Acrisius, an ancient king of Argos, had been warned by an oracle that he should perish by the hand of his grandson. On discovering, therefore, that his daughter Danae had given birth to a son, Acrisius endeavored to escape his fate by setting both mother and child adrift on the sea. They were saved, however, by the help of Jupiter; and Perseus, the child, grew up at the court of Polydectes, king of Seriphos, an island in the Aegean Sea. On reaching manhood, Perseus was sent by Polydectes to fetch the head of Medusa, one of the Gorgons. This dangerous task he accomplished with the help of Apollo and Minerva, and on his way home he rescued Andromeda, daughter of Cepheus, from a sea-monster. Perseus then married Andromeda, and lived some time in the country of Cepheus. At length he returned to Seríphos, and turned Polydectes to stone by showing him the Gorgon's head; he then went to the court of Acrisius, who fled in terror at the news of his grandson's return. The oracle was duly fulfilled, for Acrisius was accidentally killed by a quoit thrown by Perseus.
The Latin in the construed section is set in English word order; every Latin word in bold is followed by its English gloss in italic. A Latin word in [square brackets] in the construed section is supplied, and not present in the original text.
Haec these things nārrantur are told ā by poētīs the poets dē about Perseō Perseus. Perseus Perseus erat was fīlius the son Iovis of Jupiter, māximī the greatest deōrum of the gods; ēius his avus grandfather appellābātur was called Acrisius Acrisius. Acrisius Acrisius volēbat wanted necāre to kill suum his nepōtem grandson Perseum Perseus; nam for timēbat he feared puerum the boy propter because of ōrāculum the oracle. Igitur therefore comprehendit he seized Perseum Perseus adhūc still infantem an infant, et and inclūsit shut up [eum] him cum with mātre his mother in in līgneā a wooden arcā chest. Tum then coniēcit he threw arcam the chest ipsam itself in into mare the sea. Danaē Danae, Perseī Perseus's māter mother, est was māgnopere greatly territa frightened; enim for māgna a great tempestās storm turbābat was troubling mare the sea. Perseus Perseus autem however dormiēbat was sleeping in in sinū the lap mātris of his mother.
Iuppiter Jupiter tamen however vīdit saw omnia all haec these things, et and cōnstituit decided servāre to save suum his fīlium son. Igitur therefore fēcit he made mare the sea tranquillum calm, et and perdūxit he brought arcam the chest ad to īnsulam the island Serīphum Seriphus. Polydectēs Polydectes erat was tum then rēx king hūius of this īnsulae island. Postquam after arca the chest est was appulsa brought to land ad at lītus the shore, Danaē Danae capiēbat was taking quiētem rest in on harēnā the sand. Post after breve a short tempus time est she was reperta found ā by quōdam a certain piscātōre fisherman, et and est was adducta brought ad to domum the house rēgis of king Polydectis Polydectes. Ille he excēpit received mātrem the mother et and puerum the boy benīgnē kindly, et and dedit gave iīs them tūtam a safe sēdem home in in suīs his fīnibus territory. Danaē Danae accēpit accepted hōc this dōnum gift libenter gladly, et and ēgit gave grātiās thanks rēgī to the king prō for tantō so great beneficiō a kindness.
Perseus Perseus igitur therefore habitābat lived ibi there multōs many annōs years, et and agēbat led beātam a happy vītam life cum with suā his mātre mother. At but Polydectēs Polydectes amābat loved Danaēn Danae māgnopere greatly, atque and volēbat wanted dūcere to lead eam her in into mātrimōnium marriage. Hōc this cōnsilium plan tamen however erat was minimē not at all grātum pleasing Perseō to Perseus. Polydectēs Polydectes igitur therefore cōnstituit decided dīmittere to send away Perseum Perseus. Tum then vocāvit he called iuvenem the young man ad to sē himself et and dīxit said haec these things: "Est it is turpe shameful agere to lead hanc this īgnāvam idle vītam life; iam already dūdum long since tū you es have been adulēscēns a young man. Quō how ūsque long manēbis will you stay hīc here? Est it is tempus time capere to take up arma arms et and praestāre to show virtūtem courage. Abī go away hinc from here, et and refer bring back mihi to me caput the head Medūsae of Medusa."
Ubi when Perseus Perseus audīvit heard haec these things, discessit he departed ex from īnsulā the island, et and postquam after vēnit he came ad to continentem the mainland, quaesīvit he looked for Medūsam Medusa. Quaerēbat he searched diū for a long time frūstrā in vain; namque for īgnōrābat he did not know nātūram the nature locī of the place. Tandem at last Apollō Apollo et and Minerva Minerva dēmōnstrāvērunt showed viam the way. Prīmum first pervēnit he came ad to Graeās the Graeae, sorōrēs the sisters Medūsae of Medusa. Accēpit he received tālāria winged sandals et and magicam a magic galeam helmet ab from hīs them. Apollō Apollo autem moreover et and Minerva Minerva dedērunt gave falcem a sickle et and speculum a mirror. Tum then postquam after induit he put tālāria the winged sandals pedibus on his feet, ascendit he rose in into āera the air. Volābat he flew diū for a long time per through āera the air; tamen however tandem at last vēnit he came ad to eum that locum place ubi where Medūsa Medusa habitābat lived cum with cēterīs the other Gorgonibus Gorgons. Gorgonēs the Gorgons autem now erant were mōnstra monsters horribilī of horrible speciē appearance; enim for capita the heads eārum of them erant were contēcta covered omnīnō entirely anguibus with snakes. Manūs their hands etiam also erant were factae made ex of aere bronze.
Erat it was difficillima a very difficult rēs thing abscīdere to cut off caput the head Gorgonis of the Gorgon; enim for homines men vertēbantur were turned in into saxum stone cōnspectū by the sight ēius of her. Propter for hanc this causam reason Minerva Minerva dederat had given speculum the mirror Perseō to Perseus. Ille he igitur therefore vertit turned tergum his back, et and īnspiciēbat kept looking in into speculum the mirror; hōc in this modō way vēnit he came ad to locum the place ubi where Medūsa Medusa dormiēbat was sleeping. Tum then abscīdit he cut off ēius her caput head suā with his falce sickle ūnō at one īctū stroke. Cēterae the other Gorgonēs Gorgons sunt were statim at once excitātae awakened ē from somnō sleep, et and ubi when vīdērunt they saw rem what had happened, sunt they were commōtae roused īrā with anger. Rapuērunt they seized arma their weapons, et and volēbant wanted occīdere to kill Perseum Perseus. Ille he autem however, dum while fugit fleeing, induit put on magicam the magic galeam helmet; et and ubi when fēcit he had done hōc this, statim at once ēvāsit he escaped ē from cōnspectū the sight eārum of them.
Post after haec these things Perseus Perseus vēnit came in into fīnīs the territory Aethiopum of the Ethiopians. Ibi there quīdam a certain Cēpheus Cepheus rēgnābat was reigning illō at that tempore time. Hīc he ōlim once offenderat had offended Neptūnum Neptune, deum the god maris of the sea; Neptūnus Neptune autem in turn mīserat had sent saevissimum a most savage mōnstrum monster. Hōc this veniēbat came cottīdiē every day ē out of marī the sea et and dēvorābat devoured hominēs men. Ob for hanc this causam reason pavor terror occupāverat had seized animōs the minds omnium of all. Cēpheus Cepheus igitur therefore cōnsuluit consulted ōrāculum the oracle deī of the god Hammōnis Ammon, atque and est was iūssus ordered ā by deō the god trādere to hand over fīliam his daughter mōnstrō to the monster. Autem now ēius his fīlia daughter, Andromeda Andromeda nomine by name, erat was fōrmōsissima a most beautiful virgō maiden. Ubi when Cēpheus Cepheus audīvit heard haec these things, percēpit he felt māgnum great dolōrem grief. Tamen yet volēbat he wished extrahere to rescue suōs his cīvīs citizens ē from tantō so great perīculō a danger, atque and ob for eam that causam reason cōnstituit he decided facere to carry out imperāta the commands Hammōnis of Ammon.
Tum then rēx the king dīxit named certam a fixed diem day et and parāvit prepared omnia everything. Ubi when ea that diēs day vēnit came, Andromeda Andromeda est was dēducta led down ad to lītus the shore, et and est was adligāta bound ad to rūpem a rock in in cōnspectū the sight omnium of all. Omnēs all dēplōrābant were lamenting ēius her fātum fate, nec nor tenēbant did they hold back lacrimās their tears. At but subitō suddenly, dum while exspectant they were awaiting mōnstrum the monster, Perseus Perseus accurrit ran up; et and ubi when vīdit he saw lacrimās the tears, quaerit he asked causam the cause dolōris of their grief. Illī they expōnunt explained tōtam the whole rem matter et and dēmōnstrant pointed out puellam the girl. Dum while haec these things geruntur were being done, terribilis a terrible fremitus roar audītur was heard; simul at the same time mōnstrum a monster horribilī of horrible speciē appearance cōnspicitur was seen procul far off. Cōnspectus the sight ēius of it iniēcit struck māximum the greatest timōrem fear omnibus into all. Mōnstrum the monster contendit hastened ad to lītus the shore māgnā with great celeritāte speed, iamque and now appropinquābat it was approaching ad to locum the place ubi where puella the girl stābat was standing.
At but ubi when Perseus Perseus vīdit saw haec these things, ēdūxit he drew suum his gladium sword, et and postquam after induit he put on tālāria the winged sandals, est he was sublātus raised in into āera the air. Tum then subitō suddenly fēcit he made impetum an attack dēsuper from above in on mōnstrum the monster, et and graviter severely vulnerāvit wounded ēius its collum neck suō with his gladiō sword. Ubi when mōnstrum the monster sēnsit felt vulnus the wound, ēdidit it gave out horribilem a horrible fremitum roar, et and sine without morā delay mersit plunged tōtum its whole corpus body in into aquam the water. Perseus Perseus, dum while volat he flew circum about lītus the shore, exspectābat was awaiting ēius its reditum return. Mare the sea autem however intereā meanwhile īnficitur was being stained undique on every side sanguine with blood. Post after breve a short tempus time bēlua the beast sustulit raised caput its head rūrsus again; mox soon tamen however est it was vulnerāta wounded ā by Perseō Perseus graviōre with a heavier īctū blow. Tum then iterum again mersit it plunged sē itself in into undās the waves, neque nor est was it vīsa seen posteā afterwards.
Postquam after Perseus Perseus dēscendit came down ad to lītus the shore, prīmum first exuit he took off tālāria the winged sandals; tum then vēnit he came ad to rūpem the rock ubi where Andromeda Andromeda erat had been vincta bound. Ea she autem however dēposuerat had given up omnem all spem hope salūtis of safety, et and ubi when Perseus Perseus adiit approached, erat she was paene almost exanimāta lifeless terrōre with terror. Ille he statim at once solvit loosed vīncula her bonds, et and reddidit restored puellam the girl patrī to her father. Cēpheus Cepheus est was adfectus filled māximō with the greatest gaudiō joy ob because of hanc this rem thing. Rettulit he rendered meritam due grātiam thanks Perseō to Perseus prō for tantō so great beneficiō a kindness; praetereā besides dedit he gave Andromedam Andromeda ipsam herself eī to him in in mātrimōnium marriage. Ille he accēpit accepted hōc this dōnum gift libenter gladly et and dūxit married puellam the girl. Habitābat he lived cum with suā his uxōre wife in in eā that regiōne region paucōs for a few annōs years, et and erat was in in māgnō great honōre honour apud among omnīs all Aethiopēs the Ethiopians. Tamen yet cupiēbat he desired māgnopere greatly vidēre to see suam his mātrem mother rūrsus again. Igitur so tandem at last discessit he departed ē from rēgnō the kingdom Cēpheī of Cepheus cum with suā his uxōre wife.
Postquam after Perseus Perseus appulit brought nāvem his ship ad to īnsulam the island, contulit he betook sē himself ad to locum the place ubi where māter his mother habitāverat had lived ōlim formerly, sed but invēnit he found domum the house vacuam empty et and omnīnō wholly dēsertam deserted. Trīs for three diēs days quaerēbat he searched for mātrem his mother per through tōtam the whole īnsulam island; tandem at last quartō on the fourth diē day pervēnit he arrived ad at templum the temple Diānae of Diana. Danaē Danae refūgerat had fled for refuge hūc here, quod because timēbat she feared Polydectem Polydectes. Ubi when Perseus Perseus cōgnōvit learned haec these things, est he was commōtus moved māgnā with great īrā anger; contendit he hastened sine without morā delay ad to rēgiam the palace Polydectis of Polydectes, et and ubi when vēnit he came eō there, statim at once inrūpit he burst in into ātrium the hall. Polydectēs Polydectes est was adfectus filled māgnō with great timōre fear et and volēbat wanted fugere to flee. Tamen however, dum while ille he fugit was fleeing, Perseus Perseus mōnstrāvit showed caput the head Medūsae of Medusa; autem and ille he, simul as soon atque as vīdit he saw hōc this, est was versus turned in into saxum stone.
Post after haec these things Perseus Perseus rediit returned cum with suā his uxōre wife ad to urbem the city Acrisī of Acrisius. Ille he autem however, ubi when vīdit he saw Perseum Perseus, est was adfectus filled māgnō with great terrōre terror; nam for timēbat he feared suum his nepōtem grandson adhūc still propter because of istud that ōrāculum oracle. Igitur so statim at once refūgit he fled in into Thessaliam Thessaly ad to urbem the city Lārīsam Larisa, tamen but frūstrā in vain; enim for neque he did not vītāvit escape suum his fātum fate. Post after paucōs a few annōs years rēx the king Lārīsae of Larisa fēcit held māgnōs great lūdōs games; dīmīserat he had sent out nūntiōs messengers in into omnīs all partīs parts, et and ēdīxerat had proclaimed diem the day. Multī many ex from omnibus all urbibus the cities Graeciae of Greece convēnērunt assembled ad for lūdōs the games. Perseus Perseus ipse himself, inter among aliōs others, iniit entered certāmen the contest discōrum of quoits. At but dum while conicit he was throwing discum the quoit, occīdit he killed suum his avum grandfather cāsū by accident; enim for Acrisius Acrisius forte by chance stābat was standing inter among spectātōrēs the spectators ēius of that certāminis contest.
Haec nārrantur ā poētīs dē Perseō. Perseus fīlius erat Iovis, māximī deōrum; avus ēius Acrisius appellābātur. Acrisius volēbat Perseum nepōtem suum necāre; nam propter ōrāculum puerum timēbat. Comprehendit igitur Perseum adhūc infantem, et cum mātre in arcā līgneā inclūsit. Tum arcam ipsam in mare coniēcit. Danaē, Perseī māter, māgnopere territa est; tempestās enim māgna mare turbābat. Perseus autem in sinū mātris dormiēbat.
Iuppiter tamen haec omnia vīdit, et fīlium suum servāre cōnstituit. Tranquillum igitur fēcit mare, et arcam ad īnsulam Serīphum perdūxit. Hūius īnsulae Polydectēs tum rēx erat. Postquam arca ad lītus appulsa est, Danaē in harēnā quiētem capiēbat. Post breve tempus ā piscātōre quōdam reperta est, et ad domum rēgis Polydectis adducta est. Ille mātrem et puerum benīgnē excēpit, et iīs sēdem tūtam in fīnibus suīs dedit. Danaē hōc dōnum libenter accēpit, et prō tantō beneficiō rēgī grātiās ēgit.
Perseus igitur multōs annōs ibi habitābat, et cum mātre suā vītam beātam agēbat. At Polydectēs Danaēn māgnopere amābat, atque eam in mātrimōnium dūcere volēbat. Hōc tamen cōnsilium Perseō minimē grātum erat. Polydectēs igitur Perseum dīmittere cōnstituit. Tum iuvenem ad sē vocāvit et haec dīxit: "Turpe est hanc īgnāvam vītam agere; iam dūdum tū adulēscēns es. Quō ūsque hīc manēbis? Tempus est arma capere et virtūtem praestāre. Hinc abī, et caput Medūsae mihi refer."
Perseus ubi haec audīvit, ex īnsulā discessit, et postquam ad continentem vēnit, Medūsam quaesīvit. Diū frūstrā quaerēbat; namque nātūram locī īgnōrābat. Tandem Apollō et Minerva viam dēmōnstrāvērunt. Prīmum ad Graeās, sorōrēs Medūsae, pervēnit. Ab hīs tālāria et galeam magicam accēpit. Apollō autem et Minerva falcem et speculum dedērunt. Tum postquam tālāria pedibus induit, in āera ascendit. Diū per āera volābat; tandem tamen ad eum locum vēnit ubi Medūsa cum cēterīs Gorgonibus habitābat. Gorgonēs autem mōnstra erant speciē horribilī; capita enim eārum anguibus omnīnō contēcta erant. Manūs etiam ex aere factae erant.
Rēs difficillima erat caput Gorgonis abscīdere; ēius enim cōnspectū homines in saxum vertēbantur. Propter hanc causam Minerva speculum Perseō dederat. Ille igitur tergum vertit, et in speculum īnspiciēbat; hōc modō ad locum vēnit ubi Medūsa dormiēbat. Tum falce suā caput ēius ūnō īctū abscīdit. Cēterae Gorgonēs statim ē somnō excitātae sunt, et ubi rem vīdērunt, īrā commōtae sunt. Arma rapuērunt, et Perseum occīdere volēbant. Ille autem dum fugit, galeam magicam induit; et ubi hōc fēcit, statim ē cōnspectū eārum ēvāsit.
Post haec Perseus in fīnīs Aethiopum vēnit. Ibi Cēpheus quīdam illō tempore rēgnābat. Hīc Neptūnum, maris deum, ōlim offenderat; Neptūnus autem mōnstrum saevissimum mīserat. Hōc cottīdiē ē marī veniēbat et hominēs dēvorābat. Ob hanc causam pavor animōs omnium occupāverat. Cēpheus igitur ōrāculum deī Hammōnis cōnsuluit, atque ā deō iūssus est fīliam mōnstrō trādere. Ēius autem fīlia, nomine Andromeda, virgō fōrmōsissima erat. Cēpheus ubi haec audīvit, māgnum dolōrem percēpit. Volēbat tamen cīvīs suōs ē tantō perīculō extrahere, atque ob eam causam imperāta Hammōnis facere cōnstituit.
Tum rēx diem certam dīxit et omnia parāvit. Ubi ea diēs vēnit, Andromeda ad lītus dēducta est, et in cōnspectū omnium ad rūpem adligāta est. Omnēs fātum ēius dēplōrābant, nec lacrimās tenēbant. At subitō, dum mōnstrum exspectant, Perseus accurrit; et ubi lacrimās vīdit, causam dolōris quaerit. Illī rem tōtam expōnunt et puellam dēmōnstrant. Dum haec geruntur, fremitus terribilis audītur; simul mōnstrum horribilī speciē procul cōnspicitur. Ēius cōnspectus timōrem māximum omnibus iniēcit. Mōnstrum māgnā celeritāte ad lītus contendit, iamque ad locum appropinquābat ubi puella stābat.
At Perseus ubi haec vīdit, gladium suum ēdūxit, et postquam tālāria induit, in āera sublātus est. Tum dēsuper in mōnstrum impetum subitō fēcit, et gladiō suō collum ēius graviter vulnerāvit. Mōnstrum ubi sēnsit vulnus, fremitum horribilem ēdidit, et sine morā tōtum corpus in aquam mersit. Perseus dum circum lītus volat, reditum ēius exspectābat. Mare autem intereā undique sanguine īnficitur. Post breve tempus bēlua rūrsus caput sustulit; mox tamen ā Perseō īctū graviōre vulnerāta est. Tum iterum sē in undās mersit, neque posteā vīsa est.
Perseus postquam ad lītus dēscendit, prīmum tālāria exuit; tum ad rūpem vēnit ubi Andromeda vincta erat. Ea autem omnem spem salūtis dēposuerat, et ubi Perseus adiit, terrōre paene exanimāta erat. Ille vīncula statim solvit, et puellam patrī reddidit. Cēpheus ob hanc rem māximō gaudiō adfectus est. Meritam grātiam prō tantō beneficiō Perseō rettulit; praetereā Andromedam ipsam eī in mātrimōnium dedit. Ille libenter hōc dōnum accēpit et puellam dūxit. Paucōs annōs cum uxōre suā in eā regiōne habitābat, et in māgnō honōre erat apud omnīs Aethiopēs. Māgnopere tamen mātrem suam rūrsus vidēre cupiēbat. Tandem igitur cum uxōre suā ē rēgnō Cēpheī discessit.
Postquam Perseus ad īnsulam nāvem appulit, sē ad locum contulit ubi māter ōlim habitāverat, sed domum invēnit vacuam et omnīnō dēsertam. Trīs diēs per tōtam īnsulam mātrem quaerēbat; tandem quartō diē ad templum Diānae pervēnit. Hūc Danaē refūgerat, quod Polydectem timēbat. Perseus ubi haec cōgnōvit, īrā māgnā commōtus est; ad rēgiam Polydectis sine morā contendit, et ubi eō vēnit, statim in ātrium inrūpit. Polydectēs māgnō timōre adfectus est et fugere volēbat. Dum tamen ille fugit, Perseus caput Medūsae mōnstrāvit; ille autem simul atque hōc vīdit, in saxum versus est.
Post haec Perseus cum uxōre suā ad urbem Acrisī rediit. Ille autem ubi Perseum vīdit, māgnō terrōre adfectus est; nam propter ōrāculum istud nepōtem suum adhūc timēbat. In Thessaliam igitur ad urbem Lārīsam statim refūgit, frūstrā tamen; neque enim fātum suum vītāvit. Post paucōs annōs rēx Lārīsae lūdōs māgnōs fēcit; nūntiōs in omnīs partīs dīmīserat et diem ēdīxerat. Multī ex omnibus urbibus Graeciae ad lūdōs convēnērunt. Ipse Perseus inter aliōs certāmen discōrum iniit. At dum discum conicit, avum suum cāsū occīdit; Acrisius enim inter spectātōrēs ēius certāminis forte stābat.