延安大学：《古希腊罗马神话赏析 Greco-Roman Mythology Appreciation》课程教学资源（讲义）11. Perseus.pdf_大学文库

1. Perseus Summar 珀尔修斯是神祗宙斯和凡人达那厄的儿子。达那厄是阿尔戈斯国王阿克里西俄斯的女儿,众神之王宙斯爱上了她。国王从神示中得知,他的外孙会推翻他的统治并把他杀死。于是国王便把女儿关进地牢,并令女仆严密看管,不与外界接触。不料宙斯化作一阵金雨进入牢中,与达那厄幽会,生下了珀尔修斯。他与寻找金羊毛的伊阿宋、完成十二件不可完成使命的赫拉克勒斯、勇闯迷宫斩杀怪物的忒修斯一道为希腊神话所讲述最早的英雄们 Selected Reading Perseus and medusa erseus was the son of Jupiter and Danae. His grandfather Acrisius, alarmed by an oracle which had told him that his daughter's child would be the instrument of his death, caused the mother and child to be shut up in a chest and set adrift' on the sea The chest floated towards Seriphus, where was found by a fisherman who conveyed the mother and infant to Polydectes, the kin of the country, by whom they were treated with kindness. When Perseus was grown up Polydectes sent him to attempt the conquest of waste the country. She was once a beautiful maiden whose hair was her chief glory, but as she dared to beauty with Minerva. the goddess deprived her of her charms and changed her beautiful ringlets into hissing serpents. She became a cruel monster of so frightful an aspect that no living thing could behold her without being turned into stone. All around the cavern where she dwelt might be seen the stony figures of men and animals which had chanced to catch a glimpse of her and had been petrified with the sight. Perseus, favored by Minerva and Mercury, the former of whom lent him her shield and the latter his winged shoes, approached Medusa while she slept and taking care not to look directly at her, but guided by her image reflected in the bright shield which he bore he cut off her head and gave it to minerva, who fixed it the middle of her aegis Perseus and atlas After the slaughter of Medusa, Perseus, bearing with him the head of the Gorgon, flew far and wide, over land and sea. As night came on, he reached the western limit of the earth, where the sun goes down. here he would gladly have rested till morning. It was the realm of King Atlas, whose bulk@ surpassed that of all other men. He was rich in flocks and herds and had no neighbor or rival to dispute his state But his chief pride was in his gardens, whose fruit was of gold, hanging from golden branches, half hid with golden leaves. Perseus said to him, "I come as a guest. If you

59 11. Perseus Summary 珀尔修斯是神祗宙斯和凡人达那厄的儿子。达那厄是阿尔戈斯国王阿克里西俄斯的女儿，众神之王宙斯爱上了她。国王从神示中得知，他的外孙会推翻他的统治并把他杀死。于是国王便把女儿关进地牢，并令女仆严密看管，不与外界接触。不料宙斯化作一阵金雨进入牢中，与达那厄幽会，生下了珀尔修斯。他与寻找金羊毛的伊阿宋、完成十二件不可完成使命的赫拉克勒斯、勇闯迷宫斩杀怪物的忒修斯一道为希腊神话所讲述最早的英雄们。 Selected Reading Perseus and Medusa Perseus was the son of Jupiter and Danae. His grandfather Acrisius, alarmed by an oracle which had told him that his daughter’s child would be the instrument of his death, caused the mother and child to be shut up in a chest and set adrift1 on the sea. The chest floated towards Seriphus, where it was found by a fisherman who conveyed2 the mother and infant to Polydectes, the king of the country, by whom they were treated with kindness. When Perseus was grown up Polydectes sent him to attempt the conquest of Medusa, a terrible monster who had laid waste3 the country. She was once a beautiful maiden whose hair was her chief glory, but as she dared to vie4 in beauty with Minerva, the goddess deprived her of her charms and changed her beautiful ringlets into hissing serpents. She became a cruel monster of so frightful an aspect that no living thing could behold her without being turned into stone. All around the cavern where she dwelt might be seen the stony figures of men and animals which had chanced to catch a glimpse of her and had been petrified5 with the sight. Perseus, favored by Minerva and Mercury, the former of whom lent him her shield and the latter his winged shoes, approached Medusa while she slept, and taking care not to look directly at her, but guided by her image reflected in the bright shield which he bore, he cut off her head and gave it to Minerva, who fixed it in the middle of her Aegis. Perseus and Atlas6 After the slaughter of Medusa, Perseus, bearing with him the head of the Gorgon7 , flew far and wide, over land and sea. As night came on, he reached the western limit of the earth, where the sun goes down. Here he would gladly have rested till morning. It was the realm of King Atlas, whose bulk8 surpassed that of all other men. He was rich in flocks and herds and had no neighbor or rival to dispute his state. But his chief pride was in his gardens, whose fruit was of gold, hanging from golden branches, half hid with golden leaves. Perseus said to him, “I come as a guest. If you

honor illustrious descent, I claim Jupiter for my father; if mighty deeds, I plead the conquest of the Gorgon. I seek rest and food. But Atlas remembered that an ancient prophecy had warned him that a son of Jove should one day rob him of his golden apples. So he answered, "Begone! or neither your false claims of glory nor parentage shall protect you, and he attempted to thrusthim out. Perseus, finding the giant too strong for him, said, "Since you value my friendship so little, deignto accept a present; "and turning his face away, he held up the Gorgon's head. Atlas, with all his bulk, was changed into stone. His beard and hair became forests, his arms and shoulders cliffs, his head a summit, and his bones rocks. Each part increased in bulk till he became a mountain, and heaven with all its stars rests upon his shoulders The Sea-Monster Perseus, continuing his flight, arrived at the country of the Ethiopians, of which Cepheus was king. Cassiopeia his queen, proud of her beauty, had dared to compare herself to the Sea- Nymphs, which roused their indignation to such a degree that they sent a prodigious sea-monster to ravage the coast. To appease the deities Cepheus was directed by the oracle to expose his daughter Andromeda to be devoured by the monster. As Perseus looked down from his aerial height he beheld the virgin chained to a rock, and waiting the approach of the serpent. She was so pale and motionless that if it had not been for her flowing tears and her hair that moved in the breeze. he would have taken her for a marble statue. He was so startled at the sight that he almost forgot to wave his wings. as he hovered over her he said O virgin, undeserving of those chains, but rather of such as bind fond lovers together, tell me, I beseech you, your name, and the name of your country, and why you are thus bound At first she was silent from modesty, and, if she could, would have hid her face with her hands, but when he repeated his questions, for fear she might be thought guilty of some fault which she dared not tell, she disclosed her name and that of her country, and her mother's pride of beauty. Before she had done speaking, a sound was heard off upon the water, and the sea-monster appeared, with his head raised above the surface cleaving the waves with his broad breast. The virgin shrieked. the father and mother who had now arrived at the scene. wretched both, but the mother more justly So, stood by, not able to afford protection, but only to pour forth lamentations and to embrace the victim. Then spoke Perseus:"There will be time enough for tears, this hour is all we have for rescue. My rank as the son of Jove and my renown" as the slayer of the gorgon might make me acceptable as a suitor;but I will try to win her by services rendered, if the gods will only be parents consent(how could they hesitate? )and promise a royal dowry with her: The propitious. If she be rescued by my valor, I demand that she be my reward. The 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 in the air then plunged into the depth; then, like a wild boar surrounded by a pack of barking

60 honor illustrious9 descent10, I claim Jupiter for my father; if mighty deeds, I plead the conquest of the Gorgon. I seek rest and food.” But Atlas remembered that an ancient prophecy had warned him that a son of Jove should one day rob him of his golden apples. So he answered, “Begone11! or neither your false claims of glory nor parentage shall protect you;” and he attempted to thrust12 him out. Perseus, finding the giant too strong for him, said, “Since you value my friendship so little, deign13 to accept a present;” and turning his face away, he held up the Gorgon’s head. Atlas, with all his bulk, was changed into stone. His beard and hair became forests, his arms and shoulders cliffs, his head a summit, and his bones rocks. Each part increased in bulk till he became a mountain, and heaven with all its stars rests upon his shoulders. The Sea-Monster Perseus, continuing his flight, arrived at the country of the Aethiopians, of which Cepheus was king. Cassiopeia his queen, proud of her beauty, had dared to compare herself to the Sea- Nymphs, which roused their indignation to such a degree that they sent a prodigious sea-monster to ravage14 the coast. To appease15 the deities, Cepheus was directed by the oracle to expose his daughter Andromeda to be devoured16 by the monster. As Perseus looked down from his aerial17 height he beheld the virgin chained to a rock, and waiting the approach of the serpent. She was so pale and motionless that if it had not been for her flowing tears and her hair that moved in the breeze, he would have taken her for a marble statue. He was so startled at the sight that he almost forgot to wave his wings. As he hovered over her he said, “O virgin, undeserving18 of those chains, but rather of such as bind fond lovers together, tell me, I beseech19 you, your name, and the name of your country, and why you are thus bound.” At first she was silent from modesty, and, if she could, would have hid her face with her hands; but when he repeated his questions, for fear she might be thought guilty of some fault which she dared not tell, she disclosed her name and that of her country, and her mother’s pride of beauty. Before she had done speaking, a sound was heard off upon the water, and the sea-monster appeared, with his head raised above the surface, cleaving20 the waves with his broad breast. The virgin shrieked, the father and mother who had now arrived at the scene, wretched both, but the mother more justly so, stood by, not able to afford protection, but only to pour forth lamentations and to embrace the victim. Then spoke Perseus: “There will be time enough for tears; this hour is all we have for rescue. My rank as the son of Jove and my renown21 as the slayer of the Gorgon might make me acceptable as a suitor; but I will try to win her by services rendered, if the gods will only be propitious22. If she be rescued by my valor23, I demand that she be my reward.” The parents consent(how could they hesitate?)and promise a royal dowry24 with her. And now the monster was within the range of a stone thrown by a skilful slinger25, when with a sudden bound26 the youth soared into the air. As an eagle, when from his lofty flight he sees a serpent basking27 in the sun, pounces28 upon him and seizes him by the neck to prevent him from turning his head round and using his fangs29, 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 in 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 the sound. The parents, transported with joy, embraced their future son-in-law, calling him the savior of their house and the virgin both cause and reward of the contest. descended from the rock The Wedding feast The joyful parents, with Perseus and Andromeda, repaired to the palace, where a anquet was spread for them, and all was joy and festivity". But suddenly a noise was heard of warlike clamor and Phineus the betrothedof the virgin, with a party of his adherents, burst in, demanding the maiden as in vain that Ceph remonstrated 6" You should have claimed her when she lay bound to the rock, the monsters victim. The sentence of the gods dooming her to such a fate dissolved all engagements. Phineus made no reply, but hurled his javelin at Perseus, but it missed its mark and fell harmless Perseus would have thrown his in turn, but the cowardly assailant an and took shelter behind the altar. But his act was a signal for an onset by his band upon the guests of Cepheus. They defended themselves and a general conflict ensued, the old king retreating from the scene after fruitless expostulations, calling the gods to witness that he was guiltless of this outrage on the rights of hospitalit Perseus and his friends maintained for some the unequal contest, but the numbers of the assailants were too great for them, and destruction seemed inevitable, when a sudden thought struck perseus - i will make my enemy defend me Then with a loud voice he exclaimed, If i have any friend here let him turn away his eyes and held aloft the Gorgons head. "Seek not to frighten us with your jugglery", said Thescelus, and raised his javelin in act to throw, and became stone in the very attitude Ampyx was about to plunge his sword into the body of a prostrate foe, but his arm stiffened and he could neither thrust forward nor withdraw it. another in the midst of a vociferous" challenge, stopped, his mouth open, but no sound issuing. One of Perseus's friends, Aconteus, caught sight of the Gorgon and stiffened like the rest Astyages struck him with his sword, but instead of wounding, it recoiled with a ringing noise Phineus beheld this dreadful result of his unjust aggression, and felt confounded#3. He called aloud to his friends, but got no answer; he touched them and

61 dogs, turned swiftly from side to side, while the youth eluded30 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 flank31, 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 the sound. The parents, transported with joy, embraced their future son-in-law, calling him the savior of their house, and the virgin both cause and reward of the contest, descended from the rock. The Wedding Feast The joyful parents, with Perseus and Andromeda, repaired to the palace, where a banquet was spread for them, and all was joy and festivity32. But suddenly a noise was heard of warlike clamor33, and Phineus, the betrothed34 of the virgin, with a party of his adherents35, burst in, demanding the maiden as his own. It was in vain that Cepheus remonstrated36——“You should have claimed her when she lay bound to the rock, the monster’s victim. The sentence of the gods dooming her to such a fate dissolved37 all engagements.” Phineus made no reply, but hurled38 his javelin at Perseus, but it missed its mark and fell harmless39. Perseus would have thrown his in turn, but the cowardly assailant40 ran and took shelter behind the altar. But his act was a signal for an onset by his band upon the guests of Cepheus. They defended themselves and a general conflict ensued, the old king retreating from the scene after fruitless expostulations, calling the gods to witness that he was guiltless of this outrage on the rights of hospitality. Perseus and his friends maintained for some time the unequal contest, but the numbers of the assailants were too great for them, and destruction seemed inevitable, when a sudden thought struck Perseus,——“I will make my enemy defend me.” Then with a loud voice he exclaimed, “If I have any friend here let him turn away his eyes!” and held aloft the Gorgon’s head. “Seek not to frighten us with your jugglery41,” said Thescelus, and raised his javelin in act to throw, and became stone in the very attitude. Ampyx was about to plunge his sword into the body of a prostrate foe, but his arm stiffened and he could neither thrust forward nor withdraw it. Another, in the midst of a vociferous42 challenge, stopped, his mouth open, but no sound issuing. One of Perseus’s friends, Aconteus, caught sight of the Gorgon and stiffened like the rest. Astyages struck him with his sword, but instead of wounding, it recoiled with a ringing noise. Phineus beheld this dreadful result of his unjust aggression, and felt confounded43. He called aloud to his friends, but got no answer; he touched them and