ish, or
sea-monster. Some authors have suggested that the story of the
creature which was to have devoured Andromeda, was a confused version
of that of the prophet Jonah.

The alleged power of Perseus, to turn his enemies into stone, was
probably, a metaphorical mode of describing his heroism, and the
terror which everywhere followed the fame of his victory over the
Gorgons. This probably caused such consternation, that it was reported
that he petrified his enemies by showing them the head of Medusa.
Bochart supposes that the rocky nature of the island of Seriphus,
where Polydectes reigned, was the ground of the various stories of the
alleged metamorphoses into stone, effected by means of the Gorgon's
head.

FABLE II. [V.243-340]

Polydectes continues his hatred against Perseus, and treats his
victories and triumphs over Medusa as mere fictions, on which Perseus
turns him into stone. Minerva leaves her brother, and goes to Mount
Helicon to visit the Muses, who show the Goddess the beauties of their
habitation, and entertain her with their adventure at the court of
Pyreneus, and the death of that prince. They also repeat to her the
song of the Pierides, who challenged them to sing.

Yet, O Polydectes,[23] the ruler of little Seriphus, neither the valor
of the youth proved by so many toils, nor his sorrows have softened
thee; but thou obstinately dost exert an inexorable hatred, nor is there
any limit to thy unjust resentment. Thou also detractest from his
praises, and dost allege that the death of Medusa is {but} a fiction.
"We will give thee a proof of the truth," says Perseus; "have a regard
for your eyes, {all besides};" and he makes the face of the king
{become} stone, without blood, by means of the face of Medusa.

Hitherto Tritonia had presented herself as a companion to her
brother,[24] begotten in the golden shower. Now, enwrapped in an
encircling cloud, she abandons Seriphus, Cythnus and Gyarus[25] being
left on the right. And where the way seems the shortest over the sea,
she makes for Thebes and Helicon, frequented by the virgin {Muses};
having reached which mountain she stops, and thus addresses the learned
sisters: "The fame of the new fountain[26] has reached my ears, which
the hard hoof of the winged steed sprung from the blood of Medusa has
opened. That is the cause of my coming. I wished to see this wondrous
prodigy; I saw him spring from the blood of his mot