There are a hundred such ; and it is a wonder to me that they have not long ago been put into picture-books for little girls and boys . But , instead of that , old gray-bearded grandsires pore over them , in musty volumes of Greek , and puzzle themselves with trying to find out when , and how , and for what they were made . '' `` Well , well , well , well , Cousin Eustace ! '' cried all the children at once ; `` talk no more about your stories , but begin . '' `` Sit down , then , every soul of you , '' said Eustace Bright , `` and be all as still as so many mice . At the slightest interruption , whether from great , naughty Primrose , little Dandelion , or any other , I shall bite the story short off between my teeth , and swallow the untold part . But , in the first place , do any of you know what a Gorgon is ? '' `` I do , '' said Primrose . `` Then hold your tongue ! '' rejoined Eustace , who had rather she would have known nothing about the matter . `` Hold all your tongues , and I shall tell you a sweet pretty story of a Gorgon 's head . '' And so he did , as you may begin to read on the next page . Working up his sophomorical erudition with a good deal of tact , and incurring great obligations to Professor Anthon , he , nevertheless , disregarded all classical authorities , whenever the vagrant audacity of his imagination impelled him to do so . THE GORGON 'S HEAD . Perseus was the son of Danae , who was the daughter of a king . 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 XXXXX be a handsome youth , very strong and active , and skilful in the use of arms .
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