Page:Metamorphoses.djvu/271

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METAMORPHOSES BOOK V content to let him go; but Ethemon gives him no time, and comes rushing on, eager to wound him in the and drives his sword with mighty power but careless aim, and breaks it on the edge of the great stone column the blade flies ofl and sticks in its neck, owner's throat. The stroke indeed is not dee enough for death; but as he stands there trembling stretching out his empty hands (but all in vain), Perseus thrusts him through with Mercury's hooked and sword. But when Perseus saw his own strength was no match for the superior numbers of his foes, he ex- claimed: "Since you yourselves force me to it, I shall seek aid from my own enemy. Turn away your faces, if any friend be here." So saying, he raised n high the Gorgon's head. "Seek someone else to frighten with your magic arts," cried Thesceļus. and raised his deadly javelin in act to throw; but in very act he stood immovable, a marble statue Next after him Ampyx thrust his sword full at the heart of the great-souled Perseus; but in that thrust is right hand stiffened and moved neither this way nor that. But Nileus, who talsely claimed that he as sprung from the sevenfold Nile, and who had n his shield engraved the image of the stream's seven mouths, part silver and part gold, cried : "See, 'erseus, the source whence I have sprung. Surely great consolation for your death will you carry to the silent shades, that you have fallen by so great a nan,,-his last words were cut off in mid-speech; you would suppose that his open lips still strove to speak, but they no longer gave passage to his words These two Eryx rebuked, saying: " 'Tis from defect of courage, not from any power of the Gorgon's head, that you stand rigid. Rush in with me and hurl to 251 that