus rather an odd beginning of the adventure; for he -thought it of far more consequence that the shield should be strong -enough to defend him from the Gorgon's brazen claws, than that it should -be bright enough to show him the reflection of his face. However, -concluding that Quicksilver knew better than himself, he immediately set -to work, and scrubbed the shield with so much diligence and good-will, -that it very quickly shone like the moon at harvest-time. Quicksilver -looked at it with a smile, and nodded his approbation. Then, taking off -his own short and crooked sword, he girded it about Perseus, instead of -the one which he had before worn. - -"No sword but mine will answer your purpose," observed he; "the blade -has a most excellent temper, and will cut through iron and brass as -easily as through the slenderest twig. And now we will set out. The -next thing is to find the Three Gray Women, who will tell us where to -find the Nymphs." - -"The Three Gray Women!" cried Perseus, to whom this seemed only a new -difficulty in the path of his adventure; "pray, who may the Three Gray -Women be? I never heard of them before." - -"They are three very strange old ladies," said Quicksilver, laughing. -"They have but one eye among them, and only one tooth. Moreover, you -must find them out by starlight, or in the dusk of the evening; for they -never show themselves by the light either of the sun or moon." - -"But," said Perseus, "why should I waste my time with these Three Gray -Women? Would it not be better to set out at once in search of the -terrible Gorgons?" - -"No, no," answered his friend. "There are other things to be done, -before you can find your way to the Gorgons. There is nothing for it -but to hunt up these old ladies; and when we meet with them, you may be -sure that the Gorgons are not a great way off. Come, let us be -stirring!" - -Perseus, by this time, felt so much confidence in his companion's -sagacity, that he made no more objections, and professed himself ready -to begin the adventure immediately. They accordingly set out, and -walked at a pretty brisk pace; so brisk, indeed, that Perseus found it -rather difficult to keep up with his nimble friend Quicksilver. To say -the truth, he had a singular idea that Quicksilver was furnished with a -pair of winged shoes, which, of course, helped him along marvellously. -And then, too, when Perseus looked sideways at him, out of the corner of -his eye, he seemed to see wings on the side of his head; although, if he -turned a full gaze, there were no such things to be perceived, but only -an odd kind of cap. But, at all events, the twisted staff was evidently -a great convenience to Quicksilver, and enabled him to proceed so fast, -that Perseus, though a remarkably active young man, began to be out of -breath. - -"Here!" cried Quicksilver, at last,--for he knew well enough, rogue that -he was, how hard Perseus found it to keep pace with him,--"take you the -staff, for you need it a great deal more than I. Are there no better -walkers than yourself, in the island of Seriphus?" - -"I could walk pretty well," said Perseus, glancing slyly at his -companion's feet, "if I had only a pair of winged shoes." - -"We must see about getting you a pair," answered Quicksilver. - -But the staff helped Perseus along so bravely, that he no longer felt -the slightest weariness. In fact, the stick seemed to be alive in his -hand, and to lend some of its life to Perseus. He and Quicksilver now -walked onward at their ease, talking very sociably together; and -Quicksilver told so many pleasant stories about his former adventures, -and how well his wits had served him on various occasions, that Perseus -began to think him a very wonderful person. He evidently knew the -world; and nobody is so charming to a young man as a friend who has that -kind of knowledge. Perseus listened the more eagerly, in the hope of -brightening his own wits by what he heard. - -At last, he happened to recollect that Quicksilver had spoken of a -sister, who was to lend her assistance in the adventure which they were -now bound upon. - -"Where is she?" he inquired. "Shall we not meet her soon?" - -"All at the proper time," said his companion. "But this sister of mine, -you must understand, is quite a different sort of character from myself. -She is very grave and prudent, seldom smiles, never laughs, and makes it -a rule not to utter a word unless she has something particularly -profound to say. Neither will she listen to any but the wisest -conversation." - -"Dear me!" ejaculated Perseus; "I shall be afraid to say a syllable." - -"She is a very accomplished person, I assure you," continued -Quicksilver, "and has all the arts and sciences at her fingers' ends. -In short, she is so immoderately wise, that many people call her wisdom -personified. But, to tell you the truth, she has hardly vivacity enough -for my taste; and I think you would scarcely find her so pleasant a -travelling companion as myself. She has her good points, nevertheless; -and you will find the benefit of them, in your encounter with the -Gorgons." - -By this time it had grown quite dusk. They were now come to a very wild -and desert place, overgrown with shaggy bushes, and so silent and -solitary that nobody seemed ever to have dwelt or journeyed there. All -was waste and desolate, in the gray twilight, which grew every moment -more obscure. Perseus looked about him, rather disconsolately, and -asked Quicksilver whether they had a great deal farther to go. - -"Hist! Hist!" whispered his companion. "Make no noise! This is just -the time and place to meet the Three Gray Women. Be careful that they -do not see you before you see them; for, though they have but a single -eye among the three, it is as sharp-sighted as half a dozen common -eyes." - -"But what must I do," asked Perseus, "when we meet them?" - -Quicksilver explained to Perseus how the Three Gray Women managed with -their one eye. They were in the habit, it seems, of changing it from -one to another, as if it had been a pair of spectacles, or--which would -have suited them better--quizzing-glass. When one of the three had kept -the eye a certain time, she took it out of the socket and passed it to -one of her sisters, whose turn it might happen to be, and who -immediately clapped it into her own head, and enjoyed a peep at the -visible world. Thus it will easily be understood that only one of the -Three Gray Women could see, while the other two were in utter darkness; -and, moreover, at the instant when the eye was passing from hand to -hand, neither of the poor old ladies was able to see a wink. I have -heard of a great many strange things, in my day, and have witnessed not -a few; but none, it seems to me, that can compare with the oddity of -these Three Gray Women, all peeping through a single eye. - -So thought Perseus, likewise, and was so astonished that he almost -fancied his companion was joking with him, and that there were no such -old women in the world. - -"You will soon find whether I tell the truth or no," observed -Quicksilver. "Hark! hush! Hist! hist! There they come, now!" - -Perseus looked earnestly through the dusk of the evening, and there, -sure enough, at no great distance off, he descried the Three Gray Women. -The light being so faint, he could not well make out what sort of -figures they were; only he discovered that they had long gray hair; and, -as they came nearer, he saw that two of them had but the empty socket of -an eye, in the middle of their foreheads. But, in the middle of the -third sister's forehead, there was a very large, bright, and piercing -eye, which sparkled like a great diamond in a ring; and so penetrating -did it seem to be, that Perseus could not help thinking it must possess -the gift of seeing in the darkest midnight just as perfectly as at -noonday. The sight of three persons' eyes was melted and collected into -that single one. - -Thus the three old dames got along about as comfortably, upon the whole, -as if they could all see at once. She who chanced to have the eye in -her forehead led the other two by the hands, peeping sharply about her, -all the while; insomuch that Perseus dreaded lest she should see right -through the thick clump of bushes behind which he and Quicksilver had -hidden themselves. My stars! it was positively terrible to be within -reach of so very sharp an eye! - -But, before they reached the clump of bushes, one of the Three Gray -Women spoke. - -"Sister! Sister Scarecrow!" cried she, "you have had the eye long -enough. It is my turn now!" - -"Let me keep it a moment longer, Sister Nightmare," answered Scarecrow. -"I thought I had a glimpse of something behind that thick bush." - -"Well, and what of that?" retorted Nightmare, peevishly. "Can't I see -into a thick bush as easily as yourself? The eye is mine, as well as -yours; and I know the use of it as well as you, or may be a little -better. I insist upon taking a peep immediately!" - -But here the third sister, whose name was Shakejoint, began to complain, -and said that it was her turn to have the eye, and that Scarecrow and -Nightmare wanted to keep it all to themselves. To end the dispute, old -Dame Scarecrow took the eye out of her forehead, and held it forth in -her hand. - -"Take it, one of you," cried she, "and quit this foolish quarrelling. -For my part, I shall be glad of a little thick darkness. Take it -quickly, however, or I must clap it into my own head again!" - -Accordingly, both Nightmare and Shakejoint stretched out their hands, -groping eagerly to snatch the eye out of the hand of Scarecrow. But, -being both alike blind, they could not easily find where Scarecrow's -hand was; and Scarecrow, being now just as much in the dark as -Shakejoint and Nightmare, could not at once meet either of their hands, -in order to put the eye into it. Thus (as you will see, with half an -eye, my wise little auditors), these good old dames had fallen into a -strange perplexity. For, though the eye shone and glistened like a -star, as Scarecrow held it out, yet the Gray Women caught not the least -glimpse of its light, and were all three in utter darkness, from too -impatient a desire to see. - -Quicksilver was so much tickled at beholding Shakejoint and Nightmare -both groping for the eye, and each finding fault with Scarecrow and one -another, that he could scarcely help laughing aloud. - -"Now is your time!" he whispered to Perseus. - -"Quick, quick! before they can clap the eye into either of their heads. -Rush out upon the old ladies, and snatch it from Scarecrow's hand!" - -In an instant, while the Three Gray Women were still scolding each -other, Perseus leaped front behind the clump of bushes, and made himself -master of the prize. The marvellous eye, as he held it in his hand, -shone very brightly, and seemed to look up into his face with a knowing -air, and an expression as if it would have winked, had it been provided -with a pair of eyelids for that purpose. But the Gray Women knew -nothing of what had happened; and, each supposing that one of her -sisters was in possession of the eye, they began their quarrel anew. At -last, as Perseus did not wish to put these respectable dames to greater -inconvenience than was really necessary, he thought it right to explain -the matter. "My good ladies," said he, "pray do not be angry with one -another. If anybody is in fault, it is myself; for I have the honor to -hold your very brilliant and excellent eye in my own hand!" - -"You! you have our eye! And who are you?" screamed the Three Gray -Women, all in a breath; for they were terribly frightened, of course, at -hearing a strange voice, and discovering that their eyesight had got -into the hands of they could not guess whom. "O, what shall we do, -sisters? what shall we do? We are all in the dark! Give us our eye! -Give us our one, precious, solitary eye! You have two of your own Give -us our eye!" - -"Tell them," whispered Quicksilver to Perseus, "that they shall have -back the eye as soon as they direct you where to find the Nymphs who -have the flying slippers, the magic wallet, and the helmet of darkness." - -"My dear, good, admirable old ladies," said Perseus, addressing the Gray -Women, "there is no occasion for putting yourselves into such a fright. -I am by no means a bad young man. You shall have back your eye, safe -and sound, and as bright as ever, the moment you tell me where to find -the Nymphs." - -"The Nymphs! Goodness me! sisters, what Nymphs does he mean?" screamed -Scarecrow. "There are a great many Nymphs, people say; some that go a -hunting in the woods, and some that live inside of trees, and some that -have a comfortable home in fountains of water. We know nothing at all -about them. We are three unfortunate old souls, that go wandering about -in the dusk, and never had but one eye amongst us, and that one you have -stolen away. O, give it back, good stranger!--whoever you are, give it -back!" - -All this while the Three Gray Women were groping with their outstretched -hands, and trying their utmost to get hold of Perseus. But he took good -care to keep out of their reach. - -"My respectable dames," said he,--for his mother had taught him always -to use the greatest civility,--"I hold your eye fast in my hand, and -shall keep it safely for you, until you please to tell me where to find -these Nymphs. The Nymphs, I mean, who keep the enchanted wallet, the -flying slippers, and the what is it?--the helmet of invisibility." - -"Mercy on us, sisters! what is the young man talking about?" exclaimed -Scarecrow, Nightmare, and Shakejoint, one to another, with great -appearance of astonishment. "A pair of flying slippers, quoth he! His -heels would quickly fly higher than his head, if he were silly enough to -put them on. And a helmet of invisibility! How could a helmet make him -invisible, unless it were big enough for him to hide under it? And an -enchanted wallet! What sort of a contrivance may that be, I wonder? -No, no, good stranger! we can tell you nothing of these marvellous -things. You have two eyes of your own, and we have but a single one -amongst us three. You can find out such wonders better than three blind -old creatures, like us." - -Perseus, hearing them talk in this way, began really to think that the -Gray Women knew nothing of the matter; and, as it grieved him to have -put them to so much trouble, he was just on the point of restoring their -eye and asking pardon for his rudeness in snatching it away. But -Quicksilver caught his hand. - -"Don't let them make a fool of you!" said he. "These Three Gray Women -are the only persons in the world that can tell you where to find the -Nymphs; and, unless you get that information, you will never succeed in -cutting off the head of Medusa with the snaky locks. Keep fast hold of -the eye, and all will go well." - -As it turned out, Quicksilver was in the right. There are but few -things that people prize so much as they do their eyesight; and the Gray -Women valued their single eye as highly as if it had been half a dozen, -which was the number they ought to have had. Finding that there was no -other way of recovering it, they at last told Perseus what he wanted to -know. No sooner had they done so, than he immediately, and with the -utmost respect, clapped the eye into the vacant socket in one of their -foreheads, thanked them for their kindness, and bade them farewell. -Before the young man was out of hearing, however, they had got into a -new dispute, because he happened to have given the eye to Scarecrow, who -had already taken her turn of it when their trouble with Perseus -commenced. - - -It is greatly to be feared that the Three Gray Women were very much in -the habit of disturbing their mutual harmony by bickerings of this sort; -which was the more pity, as they could not conveniently do without one -another, and were evidently intended to be inseparable companions. As a -general rule, I would advise all people, whether sisters or brothers, -old or young, who chance to have but one eye amongst them, to cultivate -forbearance, and not all insist upon peeping through it at once. - -Quicksilver and Perseus, in the mean time, were making the best of their -way in quest of the Nymphs. The old dames had given them such -particular directions, that they were not long in finding them out. -They proved to be very different persons from Nightmare Shakejoint, and -Scarecrow; for, instead of being old, they were young and beautiful; and -instead of one eye amongst the sisterhood, each Nymph had two -exceedingly bright eyes of her own, with which she looked very kindly at -Perseus. They seemed to be acquainted with Quicksilver; and when he -told them the adventure which Perseus had undertaken, they made no -difficulty about giving him the valuable articles that were in their -custody. In the first place, they brought out what appeared to be a -small purse, made of deer-skin, and curiously embroidered, and bade him -be sure and keep it safe. This was the magic wallet. The Nymphs next -produced a pair of shoes, or slippers, or sandals, with a nice little -pair of wings at the heel of each. - -"Put them on, Perseus," said Quicksilver. "You will find yourself as -light-heeled as you can desire, for the remainder of our journey." - -So Perseus proceeded to put one of the slippers on, while he laid the -other on the ground by his side. Unexpectedly, however, this other -slipper spread its wings, fluttered up off the ground, and would -probably have flown away, if Quicksilver had not made a leap, and -luckily caught it in the air. - -"Be more careful," said he, as he gave it back to Perseus. "It would -frighten the birds, up aloft, if they should see a flying slipper -amongst them." - -When Perseus had got on both of these wonderful slippers, he was -altogether too buoyant to tread on earth. Making a step or two, lo and -behold! upward he popt into the air, high above the heads of -Quicksilver and the Nymphs, and found it very difficult to clamber down -again. Winged slippers, and all such high-flying contrivances, are -seldom quite easy to manage, until one grows a little accustomed to -them. Quicksilver laughed at his companion's involuntary activity, and -told him that he must not be in so desperate a hurry, but must wait for -the invisible helmet. - -The good-natured Nymphs had the helmet, with its dark tuft of waving -plumes, all in readiness to put upon his head. And now there happened -about as wonderful an incident as anything that I have yet told you. -The instant before the helmet was put on, there stood Perseus, a -beautiful young man, with golden ringlets and rosy cheeks, the crooked -sword by his side, and the brightly polished shield upon his arm,--a -figure that seemed all made up of courage, sprightliness, and glorious -light. But when the helmet had descended over his white brow, there was -no longer any Perseus to be seen! Nothing but empty air! Even the -helmet, that covered him with its invisibility, had vanished! - -"Where are you, Perseus?" asked Quicksilver. - -"Why, here, to be sure!" answered Perseus, very quietly, although his -voice seemed to come out of the transparent atmosphere. "Just where I -was a moment ago. Don't you see me?" - -"No, indeed!" answered his friend. "You are hidden under the helmet. -But, if I cannot see you, neither can the Gorgons. Follow me, -therefore, and we will try your dexterity in using the winged slippers." - -With these words, Quicksilver's cap spread its wings, as if his head -were about to fly away from his shoulders; but his whole figure rose -lightly into the air, and Perseus followed. By the time they had -ascended a few hundred feet, the young man began to feel what a -delightful thing it was to leave the dull earth so far beneath him, and -to be able to flit about like a bird. - -It was now deep night. Perseus looked upward, and saw the round, -bright, silvery moon, and thought that he should desire nothing better -than to soar up thither, and spend his life there. Then he looked -downward again, and saw the earth, with its seas, and lakes, and the -silver courses of its rivers, and its snowy mountain-peaks, and the -breadth of its fields, and the dark cluster of its woods, and its cities -of white marble; and, with the moonshine sleeping over the whole scene, -it was as beautiful as the moon or any star could be. And, among other -objects, he saw the island of Seriplius, where his dear mother was. -Sometimes, he and Quicksilver approached a cloud, that, at a distance, -looked as if it were made of fleecy silver; although, when they plunged -into it, they found themselves chilled and moistened with gray mist. So -swift was their flight, however, that, in an instant, they emerged from -the cloud into the moonlight again. Once, a high-soaring eagle flew -right against the invisible Perseus. The bravest sights were the -meteors, that gleamed suddenly out, as if a bonfire had been kindled in -the sky, and made the moonshine pale for as much as a hundred miles -around them. - -As the two companions flew onward, Perseus fancied that he could hear -the rustle of a garment close by his side; and it was on the side -opposite to the one where he beheld Quicksilver, yet only Quicksilver -was visible. - -"Whose garment is this," inquired Perseus, "that keeps rustling close -beside me, in the breeze?" - -"O, it is my sister's!" answered Quicksilver. "She is coming along -with us, as I told you she would. We could do nothing without the help -of my sister. You have no idea how wise she is. She has such eyes, -too! Why, she can see you, at this moment, just as distinctly as if you -were not invisible; and I'll venture to say, she will be the first to -discover the Gorgons." - -By this time, in their swift voyage through the air, they had come -within sight of the great ocean, and were soon flying over it. Far -beneath them, the waves tossed themselves tumultuously in mid-sea, or -rolled a white surf-line upon the long beaches, or foamed against the -rocky cliffs, with a roar that was thunderous, in the lower world; -although it became a gentle murmur, like the voice of a baby half -asleep, before it reached the ears of Perseus. Just then a voice spoke -in the air close by him. It seemed to be a woman's voice, and was -melodious, though not exactly what might be called sweet, but grave and -mild. - -"Perseus," said the voice, "there are the Gorgons." - -"Where?" exclaimed Perseus. "I cannot see them." - -"On the shore of that island beneath you," replied the voice. "A -pebble, dropped from your hand, would strike in the midst of them." - -"I told you she would be the first to discover them," said Quicksilver -to Perseus. "And there they are!" - -Straight downward, two or three thousand feet below him, Perseus -perceived a small island, with the sea breaking into white foam all -around its rocky shore, except on one side, where there was a beach of -snowy sand. He descended towards it, and, looking earnestly at a -cluster or heap of brightness, at the foot of a precipice of black -rocks, behold, there were the terrible Gorgons! They lay fast asleep, -soothed by the thunder of the sea; for it required a tumult that would -have deafened everybody else to lull such fierce creatures into slumber. -The moonlight glistened on their steely scales, and on their golden -wings, which drooped idly over the sand. Their brazen claws, horrible -to look at, were thrust out, and clutched the wave-beaten fragments of -rock, while the sleeping Gorgons dreamed of tearing some poor mortal all -to pieces. The snakes that served them instead of hair seemed likewise -to be asleep; although, now and then, one would writhe, and lift its -head, and thrust out its forked tongue, emitting a drowsy hiss, and then -let itself subside among its sister snakes. - -The Gorgons were more like an awful, gigantic kind of insect,--immense, -golden-winged beetles, or dragon-flies, or things of that sort,--at once -ugly and beautiful,--than like anything else; only that they were a -thousand and a million times as big. And, with all this, there was -something partly human about them, too. Luckily for Perseus, their -faces were completely hidden from him by the posture in which they lay; -for, had he but looked one instant at them, he would have fallen heavily -out of the air, an image of senseless stone. - -"Now," whispered Quicksilver, as he hovered by the side of Perseus,-- -"now is your time to do the deed! Be quick; for, if one of the Gorgons -should awake, you are too late!" - -"Which shall I strike at?" asked Perseus, drawing his sword and -descending a little lower. "They all three look alike. All three have -snaky locks. Which of the three is Medusa?" - -It must be understood that Medusa was the only one of these dragon- -monsters whose head Perseus could possibly cut off. As for the other -two, let him have the sharpest sword that ever was forged, and he might -have hacked away by the hour together, without doing there the least -harm. - -"Be cautious," said the calm voice which had before spoken to him. "One -of the Gorgons is stirring in her sleep, and is just about to turn over. -That is Medusa. Do not look at her! The sight would turn you to stone! -Look at the reflection of her face and figure in the bright mirror of -your shield." - -Perseus now understood Quicksilver's motive for so earnestly exhorting -him to polish his shield. In its surface he could safely look at the -reflection of the Gorgon's face. And there it was,--that terrible -countenance,--mirrored in the brightness of the shield, with the -moonlight falling over it, and displaying all its horror. The snakes, -whose venomous natures could not altogether sleep, kept twisting -themselves over the forehead. It was the fiercest and most horrible -face that ever was seen or imagined, and yet with a strange, fearful, -and savage kind of beauty in it. The eyes were closed, and the Gorgon -was still in a deep slumber; but there was an unquiet expression -disturbing her features, as if the monster was troubled with an ugly -dream. She gnashed her white tusks, and dug into the sand with her -brazen claws. - -The snakes, too, seemed to feel Medusa's dream, and to be made more -restless by it. They twined themselves into tumultuous knots, writhed -fiercely, and uplifted a hundred hissing heads, without opening their -eyes. - -"Now, now!" whispered Quicksilver, who was growing impatient. "Make a -dash at the monster!" - -"But be calm," said the grave, melodious voice, at the young man's side. -"Look in your shield, as you fly downward, and take care that you do not -miss your first stroke." - -Perseus flew cautiously downward, still keeping his eyes on Medusa's -face, as reflected in his shield. The nearer he came, the more terrible -did the snaky visage and metallic body of the monster grow. At last, -when he found himself hovering over her within arm's length, Perseus -uplifted his sword, while, at the same instant, each separate snake upon -the Gorgon's head stretched threateningly upward, and Medusa unclosed -her eyes. But she awoke too late. The sword was sharp; the stroke fell -like a lightning-flash; and the head of the wicked Medusa tumbled from -her body! - -"Admirably done!" cried Quicksilver. "Make haste, and clap the head -into your magic wallet." - -To the astonishment of Perseus, the small, embroidered wallet, which he -had hung about his neck, and which had hitherto been no bigger than a -purse, grew all at once large enough to contain Medusa's head. As quick -as thought, he snatched it up, with the snakes still writhing upon it, -and thrust it in. - -"Your task is done," said the calm voice. "Now fly; for the other -Gorgons will do their utmost to take vengeance for Medusa's death." - -It was, indeed, necessary to take flight; for Perseus had not done the -deed so quietly, but that the clash of his sword, and the hissing of the -snakes, and the thump of Medusa's head as it tumbled upon the sea-beaten -sand, awoke the other two monsters. There they sat, for an instant, -sleepily rubbing their eyes with their brazen fingers, while all the -snakes on their heads reared themselves on end with surprise, and with -venomous malice against they knew not what. But when the Gorgons saw -the scaly carcass of Medusa, headless, and her golden wings all ruffled, -and half spread out on the sand, it was really awful to hear what yells -and screeches they set up. And then the snakes! They sent forth a -hundred-fold hiss, with one consent, and Medusa's snakes answered them -out of the magic wallet. - -No sooner were the Gorgons broad awake, than they hurtled upward into -the air, brandishing their brass talons, gnashing their horrible tusks, -and flapping their huge wings so wildly, that some of the golden -feathers were shaken out, and floated down upon the shore. And there, -perhaps, those very feathers he scattered, till this day. Up rose the -Gorgons, as I tell you, staring horribly about, in hopes of turning -somebody to stone. Had Perseus looked them in the face, or had he -fallen into their clutches, his poor mother would never have kissed her -boy again! But he took good care to turn his eyes another way; and, as -he wore the helmet of invisibility, the Gorgons knew not in what -direction to follow him; nor did he fail to make the best use of the -winged slippers, by soaring upward a perpendicular mile or so. At that -height, when the screams of those abominable creatures sounded faintly -beneath him, he made a straight course for the island of Seriphus, in -order to carry Medusa's head to King Polydectes. - -I have no time to tell you of several marvellous things that befell -Perseus, on his way homeward; such as his killing a hideous sea-monster, -just as it was on the point of devouring a beautiful maiden; nor how he -changed an enormous giant into a mountain of stone, merely by showing -him the head of the Gorgon. If you doubt this latter story, you may -make a voyage to Africa, some day or other, and see the very mountain, -which is still known by the ancient giant's name. - -Finally, our brave Perseus arrived at the island, where he expected to -see his dear mother. But, during his absence, the wicked king had -treated Danae so very ill, that she was compelled to make her escape, -and had taken refuge in a temple, where some good old priests were -extremely kind to her. These praiseworthy priests, and the kind-hearted -fisherman, who had first shown hospitality to Danae 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 regards of all who look at -it. And, if your Majesty think fit, I would suggest that a holiday be -proclaimed, and that all your Majesty's subjects be summoned to behold -this wonderful curiosity. Few of them, I imagine, have seen a Gorgon's -head before, and perhaps never may again!" - -The king well knew that his subjects were an idle set of reprobates, and -very fond of sight-seeing, as idle persons usually are. So he took the -young man's advice, and sent out heralds and messengers, in all -directions, to blow the trumpet at the street-corners, and in the -market-places, and wherever two roads met, and summon everybody to -court. Thither, accordingly, came a great multitude of good-for-nothing -vagabonds, all of whom, out of pure love of mischief, would have been -glad if Perseus had met with some ill-hap, in his encounter with the -Gorgons. If there were any better people in the island (as I really -hope there may have been, although the story tells nothing about any -such), they stayed quietly at home, minding their own business, and -taking care of their little children. Most of the inhabitants, at all -events, ran as fast as they could to the palace, and shoved, and pushed, -and elbowed one another, in their eagerness to get near a balcony, on -which Perseus showed himself, holding the embroidered wallet in his -hand. - -On a platform, within full view of the balcony, sat the mighty King -Polydectes, amid his evil counsellors, and with his flattering courtiers -in a semicircle round about him. Monarch, counsellors, courtiers, and -subjects, all gazed eagerly towards Perseus. - -"Show us the head! Show us the head!" shouted the people; and there was -a fierceness in their cry as if they would tear Perseus to pieces, -unless he should satisfy them with what he had to show. "Show us the -head of Medusa with the snaky locks!" - -A feeling of sorrow and pity came over the youthful Perseus. - -"O King Polydectes," cried he, "and ye many people, I am very loath to -show you the Gorgon's head!" - -"Ah, the villain and coward!" yelled the people, more fiercely than -before. "He is making game of us! He has no Gorgon's head! Show us -the head, if you have it, or we will take your own head for a football!" - -The evil counsellors whispered bad advice in the king's ear; the -courtiers murmured, with one consent, that Perseus had shown disrespect -to their royal lord and master; and the great King Polydectes himself -waved his hand, and ordered him, with the stern, deep voice of -authority, on his peril, to produce the bead. - -"Show me the Gorgon's head, or I will cut off your own!" - -And Perseus sighed. - -"This instant," repeated Polydectes, "or you die!" - -"Behold it, then!" cried Perseus, in a voice like the blast of a -trumpet. - -And, suddenly holding up the head, not an eyelid had time to wink before -the wicked King Polydectes, his evil counsellors, and all his fierce -subjects were no longer anything but the mere images of a monarch and -his people. They were all fixed, forever, in the look and attitude of -that moment! At the first glimpse of the terrible head of Medusa, they -whitened into marble! And Perseus thrust the head back into his wallet, -and went to tell his dear mother that she need no longer be afraid of -the wicked King Polydectes. - - - -TANGLEWOOD PORCH. - -AFTER THE STORY. - -"Is not that a very fine story?" asked Eustace. - -"O yes, yes!" cried Cowslip, clapping her hands. "And those funny old -women, with only one eye amongst them! I never heard of anything so -strange." - -"As to their one tooth, which they shifted about," observed Primrose, -"there was nothing so very wonderful in that. I suppose it was a false -tooth. But think of your turning Mercury into Quicksilver, and talking -about his sister! You are too ridiculous!" - -"And was she not his sister?" asked Eustace Bright. "If I had thought -of it sooner, I would have described her as a maiden lady, who kept a -pet owl!" - -"Well, at any rate," said Primrose, "your story seems to have driven -away the mist." - -And, indeed, while the tale was going forward, the vapors had been quite -exhaled from the landscape. A scene was now disclosed which the -spectators might almost fancy as having been created since they had last -looked in the direction where it lay. About half a mile distant, in the -lap of the valley, now appeared a beautiful lake, which reflected a -perfect image of its own wooded banks, and of the summits of the more -distant hills. It gleamed in glassy tranquillity, without the trace of -a winged breeze on any part of its bosom. Beyond its farther shore was -Monument Mountain, in a recumbent position, stretching almost across the -valley. Eustace Bright compared it to a huge, headless sphinx, wrapped -in a Persian shawl; and, indeed, so rich and diversified was the -autumnal foliage of its woods, that the simile of the shawl was by no -means too high-colored for the reality. In the lower ground, between -Tanglewood and the lake, the clumps of trees and borders of woodland -were chiefly golden-leaved or dusky brown, as having suffered more from -frost than the foliage on the hillsides. - -Over all this scene there was a genial sunshine, intermingled with a -slight haze, which made it unspeakably soft and tender. O, what a day -of Indian summer was it going to be! The children snatched their -baskets, and set forth, with hop, skip, and jump, and all sorts of -frisks and gambols; while Cousin Eustace proved his fitness to preside -over the party, by outdoing all their antics, and performing several new -capers, which none of them could ever hope to imitate. Behind went a -good old dog, whose name was Ben. He was one of the most respectable -and kind-hearted of quadrupeds, and probably felt it to be his duty not -to trust the children away from their parents without some better -guardian than this feather-brained Eustace Bright. - - - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE GORGON'S HEAD *** -By Nathaniel Hawthorne - -*** This file should be named haw8210.txt or haw8210.zip **** - -Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, haw8211.txt -VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, haw8210a.txt - -This eBook was produced by David Widger [widger@cecomet.net] - -Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US -unless a copyright notice is included. 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