Book V

Phineus, the brother of Cepheus, had been betrothed to his niece Andromeda before she had been exposed to the rage of a sea-monster; and, in order to interrupt the marriage ceremony, he collects a considerable number of his adherents, who assault Perseus⁠—The hero, after defending himself with courage, is in danger of being overpowered, when the assailants are suddenly turned into stone by the head of Medusa.

While Perseus entertain’d with this report His father Cepheus, and the list’ning court, Within the palace walls was heard aloud The roaring noise of some unruly crowd; Not like the songs which cheerful friends prepare For nuptial days, but sounds that threaten’d war; And all the pleasures of this happy feast, To tumult turn’d, in wild disorder ceased: So, when the sea is calm, we often find A storm raised sudden by some furious wind.

Chief in the riot Phineus first appear’d, The rash ringleader of this boist’rous herd, And brandishing his brazen-pointed lance, “Behold,” he said, “an injured man advance, Stung with resentment for his ravish’d wife; Nor shall thy wings, O Perseus, save thy life; Nor Jove himself, though we’ve been often told, Who got thee in the form of tempting gold.” His lance was aim’d, when Cepheus ran and said, “Hold! brother, hold! what brutal rage has made Your frantic mind so black a crime conceive? Are these the thanks that you to Perseus give? This the reward that to his worth you pay, Whose timely valour saved Andromeda? Nor was it he, if you would reason right, That forced her from you, but the jealous spite Of envious Nereids, and Jove’s high decree, And that devouring monster of the sea, That ready, with his jaws wide gaping, stood To eat my child, the fairest of my blood. You lost her then, when she seem’d past relief, And wish’d, perhaps, her death to ease your grief With my afflictions: not content to view Andromeda in chains, unhelp’d by you,

Her spouse, and uncle; will you grieve that he Exposed his life the dying maid to free? And shall you claim his merit? Had you thought Her charms so great, you should have bravely sought That blessing on the rocks where fix’d she lay: But now let Perseus bear his prize away, By service gain’d, by promised faith possess’d; To him I owe it, that my age is bless’d Still with a child: nor think that I prefer Perseus to thee, but to the loss of her.”

Phineus on him and Perseus roll’d about His eyes in silent rage, and seem’d to doubt Which to destroy, till, resolute at length, He threw his spear with the redoubled strength His fury gave him, and at Perseus struck; But missing Perseus, in his seat it stuck; Who, springing nimbly up, return’d the dart, And almost plunged it in his rival’s heart; But he for safety to the altar ran; Unfit protection for so vile a man: Yet was the stroke not vain, as Rhoetus found, Who in his brow received a mortal wound; Headlong he tumbled, when his scull was broke, From which his friends the fatal weapon took, While he lay trembling, and his gushing blood In crimson streams around the table flow’d.

But this provoked the unruly rabble worse: They flung their darts; and some in loud discourse To death young Perseus and the monarch doom; But Cepheus left before the guilty room, With grief appealing to the gods above, Who laws of hospitality approve, Who faith protect, and succour injured right, That he was guiltless of this barb’rous fight.