He was ashamed, however, to go into the king’s presence without his gift; and he was too proud to ask Dictys to lend him one. So he stood at the door sorrowfully, watching the rich men go in; and his face grew very red as they pointed at him, and smiled, and whispered, ‘What has that foundling to give?’
Now this was what Polydectes wanted; and as soon as he heard that Perseus stood without, he bade them bring him in, and asked him scornfully before them all, ‘Am I not your king, Perseus, and have I not invited you to my feast? Where is your present, then?’
Perseus blushed and stammered, while all the proud men round laughed, and some of them began jeering him openly. ‘This fellow was thrown ashore here like a piece of weed or drift-wood, and yet he is too proud to bring a gift to the king.’
‘And though he does not know who his father is, he is vain enough to let the old women call him the son of Zeus.’
And so forth, till poor Perseus grew mad with shame, and hardly knowing what he said, cried out,—‘A present! who are you who talk of presents? See if I do not bring a nobler one than all of yours together!’
So he said boasting; and yet he felt in his heart that he was braver than all those scoffers, and more able to do some glorious deed.
‘Hear him! Hear the boaster! What is it to be?’ cried they all, laughing louder than ever.
Then his dream at Samos came into his mind, and he cried aloud, ‘The head of the Gorgon.’
He was half afraid after he had said the words for all laughed louder than ever, and Polydectes loudest of all.
‘You have promised to bring me the Gorgon’s head? Then never appear again in this island without it. Go!’