But he said, 'I go; yet promise me one thing ere I go: that if I
slay this beast you will be my wife, and come back with me to my
kingdom in fruitful Argos, for I am a king's heir. Promise me, and
seal it with a kiss.'

Then she lifted up her face, and kissed him; and Perseus laughed
for joy, and flew upward, while Andromeda crouched trembling on the
rock, waiting for what might befall.

On came the great sea-monster, coasting along like a huge black
galley, lazily breasting the ripple, and stopping at times by creek
or headland to watch for the laughter of girls at their bleaching,
or cattle pawing on the sand-hills, or boys bathing on the beach.
His great sides were fringed with clustering shells and sea-weeds,
and the water gurgled in and out of his wide jaws, as he rolled
along, dripping and glistening in the beams of the morning sun.

At last he saw Andromeda, and shot forward to take his prey, while
the waves foamed white behind him, and before him the fish fled
leaping.

Then down from the height of the air fell Perseus like a shooting
star; down to the crests of the waves, while Andromeda hid her face
as he shouted; and then there was silence for a while.

At last she looked up trembling, and saw Perseus springing toward
her; and instead of the monster a long black rock, with the sea
rippling quietly round it.