saw the land or the sea, but only
the blue sky above the open window and now and then a white cloud
sailing across. Day after day she sat under the window and wondered why
her father kept her in that lonely place, and whether he would ever come
and take her out. I do not know how many years passed by, but Danae grew
fairer every day, and by and by she was no longer a child, but a tall
and beautiful woman; and Jupiter amid the clouds looked down and saw her
and loved her.

One day it seemed to her that the sky opened and a shower of gold fell
through the window into the room; and when the blinding shower had
ceased, a noble young man stood smiling before her. She did not
know--nor do I--that it was mighty Jupiter who had thus come down in the
rain; but she thought that he was a brave prince who had come from over
the sea to take her out of her prison-house.

After that he came often, but always as a tall and handsome youth; and
by and by they were married, with only the nurse at the wedding feast,
and Danae was so happy that she was no longer lonesome even when he was
away. But one day when he climbed out through the narrow window there
was a great flash of light, and she never saw him again.

Not long afterwards a babe was born to Danae, a smiling boy whom she
named Perseus. For four years she and the nurse kept him hidden, and not
even the women who brought their food to the window knew about him. But
one day the king chanced to be passing by and heard the child's prattle.
When he learned the truth, he was very much alarmed, for he thought that
now, in spite of all that he had done, the words of the Pythia might
come true.

The only sure way to save himself would be to put the child to death
before he was old enough to do any harm. But when he had taken the
little Perseus and his mother out of the prison and had seen how
helpless the child was, he could not bear the thought of having him
killed outright. For the king, although a great coward, was really a
kind-hearted man and did not like to see anything suffer pain. Yet
something must be done.

So he bade his servants make a wooden chest that was roomy and
watertight and strong; and when it was done, he put Danae and the child
into it and had it taken far out to sea and left there to be tossed
about by the waves. He thought that in this way he would rid himself of
both daughter and grandson without seeing them die; for surely the chest
would sink after a while,