PERSEUS AND THE SEA–MONSTER
And now the monster
was within the range of a stone thrown by a skilful slinger, when with a sudden
bound the youth soared into the air. As an eagle, when from his lofty flight
he sees a serpent basking in the sun, pounces upon him and seizes him by the
neck to prevent him from turning his head round and using his fangs, so the
youth darted down upon the back of the monster and plunged his sword into its
shoulder. Irritated by the wound, the monster raised himself into the air, then
plunged into the depth; then, like a wild boar surrounded by a pack of barking
dogs, turned swiftly from side to side, while the youth eluded its attacks by
means of his wings. Wherever he can find a passage for his sword between the
scales he makes a wound, piercing now the side, now the flank, as it slopes
towards the tail. The brute spouts from his nostrils water mixed with blood.
The wings of the hero are wet with it, and he dares no longer trust to them.
Alighting on a rock which rose above the waves, and holding on by a projecting
fragment, as the monster floated near he gave him a death stroke. The people
who had gathered on the shore shouted so that the hills reechoed with the sound.
The parents, transported with joy, embraced their future son–in–law,
calling him their deliverer and the saviour of their house, and the virgin,
both cause and reward of the contest, descended from the rock.
Thomas Bulfinch
