Dialogues of the Gods (14.3-15.3)

TRITON

When he was at the Ethiopian shore here, and now flying low, he saw Andromeda lying fastened to a projecting rock—ye gods, what a beautiful sight she was!—with her

hair let down, but largely uncovered from the breasts downwards. At first he pitied her fate and asked the reason for her punishment, but little by little he succumbed to love, and decided to help, since she had to be saved. So when the monster came—a fearsome sight it was too!—to gulp her down, the young man hovered above it with his scimitar unsheathed, and, striking with one hand, showed it the Gorgon with the other, and turned it into stone. At one and the same time was the monster killed, and most of it, all of it that faced Medusa, petrified. Then Perseus undid the maiden’s chains, and supported her with his hand as she tip-toed down from the slippery rock. Now he’s marrying her in Cepheus’ palace and will take her away to Argos, so that, instead of dying, she’s come by an uncommonly good marriage.

IPHIANASSA

I, for one, am not sorry to hear it. What harm did the girl do to us, if her mother was always boasting and claiming to be more beautiful than we are?

DORIS

Well that way as a mother she would have suffered through her daughter.

IPHIANASSA

Let’s forget all that, Doris, if a barbarian woman’s talk has been too big. She’s paid us penalty enough by being frightened for her daughter. So let’s accept the marriage with a good grace.

WEST WIND

I’ve never seen a more magnificent pageant on the sea, ever since I began to live and blow. Didn’t you see it, Notus?

SOUTH WIND

What pageant do you mean, Zephyrus? Who were in it?

WEST WIND

You missed a most delightful spectacle, the like of which you’ll never see again.

SOUTH WIND

Well, I was at work about the Red Sea, and I blew also over the parts of India near the coast. So I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.

WEST WIND

But you do know Agenor of Sidon?

SOUTH WIND

Yes, Europa’s father. Of course I do.

WEST WIND

I’ll tell you something about the girl herself.

SOUTH WIND

Not that Zeus has long been in love with her? I’ve known that for ages.

WEST WIND

Well, you may know about his love, but let me now tell you what followed.

WEST WIND

Europa in her play had come down to the beach with her companions, and Zeus took the shape of a bull, and started playing with them, looking magnificent, for he was all white with nice curly horns and gentle eyes. Well, he too started skipping about on the beach, and bellowed most charmingly, so that Europa even dared to climb up on to him. Thereupon Zeus galloped off to the sea with her on his back, plunged in and began to swim; she was quite terrified, and clutched his horn with her left hand so as not to slip off, while she held her robe down against the wind with her right hand.

SOUTH WIND

Indeed a delightful spectacle for you, my dear Zephyrus—a real love-scene! Zeus swimming along and carrying off his beloved!

WEST WIND

But what followed was far more delightful, Notus. The sea became waveless at once, and draping herself in calm, made herself smooth; we all kept quiet, and followed beside them, just watching what was going on, while the Loves fluttered alongside just above the sea, occasionally just touching the water with their feet, carrying lighted torches, and singing the marriage hymn, and the Nereids, coming

to the surface, rode alongside on dolphins, clapping their hands, pretty well half-naked. The Tritons and all other creatures of the sea that do not frighten the eye, were dancing round the girl. Poseidon astride his car, with Amphitrite beside him, was driving in front, delighted to lead the way for his brother as he swam. To cap all, two Tritons were carrying Aphrodite reclining on a shell, and sprinkling all manner of flowers over the bride.