is slain.' But they were afraid to speak aloud, for they feared
the Gorgon's head. So they went up to the palace; and when they
came in, there stood in the hall Phineus, the brother of Cepheus,
chafing like a bear robbed of her whelps, and with him his sons,
and his servants, and many an armed man; and he cried to Cepheus -

'You shall not marry your daughter to this stranger, of whom no one
knows even the name. Was not Andromeda betrothed to my son? And
now she is safe again, has he not a right to claim her?'

But Perseus laughed, and answered, 'If your son is in want of a
bride, let him save a maiden for himself. As yet he seems but a
helpless bride-groom. He left this one to die, and dead she is to
him. I saved her alive, and alive she is to me, but to no one
else. Ungrateful man! have I not saved your land, and the lives of
your sons and daughters, and will you requite me thus? Go, or it
will be worse for you.' But all the men-at-arms drew their swords,
and rushed on him like wild beasts.

Then he unveiled the Gorgon's head, and said, 'This has delivered
my bride from one wild beast: it shall deliver her from many.'
And as he spoke Phineus and all his men-at-arms stopped short, and
stiffened each man as he stood; and before Perseus had drawn the
goat-skin over the face again, they were all turned into stone.

Then Persons bade the people bring levers and roll them out; and
what was done with them after that I cannot tell.

So they made a great wedding-feast, which lasted seven whole days,
and who so happy as Perseus and Andromeda?