And when Perseus was a very little boy , some wicked people put his mother and himself into a chest , and set them afloat upon the sea . The wind blew freshly , and drove the chest away from the shore , and the uneasy billows tossed it up and down ; while Danae clasped her child closely to her bosom , and dreaded that some big wave would dash its foamy crest over them both . The chest sailed on , however , and neither sank nor was upset ; until , when night was coming , it floated so near an island that it got entangled in a fisherman 's nets , and was drawn out high and dry upon the sand . The island was called Seriphus , and it was reigned over by King Polydectes , who happened to be the fisherman 's brother . This fisherman , I am glad to tell you , was an exceedingly humane and upright man . He showed great kindness to Danae and her little boy ; and continued to befriend them , until Perseus had grown to be a handsome youth , very strong and active , and skilful in the use of arms . Long before this time , King Polydectes had seen the two strangers -- the mother and her child -- who had come to his dominions in a floating chest . As he was not good and kind , like his brother the fisherman , but extremely wicked , he resolved to send Perseus on a dangerous enterprise , in which he would probably be killed , and then to do some great mischief to Danae herself . So this bad-hearted king spent a long while in considering what was the most dangerous thing that a young man could possibly undertake to perform . At last , having hit upon an enterprise that promised to turn out as fatally as he desired , he sent for the youthful Perseus . The young man came to the palace , and found the king sitting upon his throne . `` Perseus , '' said King Polydectes , smiling craftily upon him , `` you are grown up a fine young man . You and your good mother have received a great deal of kindness from myself , as well as from my worthy brother the fisherman , and I suppose you would not be sorry to repay some of it . '' `` Please your Majesty , '' answered Perseus , `` I would willingly risk my life to do so . '' `` Well , then , '' continued the king , still with a curving smile on his lips , `` I have a little adventure to propose to you ; and , as you are a brave and enterprising youth , you will doubtless look upon it as a great piece of good luck to have so rare an opportunity of distinguishing yourself . You must know , my good Perseus , I think of getting married to the beautiful Princess Hippodamia ; and it is customary , on these occasions , to make the bride a present of some far-fetched and elegant curiosity . I have been a little perplexed , I must honestly confess , where to obtain anything likely to please a princess of her exquisite taste . But , this morning , I flatter myself , I have thought of precisely the article . '' `` And can I assist your Majesty in obtaining it ? '' cried Perseus , eagerly .
`` You can , if you are as brave a youth as I believe you to be , '' replied King Polydectes , with the utmost graciousness XXXXX manner .
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