knew that they could not see him, because the hat of darkness hid
him; and yet he trembled as he sank down near them, so terrible
were those brazen claws.

Two of the Gorgons were foul as swine, and lay sleeping heavily, as
swine sleep, with their mighty wings outspread; but Medusa tossed
to and fro restlessly, and as she tossed Perseus pitied her, she
looked so fair and sad. Her plumage was like the rainbow, and her
face was like the face of a nymph, only her eyebrows were knit, and
her lips clenched, with everlasting care and pain; and her long
neck gleamed so white in the mirror that Perseus had not the heart
to strike, and said, 'Ah, that it had been either of her sisters!'

But as he looked, from among her tresses the vipers' heads awoke,
and peeped up with their bright dry eyes, and showed their fangs,
and hissed; and Medusa, as she tossed, threw back her wings and
showed her brazen claws; and Perseus saw that, for all her beauty,
she was as foul and venomous as the rest.

Then he came down and stepped to her boldly, and looked steadfastly
on his mirror, and struck with Herpe stoutly once; and he did not
need to strike again.

Then he wrapped the head in the goat-skin, turning away his eyes,
and sprang into the air aloft, faster than he ever sprang before.

For Medusa's wings and talons rattled as she sank dead upon the
rocks; and her two foul sisters woke, and saw her lying dead.

Into the air they sprang yelling and looked for him who had done