Haec narrantur a poetis de Perseo.

Perseus filius erat

Iovis, maximi deorum. Avus eius Acrisius appellabatur.
Acrisius volebat Perseum, nepotem suum, necare; nam propter
oraculum puerum timebat. Comprehendit igitur Perseum,
5 adhuc infantem, et cum matre in arcâ ligneâ inclusit. Tum
arcam ipsam in mare coniecit. Danaë, Persei mater, magno-
pere territa est; tempestas enim magna mare turbabat. Per-
seus autem in sinû matris dormiebat.

Iuppiter tamen haec omnia vidit, et filium suum servare

10 constituit. Fecit igitur mare tranquillum, et arcam ad insulam
Seriphum perduxit. Huius insulae Polydectes tum rex
erat. Postquam arca ad litus appulsa est, Danae in harenâ
quietem capiebat. Post breve tempus a piscatore quodam
reperta est, et ad domum regis Polydectis adducta est. Ille
15 matrem et puerum benigne excepit, et sedem tutam in finibus
suis dedit. Danae hoc donum libenter accepit, et pro tanto
beneficio regi gratias egit.

Perseus igitur multos annos ibi habitavit, et cum matre

suâ vitam egit beatam. At Polydectes Danaen magnopere
20 amabat atque eam ducere in matrimonium volebat. Hoc
tamen consilium Perseo minime gratum erat. Polydectes
igitur Perseum dimittere constituit. Tum iuvenem ad se
vocavit et haec dixit: Turpe est vitam hanc ignavam agere;
iam dudum tu adulescens es; quousque hîc manebis? Tem-
25 pus est arma capere et virtutem praestare. Hinc abi, et
caput Medusae mihi refer.

Perseus, ubi haec audivit, ex insulâ discessit et, post-

quam ad continentem vênit, Medusam quaesivit. Diu frustrâ
quaerebat; nam naturam loci ignorabat. Tandem Apollo et
30 Minerva viam demonstraverunt. Primum ad Graeas, sorores
Medusae, pervênit. Ab his talaria et galeam magicam ac-
cepit. Apollo autem et Minerva falcem et speculum de-
derunt. Tum postquam talaria pedibus induit, in aera as-
cendit. Diu per aera volabat; tandem tamen ad eum locum
35 vênit ubi Medusa cum ceteris Gorgonibus habitabat. Gor-
gones autem monstra erant specie horribili; capita enim earum
serpentibus omnino contecta erant; manus etiam ex aere
factae erant.

Res erat difficillima abscidere caput Gorgonis; eius enim

40 conspectû homines in saxum vertebantur. Propter hanc causam
 Minerva illud speculum dederat. Perseus igitur tergum
vertit, et in speculum inspiciebat; hôc modô ad locum venit
ubi Medusa dormiebat. Tum falce suâ caput eius uno ictu
abscidit. Ceterae Gorgones statim e somno excitatae sunt
45 et, ubi rem viderunt, irâ commotae sunt. Arma rapuerunt,
et Perseum occidere volebant; ille autem, dum fugit, galeam
magicam induit et, ubi hoc fecit, statim e conspectu earum
evasit.

Post haec Perseus in fines Aethiopum venit. Ibi Cepheus

50 quidam illo tempore regnabat. Hic Neptunum, maris deum,
olim offenderat. Neptunus autem monstrum saevissimum
miserat. Hoc cotidie e mari veniebat et homines devorabat.
Ob hanc causam pavor animos omnium occupaverat. Cepheus
igitur oraculum dei Hammonis consuluit, atque a deo iussus
55 est filiam monstro tradere. Eius autem filia, nomine Andromeda,
virgo formosissima erat. Cepheus, ubi haec audivit,
magnum dolorem percepit. Volebat tamen cives suos e
tanto periculo extrahere, atque ob eam causam constituit
imperata Hammonis facere.

60 Tum rex diem certam dixit et omnia paravit. Ubi ea

dies vênit, Andromeda ad litus deducta est et in conspectu
omnium ad rupem alligata est. Omnes fatum eius deplo-
rabant, nec lacrimas tenebant. At subito, dum monstrum
expectant, Perseus accurrit; et, ubi lacrimas vidit, causam
65 doloris quaerit. Illi rem totam exponunt et puellam demon-
strant. Dum haec geruntur, fremitus terribilis auditur; simul
monstrum, horribili specie, procul conspicitur. Eius con-
spectus timorem maximum omnibus iniecit. At monstrum
magnâ celeritate ad litus contendit, iamque ad locum appro-
70 pinquabat ubi puella stabat.

At Perseus, ubi haec vidit, gladium suum rapuit, et, post-

quam talaria induit, in aera sublatus est. Tum desuper in
monstrum impetum subito fecit et gladio suo collum eius
graviter vulneravit. Monstrum, ubi sensit vulnus, fremitum
75 horribilem edidit et sine morâ totum corpus sub aquam
mersit. Perseus, dum circum litus volat, reditum eius ex-
pectabat; mare autem interea undique sanguine inficitur.
Post breve tempus belua rursus caput sustulit; mox tamen
a Perseo ictu graviore vulnerata est. Tum iterum se sub
80 undas mersit, neque postea visa est.

Perseus, postquam in litus descendit, primum talaria exuit;

tum ad rupem vênit ubi Andromeda vincta erat. Ea autem
omnem spem salutis deposuerat et, ubi Perseus adiit, terrore
paene exanimata erat. Ille vincula statim solvit et puellam
85 patri reddidit. Cepheus ob hanc rem maximo gaudio affectus
est. Meritam gratiam pro tanto beneficio Perseo rettulit.
Praeterea Andromedam ipsam ei in matrimonium dedit. Ille
libenter hoc donum accepit, et puellam duxit. Paucos annos
cum uxore suâ in ea regione habitavit, et in magno honore erat
90 apud omnes Aethiopes. Magnopere tamen cupiebat matrem
suam rursus videre. Tandem igitur cum uxore e regno
Cephei discessit.

Postquam Perseus ad insulam navem appulit, se ad locum

contulit ubi mater olim habitaverat. At domum invênit
95 vacuam et omnino desertam. Tres dies per totam insulam
matrem quaerebat; tandem quarto die ad templum Dianae
pervênit. Huc Danae refûgerat, quod Polydectem timebat.
Perseus, ubi haec cognovit, irâ magnâ commotus est; ad
regiam Polydectis sine morâ contendit, et ubi eo venit, statim
100 in atrium irrupit. Polydectes magno timore affectus est, et
fugere volebat. Dum tamen ille fugit, Perseus caput Medusae
monstravit; ille autem simul atque hoc vidit, in saxum
versus est.

Post haec Perseus cum uxore suâ ad urbem Acrisii rediit.

105 Ille autem, ubi Perseum vidit, magno terrore affectus est.
Nam propter oraculum istud nepotem suum adhuc timebat.
In Thessaliam igitur ad urbem Larissam statim refugit;
frustra tamen, neque enim fatum suum vitavit. Post paucos
annos rex Larissae ludos magnos fecit; nuntios in omnes
110 partes dimiserat et diem edixerat. Multi ex omnibus urbibus
Graeciae ad ludos convênerunt. Ipse Perseus inter alios
certamen discorum iniit. At, dum discum conicit, avum
suum casu occidit; Acrisius enim inter spectatores eius
certaminis forte stabat.
Perseus Story Board
Perseus and his mother Danaë, were set adrift (1) on the sea by Acrisius, king of Argos, the grandfather of
Perseus, because an oracle had declared that Acrisius would some day perish at the hands of his grandson.
Jupiter, however, saved the mother and child (2), bringing them to the island of Seriphus, where they were
kindly received by Polydectes, the king.
When Perseus reached manhood he was ordered by Polydectes, who had become enamored of Danaë, to
bring him the head of Medusa (3), an undertaking which was likely to prove fatal. But Apollo and Minerva
directed him on his journey and gave him special equipment (4) for his task. With this help, he accomplished
the exploit (5) and escaped Medusa's sisters, who tried to kill him.
On his way back, he passed over Ethiopia, which was at the time being plagued by a sea monster sent by
Neptune (6). In order to appease the god, Andromeda, the daughter of the king, was about to be sacrificed to the
monster (7). Upon being informed of this, Perseus rescued her (8), and in reward she was given to him as his
wife (9). He then returned to the island of Seriphus, and found that his mother had taken refuge from the king.
Perseus turned Polydestes and his troops into stone through the magic power of the head of Medusa (10).
Afterwards, while taking part in athletic games he accidentally killed his grandfather, Acrisius, thus fulfilling
the oracle which Acrisius had vainly sought to escape (11).
1. Set Adrift
These things are said by the poets about Perseus. Perseus was the son of Iuppiter, the greatest of the gods. The
grandfather of Perseus was named Acrisius [ah KRIS ee uhs]. Acrisius wanted to kill Perseus, his grandson; for
he feared the boy because of an oracle. He therefore seized Perseus, still a baby, and, with his mother, closed
[him] in a wooden box. Then he threw this same box [the box itself] into the sea. Danaê [DAHN ah ee], the
mother of Perseus, was very frightened; for a great storm was churning up the sea. Perseus, however, was
sleeping in his mother's embrace [bossom].

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Cast on an Island
Iuppiter nevertheless saw all these things, and he decided to save his son. He therefore made the sea calm, and
he led the box to the island [of] Seriphus. Of this island, Polydectes [pah leh DEK teez] was at that time the
king. After the box was pushed to the shore, Danaê rested [was taking quiet] on the sand. After a brief time, she
was found by a certain [by some] fisherman. and was taken to the home of the king Polydectes. That [man]
kindly received mother and boy, and gave [them] a safe place in his borders. Danaê accepted this gift willingly,
and for such great act of kindness, she thanked the king [made thanks to the king].

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Perseus sent on his travels

Perseus therefore lived there for many years, and led a happy life with his mother. But Polydectes greatly loved
Danae and he wanted to marry her [to lead her into marriage]. This plan, nevertheless, was hardly pleasant to
Perseus. Polydectes therefore decided to send the boy away. Then he called the young man to him and said
these things: It's shameful to live this worthless life; you've been a young man for a long time; until when will
you stay here? It is time to take up arms and show some manliness [virtue]. Depart from here, and bring me the
head of Medusa.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Perseus gets his outfit

Perseus, when he heard these things, left the island and, after he came to the mainland, he sought Medusa. For a
long time he sought in vain, for he did not know the nature of the place. Finally, Apollo and Minerva showed
the way. First he came to the Graeae [GRÎ yî], sister of Medusa. From them [these] he got sandals and a magic
helmet. Apollo and Minerva, moreover, gave a sickle and a mirror. Then after he put the sandals on his feet, he
went up into the air. For a long time he flew through the air; finally nevertheless he came to the place where
Medusa lived with the other Gorgons. The Gorgons were monsters with a horrible appearance; for their heads
were completely covered with snakes; and even [their] hands were made from bronze.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. The Gorgon's head

It was a most difficult matter to cut off the head of the Gorgon; for men were turned into a stone by her
sight.On account of this reason, Minerva had given that mirror. Perseus therefore turned his back, and he
looked into the mirror; in this way he came to the place where Medusa was sleeping. Then with the sickle he
cut off her head with one blow. The other Gorgons immediately were roused from sleep and, when they saw the
situation, they were angered [moved by anger]. They seized weapons, and they wanted to kill Perseus; that
[man], however, while he was fleeing, put on the magic helmet and, when he did this, immediately he escaped
from their sight.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. The sea serpent

After these things, Perseus came into the borders of the Aethiopians. There a certain Cepheus was ruling at that
time. This [man] had formerly offended Neptune, the god of the sea. Neptune accordingly had sent a most
savage monster. This [monster] would come from the sea every day and eat people. For this reason, fear filled
the minds of everybody. Cepheus, therefore, consulted the oracle of the god Hammon, and was ordered by the
god to give his daughter over to the monster. His daughter, don't you know, by the name of Andromeda, was a
most beautiful young woman, Cepheus, when he heard these things, felt a great sorrow. He nevertheless wanted
to rescue [extract] his citizens from such a great danger, and so for this reason decided to do the commands of
the god

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. A human sacrifice
Then the king set the day and got everything ready. When the day arrived, Andromeda was led to the shore and
tied up to the cliff in front of everyone. Everyone deplored her fate, and they didn't hold back their tears. Then
suddenly, while everyone was waiting for the monster, Perseus came running up; and, when he saw the tears, he
asked why everyone was so sad. They explained the whole situation and showed him the girl. While this was
going on, a terrifying roar was heard; at just that moment a horrible looking monster was seen in the distance.
The sight of him terrified everyone. And the monster came rushing up to the shore very quickly, and was
already coming near the place where the girl was standing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. The rescue
And when he saw this, Perseus grabbed his sword, and, after he put on his sandals, he was lifted into the air.
Then from above he suddenly attacked the monster and seriously wounded its neck with his sword. When the
monster felt the wound, he let out a terrifying roar and went under the waves without delay. While he was
flying around the shore, Perseus was waiting for the monster to come back; the sea, don't you know, in the
meantime was everywhere stained with blood. A little while later, the beast lifted its head up once again; soon,
nevertheless it was wounded by Perseus with a more serious blow. Then once again it went under the waves,
and was not seen again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. The reward of valor

After he went down to the shore, Perseus first took off his sandals; then he went to the cliff where Andromeda
had been tied up. She had nearly given up all hope of rescue and, when Perseus came up, she was almost
exhausted because of fear. He immediately undid the chains and returned the girl to her father. Cepheus was
very pleased by this. He gave Perseus a well-deserved thanks for such a great act of kindness. In addition, he
gave him Andromeda herself in marriage. He willingly accepted this gift, and he married the girl. For a few
years, he lived in this region with his wife, and he was held in great esteem by the Ethiopians. But he very
much wanted to see his mother again. Finally, therefore, he left Cepheus' land with his [own, not Cepheus's!]
wife.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10. Turned to stone

After Perseus docked his boat at the island, he went to the place where his mother used to live. But he found the
home empty and completely deserted. For three days he searched for his mother throughout the entire island.
Finally on the fourth day, he arrived at the temple of Diana. Danae had fled there because she was afraid of
Polydectes. When he found this out, Perseus was very angry, and without delay he hurried into the palace of
Polydectes. He immediately burst into the atrium. Polydectus was terrified and tried to escape. But while he
was fleeing, Perseus displayed the head of Medusa. Just as soon as he saw it, he [Polydectes] was turned into
stone.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11. The oracle fulfilled

After this, Perseus returned with his wife to the city of Acrisius. When he saw Perseus, Acrisius was terrified.
For he still feared his grandson because of the oracle. He immediately escaped into Thessaly to the city Larissa.
But it was in vain, and he did not avoid his fate. After a few years, the king of Larissa held great games; he sent
out messengers everywhere and announced the date. Many people from all the cities of Greece came to the
games. Perseus himself, among others, entered the discus competition. But while he was throwing the discus,
he killed his grandfather by accident. For Acrisius happened to be standing among the spectators of this contest.
      Haec narrantur a poetis de Perseo. Perseus filius erat
Iovis, maximi deorum. Avus eius Acrisius appellabatur.
Acrisius volebat Perseum, nepotem suum, necare; nam propter
oraculum puerum timebat. Comprehendit igitur Perseum,
5 adhuc infantem, et cum matre in arcâ ligneâ inclusit. Tum
arcam ipsam in mare coniecit. Danaë, Persei mater, magno-
pere territa est; tempestas enim magna mare turbabat. Per-
seus autem in sinû matris dormiebat.

1. Haec : These things, i.e. the following stories. You'll see the neuter plural of hic, haec, hoc
used this way very often.
2. Acrisius : Predicate nominative after the linking verb appellabatur.
6. Danaë : A Greek name, with genitive ending in -ês, and accusative in -ên.
7. tempestas: Despite its appearance, this isn't an accusative plural. Look closely at the
glossary listing below.
Magna : Why can't magna be agreeing with mare? What does it agree with?

2. avus, -i, m., grandfather.

3. nepos, -otis, m., grandson, nephew.
4. oraculum, -i, n. oracle.
comprehendo, -ere, -hendi, -hensus, tr. seize, arrest.
5. adhuc, adv., until now, as yet.
infans, -fantis, adj. infant; subst., m. and f., infant, babe.
arca, -ae, f., box.
ligneus, -a, -um, adj., of wood, wooden.
includo, -ere, -clusi, -clusus, tr. shut up, enclose.
      Iuppiter tamen haec omnia vidit, et filium suum servare
10 constituit. Fecit igitur mare tranquillum, et arcam ad insulam
Seriphum perduxit. Huius insulae Polydectes tum rex
erat. Postquam arca ad litus appulsa est, Danae in harenâ
quietem capiebat. Post breve tempus a piscatore quodam
reperta est, et ad domum regis Polydectis adducta est. Ille
15 matrem et puerum benigne excepit, et sedem tutam in finibus
suis dedit. Danae hoc donum libenter accepit, et pro tanto
beneficio regi gratias egit.

9. haec omnia : Another substantive use of the demonstrative hic, haec, hoc. I told you to be on
the watch for this. Remember Perseus, 1.1? And what about omnia? It's an adjective used as a
substantive. Often you have to supply an appropriate noun to bring it over into acceptable English.
Here, because the adjective is neuter and plural, it's implying things. So we'll say all these things, or
perhaps just all this.
10. constituit : The use of constituo to mean decide is going to be a fairly regular sight in your
readings.
mare tranquillum : Two accusatives after a verb of making. One accusative may be an adjective,
as here. So we'll say made the sea calm, not made a calm sea.  
11. Seriphum : In apposition with insulam. We usually say in English "the island of," "the city of."
12. appulsa : It comes from the verb appello, but don't confuse it with the verb apello (1), the one
you saw in Perseus 1.2, which means call.  Study the vocabulary entry below.
Postquam : We're could translate this with a pluperfect, even though Latin has just the perfect.
With postquam and ubi the perfect is the tense most frequently employed.
13. piscatore quodam : A certain (some or a) fisherman. The pronoun/demonstrative quidam,
quaedam, quoddam causes a good deal of panic in beginning students. That's because the ending
-dam looks like a case ending. But the case ending for this word comes before the indeclinable -dam
suffix. The case ending is the -o- just before -dam. 
16. dedit : Eis, dative of indirect object is to be understood.
17. egit : This is the perfect of the verb ago, -ere, egi, actus.
Regi is the dative of rex, regis, m. The translation, literally, is for such a great act of kindness
(beneficio), he made thanks to the king. We would say simply, he thanked the king for his great
kindness.

10. constituo, -ere, -stitui, -stitutus, tr., place, post, station; set up;
decide.
tranquillus, -a, -um, adj., calm, still.
11. perduco, -ducere, -duxi, -ductus, tr. lead through, lead, bring,
conduct.
12. apello, -ere, -puli, -pulsus, tr., drive to, bring to; with or without
navem, land, put in.
litus, litoris, n., shore.
harena, -ae, f. sand; shore, beach (sometimes spelled arena).
13. quies, -etis, f., rest; peace, quiet.
piscator, -oris, m., fisherman.
quidam, quaedam, quoddam, pr. some, a certain; a(n).
13. quidam, quaedam, quoddam, demonstr., a certain, some, or a(n).
14. reperio, -ire, repperi, repertus, tr., find, discover.
      Perseus igitur multos annos ibi habitavit, et cum matre
suâ vitam egit beatam. At Polydectes Danaen magnopere
20 amabat atque eam ducere in matrimonium volebat. Hoc
tamen consilium Perseo minime gratum erat. Polydectes
igitur Perseum dimittere constituit. Tum iuvenem ad se
vocavit et haec dixit: Turpe est vitam hanc ignavam agere;
iam dudum tu adulescens es; quousque hîc manebis? Tem-
25 pus est arma capere et virtutem praestare. Hinc abi, et
caput Medusae mihi refer.

18. multos annos : Accusative of duration of time.

19 Danaen : See note on Danae (line 6 in Chapter 1).
21. Perseo : Dative case dependent on gratum.
23. haec : See haec in Perseus 1.1.
agere : This is actually a gerund (verbal noun) and the subject of the verb
est: to live...is... That's why the adjective turpe is neuter: gerunds are treated
like neuter nouns.
24. iam dudum : This adverb is how Latin constructs the equivalent of the
present perfect tense in English: you have been a young man already for a
long time.
hîc : This is not from the demonstrative hic, haec, hoc. Check the length of
the vowel and you'll see the difference. It's the adverb that means here.
25. abi : The singular imperative of the verb abeo.
26. refer : Another odd looking imperative. This one's from the verb refero.

19. beatus, -a, -um, adj., happy,

prosperous.
20. atque, adj. and also, and.
matrimonium, -i, n., marriage; in
matrimonium dare, give in
marriage; in matrimonium ducere,
to marry.
21. minime, adv., least, very little;
by no means, not at all.
22. dimitto, -ere, -misi, -missus,
tr., to send away; get rid of.
23. turpis, -e, adj., shameful,
unseemly, disgraceful.
ignavus, -a, -um, adj., inactive,
cowardly.
24. dudum, adv., before, formerly;
iam dudum, this long time, a long
      Perseus, ubi haec audivit, ex insulâ discessit et, post-
quam ad continentem vênit, Medusam quaesivit. Diu frustrâ
quaerebat; nam naturam loci ignorabat. Tandem Apollo et
30 Minerva viam demonstraverunt. Primum ad Graeas, sorores
Medusae, pervênit. Ab his talaria et galeam magicam ac-
cepit. Apollo autem et Minerva falcem et speculum de-
derunt. Tum postquam talaria pedibus induit, in aera as-
cendit. Diu per aera volabat; tandem tamen ad eum locum
35 vênit ubi Medusa cum ceteris Gorgonibus habitabat. Gor-
gones autem monstra erant specie horribili; capita enim earum
serpentibus omnino contecta erant; manus etiam ex aere
factae erant.

27. Perseus ubi... : You very often see the subject of a subordinate clause
set before the subordinating conjunction: Perseus when he...
33. aera : This is an accusative singular form, even though the noun
belongs to the third declension: aer, aeris, m. You'd expect the accusative to
be aerem, wouldn't you? But this noun's originally a Greek word and it kept its
original accusative singular form.
36. specie horribili : Ablative of description.
37. aere : This word's not from aer, aeris, m. It's from aes, aeris, m. It
means bronze.
omnino : This isn't a form of the adjective omnis, -e, even though it's
etymologically related to it. It is easy to confuse it with the adjective, but if you
think about it a moment, you'll be able to keep them straight. The adjective
omnis, -e is a third declension adjective, and the ending -o never occurs in
the third declension.

28. continens, -entis, f., 33. induo, -ducere, -dui, -dutus,

continent, mainland.
frustra, adv., in vain.
29. ignoro (1), tr., not to know.
tandem, adv., finally.
30. primum, adv., in the first
place, first of all; cum primum, as
soon as; quam primum, as soon as
possible.
tr., put on.
aer, aeris, m., air.
35. ceteri, -ae, -a, adj., pl., the
other, the rest of.
36. monstrum, -i, n., divine
omen, portent; monstrum.
species, -ei, f., appearance.
horribilis, -e, adj., fearful, dreadful.
 31. talaria, -ium, n. pl., winged
sandals.
galea, -ae, f., helmet.
magicus, -a, -um, adj., magical,
magic.
32. falx, falcis, f., sickle.
speculum, -i, n., miror.
37. serpens, -entis, f., serpent.
omnino, adv., altogether, entirely, at
all; only.
contego, -ere, -texi, -tectus, tr.,
cover.
aes, aeris, n., copper, bronze.
      Res erat difficillima abscidere caput Gorgonis; eius enim
40 conspectû homines in saxum vertebantur. Propter hanc causam
Minerva illud speculum dederat. Perseus igitur tergum
vertit, et in speculum inspiciebat; hôc modô ad locum venit
ubi Medusa dormiebat. Tum falce suâ caput eius uno ictu
abscidit. Ceterae Gorgones statim e somno excitatae sunt
45 et, ubi rem viderunt, irâ commotae sunt. Arma rapuerunt,
et Perseum occidere volebant; ille autem, dum fugit, galeam
magicam induit et, ubi hoc fecit, statim e conspectu earum
evasit.

42. hôc modô : This is probably best thought of as an ablative of manner,

though the translation is easy enough without having to be too precise about
the nature of this construction: in this way.
46. dum fugit : The conjunction dum always takes the present tense, no
matter what the tense of the main verb is.

39. abscido, -ere, -cidere,
-cisus, tr., cut off.
40. conspectus, -us, m., sight,
view.
verto, -ere, verti, versus, tr., turn.
42. inspicio, -ere, -spexi,
-spectus, tr., look into.
43. ictus, -us, m., blow, stroke.
44. somnus, -i, m., sleep.
excito (1), tr., call out, rouse.
45. ira, -ae, f., anger, wrath.
commoveo (2), -movi, -motus, tr.,
move deeply, excite, arouse, alarm.
rapio, -ere, rapui, raptus, tr., seize,
carry off.
46. occido, -ere, -cidi, -cisus, tr.,
cut down, kill.
dum, conj., while; until.
48. evado, -ere, -vasi, -vasus,
intr., come out, escape.
      Post haec Perseus in fines Aethiopum venit. Ibi Cepheus
50 quidam illo tempore regnabat. Hic Neptunum, maris deum,
olim offenderat. Neptunus autem monstrum saevissimum
miserat. Hoc cotidie e mari veniebat et homines devorabat.
Ob hanc causam pavor animos omnium occupaverat. Cepheus
igitur oraculum dei Hammonis consuluit, atque a deo iussus
55 est filiam monstro tradere. Eius autem filia, nomine Andromeda,
virgo formosissima erat. Cepheus, ubi haec audivit,
magnum dolorem percepit. Volebat tamen cives suos e
tanto periculo extrahere, atque ob eam causam constituit
imperata Hammonis facere.

49. Cepheus quidam, a certain Cepheus, or a man named Cepheus. Did

you forget the pronoun/adjective quidam? It's not in the accusative case. It's
nominative. Do you know where to look for the case ending? Cf., Perseus
2.13.
50. tempore : Ablative of time.
Hic : The antecedent is Cepheus.
52. mari : This is the ablative singular of the noun mare, -is, n., Did you
remember that it's an i-stem neuter noun?
55. nomine, by name. Ablative of respect.

51. offendo, -ere, -fendi, fensus,

tr., offend.
saevus, -a, -um, adj., fierce, savage.
52. devoro (1), tr., swallow,
devour.
ob, prep. with acc., on account of.
pavor, -oris, m., terror, alarm.
54. consulo, -ere, -sului, -sultus,
tr. and intr., consult; consult the
interests of (with dative).
56. virgo, virginis, f., young
60      Tum rex diem certam dixit et omnia paravit. Ubi ea
dies vênit, Andromeda ad litus deducta est et in conspectu
omnium ad rupem alligata est. Omnes fatum eius deplo-
rabant, nec lacrimas tenebant. At subito, dum monstrum
expectant, Perseus accurrit; et, ubi lacrimas vidit, causam
65 doloris quaerit. Illi rem totam exponunt et puellam demon-
strant. Dum haec geruntur, fremitus terribilis auditur; simul
monstrum, horribili specie, procul conspicitur. Eius con-
spectus timorem maximum omnibus iniecit. At monstrum
magnâ celeritate ad litus contendit, iamque ad locum appro-
70 pinquabat ubi puella stabat.

60. diem : In the plural, dies is always masculine, in the singular

sometimes masculine, sometimes feminine.
omnia, all things, everything; or with paravit, made all preparations;
perpared all things. The masculine plural forms of omnis used as a noun
mean all men, the neuter plural forms, all things. Remember when you saw it
in Perseus 2.1.
63. nec tenebant, and did not restrain; neque is regularly used in Latin for
and not.
dum . . . expectant : Did you remember that the present tense is always
used with dum, regardless of the tense of the main verb of the sentence?
64. accurrit : One of several examples of the historical present in this
passage.
67. specie : Another ablative of description. See the one in Perseus 4.36
for comparison.
68. timorem . . . omnibus iniecit :  This literally means injected fear into
everyone, but we'll translate it more idiomatically as terrified everyone.
69. magnâ celeritate : Ablative of manner.

60. certus, -a, -um, adj., fixed,
certain [not a certain, or some].
61. deduco, -ere, -duxi, -ductus,
tr., lead ways; draw down; navem
deducere, to launch a ship.
62. rupes, -is, f., rock, cliff.
alligo (1), tr., bind to, tie to.
noise.
terribilis, -e, adj., dreadful, terrible.
67. procul, adv., in the distance,
at a distance, far off.
conspicio, -ere, -spexi, -spectus,
tr., look perceive, observe.
68. inicio, -ere, -ieci, -iactus, tr.,
throw into, hurl upon; inspire in,
fatum, -i, n., fate, destiny.
deploro (1), tr., deplore, lament.
64. accurro, -ere, -curri, -cursus,
intr., run to, come up hurriedly.
65. expono, -ere, -posui,
-positus, tr., set forth, explain;
expose, adandon; set ashore.
66. fremitus, -us, m., a roar, a
loud
cause.
69. celeritas, -tatis, f., speed.
litus, litoris, n., shore.
contendo, -ere, -tendi, tentus, intr.,
strain; hurry to.
appropinquo (1), intr., approach,
draw
      At Perseus, ubi haec vidit, gladium suum rapuit, et, post-
quam talaria induit, in aera sublatus est. Tum desuper in
monstrum impetum subito fecit et gladio suo collum eius
graviter vulneravit. Monstrum, ubi sensit vulnus, fremitum
75 horribilem edidit et sine morâ totum corpus sub aquam
mersit. Perseus, dum circum litus volat, reditum eius ex-
pectabat; mare autem interea undique sanguine inficitur.
Post breve tempus belua rursus caput sustulit; mox tamen
a Perseo ictu graviore vulnerata est. Tum iterum se sub
80 undas mersit, neque postea visa est.

72. in (monstrum). The preposition in often means against when it's used
in a military context.
75-6. totum corpus...mersit : Totum corpus is the object of mersit, not its
subject. Check mergo in the glossary below. It's a transitive verb.
79. graviore : Comparative degree from the adjective gravis, -e.
80. neque : Translate as in Chapter 7.63.

72. tollo, -ere, sustuli, sublatus,

tr., lift, elevate; remove; destroy.
desuper, adv., from above.
73. collum, -i, n., neck.
74. graviter, adv., heavily;
severly.
sentio, -ire, sensi, sensus, tr.,
perceive, feel.
75. edo, -ere, -didi, -ditus, tr.,
give out; put forth.
sub, prep. with acc. and abl., under,
underneath.
76. mergo, -ere, mersi, mersus,
tr., plunge, sink.
      Perseus, postquam in litus descendit, primum talaria exuit;
tum ad rupem vênit ubi Andromeda vincta erat. Ea autem
omnem spem salutis deposuerat et, ubi Perseus adiit, terrore
paene exanimata erat. Ille vincula statim solvit et puellam
85 patri reddidit. Cepheus ob hanc rem maximo gaudio affectus
est. Meritam gratiam pro tanto beneficio Perseo rettulit.
Praeterea Andromedam ipsam ei in matrimonium dedit. Ille
libenter hoc donum accepit, et puellam duxit. Paucos annos
cum uxore suâ in ea regione habitavit, et in magno honore erat
90 apud omnes Aethiopes. Magnopere tamen cupiebat matrem
suam rursus videre. Tandem igitur cum uxore e regno
Cephei discessit.

84. vênit : This is a form from the verb to come:   veniô, -îre, vênî, ventus.
What tense is it? (Look carefully.)
83. terrore : Ablative of cause.
86. meritam gratiam rettulit : Literally, gave back (rettulit) deserved
thanks or better repaid the favor as it deserved. See the vocabulary for
Perseus 2.17. for a fuller discussion.
88. puellam duxit : Supply in matrimonium, as you saw in Perseus 3.20.

81. exuo, -ere, -ui, -utus, tr., take

off.
82. vincio, -ire, vinxi, vinctus,
tr., bind, fasten.
83. depono, -ere, -posui,
-positus, tr., set down, desposit; lay
aside.
adeo, -ire, -ii, -itus, intr., go or come
up to, approach.
terror, -oris, m., terror.
84. paene, adv., nearly, almost.
exanimo (1), tr., put out of breath,
stun, exhaust.
vinculum, -i, n., bond, fetter.
solvo, -ere, solvi, solutus, tr.,
loosen, unbind; of ships with or
without
      Postquam Perseus ad insulam navem appulit, se ad locum
contulit ubi mater olim habitaverat. At domum invênit
95 vacuam et omnino desertam. Tres dies per totam insulam
matrem quaerebat; tandem quarto die ad templum Dianae
pervênit. Huc Danae refûgerat, quod Polydectem timebat.
Perseus, ubi haec cognovit, irâ magnâ commotus est; ad
regiam Polydectis sine morâ contendit, et ubi eo venit, statim
100 in atrium irrupit. Polydectes magno timore affectus est, et
fugere volebat. Dum tamen ille fugit, Perseus caput Medusae
monstravit; ille autem simul atque hoc vidit, in saxum
versus est.

93. se...contulit : An odd sounding idiom if you translate it literally: he

betook himself from se conferre. Better translated as simply he went.
97. quod : This isn't the relative pronoun; it's a conjunction, meaning
because.
101. Dum...fugit : Why is the verb in the present tense even though this is
an historical narrative? Do you remember the rule about dum? Check
Perseus 5.46.

95. desero, -ere, -serui, -sertus,

tr., abandon, desert.
96. quartus, -a, -um, adj., fourth.
97. huc, adv., this way, to this
place.
refugio, -ere, -fûgi, -fugiturus, intr.,
(defective) flee away, escape.
99. regia, -ae, f., palace,
eo, adv., to that place, thither; on
that
      Post haec Perseus cum uxore suâ ad urbem Acrisii rediit.
105 Ille autem, ubi Perseum vidit, magno terrore affectus est.
Nam propter oraculum istud nepotem suum adhuc timebat.
In Thessaliam igitur ad urbem Larissam statim refugit;
frustra tamen, neque enim fatum suum vitavit. Post paucos
annos rex Larissae ludos magnos fecit; nuntios in omnes
110 partes dimiserat et diem edixerat. Multi ex omnibus urbibus
Graeciae ad ludos convênerunt. Ipse Perseus inter alios
certamen discorum iniit. At, dum discum conicit, avum
suum casu occidit; Acrisius enim inter spectatores eius
certaminis forte stabat.

107. Larissam : To the city Larissa. We'd expect a genitive: Larissae, of

Larissa, but Latin puts the name of the city in apposition with the word urbem.
Do you remember the discussion at Perseus 2.11 of Seriphum.
109. ludos fecit, hosted a sports festival.
in omnes partes, in every direction; everywhere.
112. conicit :  From con + iacio.
113. casu : The word is derived from the verb cado which means to fall.
Can you explain how it is that the word casus, -us, m., means accident?
114. forte : Despite its appearance, this doesn't mean with strength or
some other ablative meaning from the adjective fortis, -e. Look in the glossary
below.

106. iste, ista, istud, demonstr.,

that of yours, the one you're familiar
with; that.
108. vito (1), tr., avoid [not to be
confused with vivo, live].
109. ludus, -i, m., sport, game.
110. edico, -ere, -dixi, -dictus,
tr.,