`` Have you brought me the head of Medusa with the snaky locks ? If not , young man , it will cost you dear ; for I must have a bridal present for the beautiful Princess Hippodamia , and there is nothing else that she would admire so much . '' `` Yes , please your Majesty , '' answered Perseus , in a quiet way , as if it were no very wonderful deed for such a young man as he to perform . `` I have brought you the Gorgon 's head , snaky locks and all ! '' `` Indeed ! Pray let me see it , '' quoth King Polydectes . `` It must be a very curious spectacle , if all that travellers tell about it be true ! '' `` Your Majesty is in the right , '' replied Perseus . `` It is really an object that will be pretty certain to fix the regards of all who look at it . And , if your Majesty think fit , I would suggest that a holiday be proclaimed , and that all your Majesty 's subjects be summoned to behold this wonderful curiosity . Few of them , I imagine , have seen a Gorgon 's head before , and perhaps never may again ! '' The king well knew that his subjects were an idle set of reprobates , and very fond of sight-seeing , as idle persons usually are . So he took the young man 's advice , and sent out heralds and messengers , in all directions , to blow the trumpet at the street-corners , and in the market-places , and wherever two roads met , and summon everybody to court . Thither , accordingly , came a great multitude of good-for-nothing vagabonds , all of whom , out of pure love of mischief , would have been glad if Perseus had met with some ill-hap , in his encounter with the Gorgons . If there were any better people in the island -LRB- as I really hope there may have been , although the story tells nothing about any such -RRB- , they stayed quietly at home , minding their own business , and taking care of their little children . Most of the inhabitants , at all events , ran as fast as they could to the palace , and shoved , and pushed , and elbowed one another , in their eagerness to get near a balcony , on which Perseus showed himself , holding the embroidered wallet in his hand . On a platform , within full view of the balcony , sat the mighty King Polydectes , amid his evil counsellors , and with his flattering courtiers in a semicircle round about him . Monarch , counsellors , courtiers , and subjects , all gazed eagerly towards Perseus . `` Show us the head ! Show us the head ! ''
shouted the people ; and there was a fierceness XXXXX their cry as if they would tear Perseus to pieces , unless he should satisfy them with what he had to show .
So although for in of quoth that to with within