# Prīmus et Secundus Annus, Perseus

Fabulae Faciles

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 Serīphos, 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.

Source: https://1732studios.com/courses/la/37. Data: https://1732studios.com/courses/la/37.json.

## The Ark (Fabulae Faciles 1)

**1** Haec nārrantur ā poētīs dē Perseō.  
These things are told by the poets about Perseus.

**2** Perseus fīlius erat Iovis, māximī deōrum; avus ēius Acrisius appellābātur.  
Perseus was the son of Jupiter, the greatest of the gods; his grandfather was called Acrisius.

**3** Acrisius volēbat Perseum nepōtem suum necāre; nam propter ōrāculum puerum timēbat.  
Acrisius wanted to kill Perseus, his grandson; for because of an oracle he feared the boy.

**4** Comprehendit igitur Perseum adhūc infantem, et cum mātre in arcā līgneā inclūsit.  
He therefore seized Perseus, still an infant, and shut him up with his mother in a wooden chest.

**5** Tum arcam ipsam in mare coniēcit.  
Then he threw the chest itself into the sea.

**6** Danaē, Perseī māter, māgnopere territa est; tempestās enim māgna mare turbābat.  
Danae, the mother of Perseus, was greatly terrified; for a great storm was churning the sea.

**7** Perseus autem in sinū mātris dormiēbat.  
Perseus, however, was sleeping on his mother's breast.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| arcā | box, chest |
| līgneā | wooden, wood-, from ligneus |

## Jupiter Saves His Son (Fabulae Faciles 2)

**8** Iuppiter tamen haec omnia vīdit, et fīlium suum servāre cōnstituit.  
Jupiter, however, saw all this, and decided to save his son.

**9** Tranquillum igitur fēcit mare, et arcam ad īnsulam Serīphum perdūxit.  
He therefore made the sea calm, and brought the chest through to the island of Seriphos.

**10** Hūius īnsulae Polydectēs tum rēx erat.  
Polydectes was at that time king of this island.

**11** Postquam arca ad lītus appulsa est, Danaē in harēnā quiētem capiēbat.  
After the chest had been driven ashore, Danae was resting on the sand.

**12** Post breve tempus ā piscātōre quōdam reperta est, et ad domum rēgis Polydectis adducta est.  
After a short time she was found by a certain fisherman, and was brought to the house of King Polydectes.

**13** Ille mātrem et puerum benīgnē excēpit, et iīs sēdem tūtam in fīnibus suīs dedit.  
He received the mother and the boy kindly, and gave them a safe home within his borders.

**14** Danaē hōc dōnum libenter accēpit, et prō tantō beneficiō rēgī grātiās ēgit.  
Danae accepted this gift gladly, and thanked the king for so great a kindness.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Serīphum | Seriphos, an island of the, from Seriphus |
| Polydectis | Polydectes, king of Seriphos |

## Perseus is Sent on His Travels (Fabulae Faciles 3)

**15** Perseus igitur multōs annōs ibi habitābat, et cum mātre suā vītam beātam agēbat.  
Perseus therefore lived there for many years, and led a happy life with his mother.

**16** At Polydectēs Danaēn māgnopere amābat, atque eam in mātrimōnium dūcere volēbat.  
But Polydectes loved Danae greatly, and wanted to take her in marriage.

**17** Hōc tamen cōnsilium Perseō minimē grātum erat.  
This plan, however, was not at all pleasing to Perseus.

**18** Polydectēs igitur Perseum dīmittere cōnstituit.  
Polydectes therefore decided to send Perseus away.

**19** Tum iuvenem ad sē vocāvit et haec dīxit: "Turpe est hanc īgnāvam vītam agere; iam dūdum tū adulēscēns es.  
Then he called the young man to him and said this: "It is shameful to lead this idle life; you have been a young man for a long time now.

**20** Quō ūsque hīc manēbis?  
How long will you stay here?

**21** Tempus est arma capere et virtūtem praestāre.  
It is time to take up arms and to show your courage.

**22** Hinc abī, et caput Medūsae mihi refer."  
Go away from here, and bring me back the head of Medusa."

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Turpe | disgrace |
| dūdum | little while ago |

## Perseus Gets His Outfit (Fabulae Faciles 4)

**23** Perseus ubi haec audīvit, ex īnsulā discessit, et postquam ad continentem vēnit, Medūsam quaesīvit.  
When Perseus had heard this, he left the island, and after he came to the mainland he looked for Medusa.

**24** Diū frūstrā quaerēbat; namque nātūram locī īgnōrābat.  
For a long time he searched in vain; for he did not know the nature of the place.

**25** Tandem Apollō et Minerva viam dēmōnstrāvērunt.  
At last Apollo and Minerva showed him the way.

**26** Prīmum ad Graeās, sorōrēs Medūsae, pervēnit.  
First he came to the Graeae, the sisters of Medusa.

**27** Ab hīs tālāria et galeam magicam accēpit.  
From them he received winged sandals and a magic helmet.

**28** Apollō autem et Minerva falcem et speculum dedērunt.  
Apollo and Minerva, moreover, gave him a sickle and a mirror.

**29** Tum postquam tālāria pedibus induit, in āera ascendit.  
Then, after he had put the sandals on his feet, he rose into the air.

**30** Diū per āera volābat; tandem tamen ad eum locum vēnit ubi Medūsa cum cēterīs Gorgonibus habitābat.  
For a long time he was flying through the air; at last, however, he came to that place where Medusa was living with the other Gorgons.

**31** Gorgonēs autem mōnstra erant speciē horribilī; capita enim eārum anguibus omnīnō contēcta erant.  
The Gorgons were monsters of horrible appearance; for their heads were entirely covered with snakes.

**32** Manūs etiam ex aere factae erant.  
Their hands too were made of bronze.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Graeās | the Graeae, sisters of the |
| tālāria | of dice, from talaris |
| falcem | sickle. scythe, from falx |
| speculum | lookout |
| Gorgonibus | the Gorgons |
| Gorgonēs | the Gorgons |
| horribilī | awful, horrible, from horribilis |
| anguibus | old, aged, from anguis |
| contēcta | of, from contectus |

## The Gorgon's Head (Fabulae Faciles 5)

**33** Rēs difficillima erat caput Gorgonis abscīdere; ēius enim cōnspectū homines in saxum vertēbantur.  
It was a very difficult thing to cut off the head of the Gorgon; for at the sight of her men were turned to stone.

**34** Propter hanc causam Minerva speculum Perseō dederat.  
For this reason Minerva had given Perseus the mirror.

**35** Ille igitur tergum vertit, et in speculum īnspiciēbat; hōc modō ad locum vēnit ubi Medūsa dormiēbat.  
He therefore turned his back and kept looking into the mirror; in this way he came to the place where Medusa was sleeping.

**36** Tum falce suā caput ēius ūnō īctū abscīdit.  
Then with his sickle he cut off her head at a single stroke.

**37** Cēterae Gorgonēs statim ē somnō excitātae sunt, et ubi rem vīdērunt, īrā commōtae sunt.  
The other Gorgons were at once roused from sleep, and when they saw what had happened, they were moved to anger.

**38** Arma rapuērunt, et Perseum occīdere volēbant.  
They snatched up arms, and wanted to kill Perseus.

**39** Ille autem dum fugit, galeam magicam induit; et ubi hōc fēcit, statim ē cōnspectū eārum ēvāsit.  
He, however, while he was fleeing, put on the magic helmet; and when he had done this, he at once escaped out of their sight.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Gorgonis | a Gorgon, from Gorgona |
| īnspiciēbat | examine, inspect, from inspicio |

## The Sea-serpent (Fabulae Faciles 6)

**40** Post haec Perseus in fīnīs Aethiopum vēnit.  
After this Perseus came into the territory of the Ethiopians.

**41** Ibi Cēpheus quīdam illō tempore rēgnābat.  
There a certain Cepheus was reigning at that time.

**42** Hīc Neptūnum, maris deum, ōlim offenderat; Neptūnus autem mōnstrum saevissimum mīserat.  
He had once offended Neptune, the god of the sea; and Neptune had sent a most savage monster.

**43** Hōc cottīdiē ē marī veniēbat et hominēs dēvorābat.  
This came out of the sea every day and devoured men.

**44** Ob hanc causam pavor animōs omnium occupāverat.  
For this reason dread had taken hold of the hearts of all.

**45** Cēpheus igitur ōrāculum deī Hammōnis cōnsuluit, atque ā deō iūssus est fīliam mōnstrō trādere.  
Cepheus therefore consulted the oracle of the god Hammon, and was ordered by the god to hand over his daughter to the monster.

**46** Ēius autem fīlia, nomine Andromeda, virgō fōrmōsissima erat.  
His daughter, however, Andromeda by name, was a most beautiful girl.

**47** Cēpheus ubi haec audīvit, māgnum dolōrem percēpit.  
When Cepheus heard this, he felt great grief.

**48** Volēbat tamen cīvīs suōs ē tantō perīculō extrahere, atque ob eam causam imperāta Hammōnis facere cōnstituit.  
Yet he wanted to draw his citizens out of so great a danger, and for that reason he decided to carry out the commands of Hammon.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Aethiopum | Ethiopian, inhabitant of "Ethiopia", from Aethiops |
| iūssus | order, command, from jussus |

## A Human Sacrifice (Fabulae Faciles 7)

**49** Tum rēx diem certam dīxit et omnia parāvit.  
Then the king named a fixed day and made all the preparations.

**50** Ubi ea diēs vēnit, Andromeda ad lītus dēducta est, et in cōnspectū omnium ad rūpem adligāta est.  
When that day came, Andromeda was led down to the shore, and in the sight of all was bound to a rock.

**51** Omnēs fātum ēius dēplōrābant, nec lacrimās tenēbant.  
All were lamenting her fate, and could not hold back their tears.

**52** At subitō, dum mōnstrum exspectant, Perseus accurrit; et ubi lacrimās vīdit, causam dolōris quaerit.  
But suddenly, while they are waiting for the monster, Perseus runs up; and when he sees the tears, he asks the cause of their grief.

**53** Illī rem tōtam expōnunt et puellam dēmōnstrant.  
They set out the whole matter to him and point out the girl.

**54** Dum haec geruntur, fremitus terribilis audītur; simul mōnstrum horribilī speciē procul cōnspicitur.  
While this is going on, a terrible roaring is heard; at the same moment the monster of horrible appearance is sighted far off.

**55** Ēius cōnspectus timōrem māximum omnibus iniēcit.  
The sight of it struck the greatest fear into everyone.

**56** Mōnstrum māgnā celeritāte ad lītus contendit, iamque ad locum appropinquābat ubi puella stābat.  
The monster hurried to the shore with great speed, and was already drawing near the place where the girl was standing.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| rūpem | cliff, from rupes |
| fātum | fool |
| accurrit | run, from accurro |

## The Rescue (Fabulae Faciles 8)

**57** At Perseus ubi haec vīdit, gladium suum ēdūxit, et postquam tālāria induit, in āera sublātus est.  
But when Perseus saw this, he drew his sword, and after he had put on the sandals he was raised into the air.

**58** Tum dēsuper in mōnstrum impetum subitō fēcit, et gladiō suō collum ēius graviter vulnerāvit.  
Then from above he suddenly made an attack on the monster, and wounded its neck severely with his sword.

**59** Mōnstrum ubi sēnsit vulnus, fremitum horribilem ēdidit, et sine morā tōtum corpus in aquam mersit.  
When the monster felt the wound, it gave out a horrible roar, and without delay plunged its whole body into the water.

**60** Perseus dum circum lītus volat, reditum ēius exspectābat.  
Perseus, while he was flying about the shore, was waiting for it to come back.

**61** Mare autem intereā undique sanguine īnficitur.  
The sea, meanwhile, is being stained with blood on every side.

**62** Post breve tempus bēlua rūrsus caput sustulit; mox tamen ā Perseō īctū graviōre vulnerāta est.  
After a short time the beast lifted its head again; soon, however, it was wounded by Perseus with a heavier stroke.

**63** Tum iterum sē in undās mersit, neque posteā vīsa est.  
Then it plunged itself into the waves once more, and was not seen afterwards.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| mersit | dip, plunge, from mergo |
| īnficitur | corrupt, infect, from inficio |
| bēlua | beast, wild animal |

## The Reward of Valor (Fabulae Faciles 9)

**64** Perseus postquam ad lītus dēscendit, prīmum tālāria exuit; tum ad rūpem vēnit ubi Andromeda vincta erat.  
After Perseus had come down to the shore, he first took off the sandals; then he came to the rock where Andromeda had been bound.

**65** Ea autem omnem spem salūtis dēposuerat, et ubi Perseus adiit, terrōre paene exanimāta erat.  
She had given up all hope of safety, and when Perseus came up she was almost lifeless with terror.

**66** Ille vīncula statim solvit, et puellam patrī reddidit.  
He at once loosed her chains, and gave the girl back to her father.

**67** Cēpheus ob hanc rem māximō gaudiō adfectus est.  
Cepheus was filled with the greatest joy at this.

**68** Meritam grātiam prō tantō beneficiō Perseō rettulit; praetereā Andromedam ipsam eī in mātrimōnium dedit.  
He gave Perseus the thanks he deserved for so great a kindness; besides, he gave him Andromeda herself in marriage.

**69** Ille libenter hōc dōnum accēpit et puellam dūxit.  
He gladly accepted this gift and married the girl.

**70** Paucōs annōs cum uxōre suā in eā regiōne habitābat, et in māgnō honōre erat apud omnīs Aethiopēs.  
For a few years he lived with his wife in that region, and was held in great honor among all the Ethiopians.

**71** Māgnopere tamen mātrem suam rūrsus vidēre cupiēbat.  
Greatly, however, he longed to see his mother again.

**72** Tandem igitur cum uxōre suā ē rēgnō Cēpheī discessit.  
At last, therefore, he left the kingdom of Cepheus with his wife.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| exuit | pull off, from exuo |

## Polydectes is Turned to Stone (Fabulae Faciles 10)

**73** Postquam Perseus ad īnsulam nāvem appulit, sē ad locum contulit ubi māter ōlim habitāverat, sed domum invēnit vacuam et omnīnō dēsertam.  
After Perseus had brought his ship to shore at the island, he betook himself to the place where his mother had once lived, but he found the house empty and altogether deserted.

**74** Trīs diēs per tōtam īnsulam mātrem quaerēbat; tandem quartō diē ad templum Diānae pervēnit.  
For three days he searched for his mother through the whole island; at last on the fourth day he reached the temple of Diana.

**75** Hūc Danaē refūgerat, quod Polydectem timēbat.  
Danae had fled here for refuge, because she feared Polydectes.

**76** Perseus ubi haec cōgnōvit, īrā māgnā commōtus est; ad rēgiam Polydectis sine morā contendit, et ubi eō vēnit, statim in ātrium inrūpit.  
When Perseus learned this, he was moved by great anger; he hurried without delay to the palace of Polydectes, and when he arrived there he at once burst into the hall.

**77** Polydectēs māgnō timōre adfectus est et fugere volēbat.  
Polydectes was filled with great fear and wanted to flee.

**78** Dum tamen ille fugit, Perseus caput Medūsae mōnstrāvit; ille autem simul atque hōc vīdit, in saxum versus est.  
But while he was fleeing, Perseus showed him the head of Medusa; and as soon as he saw it he was turned to stone.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| quartō | four |

## The Oracle Fulfilled (Fabulae Faciles 11)

**79** Post haec Perseus cum uxōre suā ad urbem Acrisī rediit.  
After this Perseus returned with his wife to the city of Acrisius.

**80** Ille autem ubi Perseum vīdit, māgnō terrōre adfectus est; nam propter ōrāculum istud nepōtem suum adhūc timēbat.  
But when he saw Perseus, he was filled with great terror; for because of that oracle he still feared his grandson.

**81** In Thessaliam igitur ad urbem Lārīsam statim refūgit, frūstrā tamen; neque enim fātum suum vītāvit.  
He therefore fled at once into Thessaly, to the city of Larisa, but in vain; for he did not escape his fate.

**82** Post paucōs annōs rēx Lārīsae lūdōs māgnōs fēcit; nūntiōs in omnīs partīs dīmīserat et diem ēdīxerat.  
After a few years the king of Larisa held great games; he had sent messengers out in all directions and had named the day.

**83** Multī ex omnibus urbibus Graeciae ad lūdōs convēnērunt.  
Many came to the games from all the cities of Greece.

**84** Ipse Perseus inter aliōs certāmen discōrum iniit.  
Perseus himself, among the others, entered the discus contest.

**85** At dum discum conicit, avum suum cāsū occīdit; Acrisius enim inter spectātōrēs ēius certāminis forte stābat.  
But while he was throwing the discus, he killed his grandfather by accident; for Acrisius happened to be standing among the spectators of that contest.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| Lārīsam | Larisa, a city of Thessaly |
| ēdīxerat | proclaim, declare, from edico |