Story of Medusa’s Head
Medusa, one of the three Gorgons, and celebrated for her personal beauty, is violated by Neptune in the temple of Minerva who changes the flowing ringlets, which had attracted the admiration of the god, into hissing snakes, which are finally transferred to the aegis of Minerva.
The hero with his just request complies, Shows how a vale beneath cold Atlas lies, Where, with aspiring mountains fenced around, He the two daughters of old Phorcus found. Fate had one common eye to both assign’d, Each saw by turns, and each by turns was blind. But while one strove to lend her sister sight, He stretch’d his hand, and stole their mutual light, And left both eyeless, both involved in night.
Through devious wilds, and trackless woods, he pass’d, And at the Gorgon seats arrived at last: But as he journey’d, pensive, he survey’d What wasteful havoc dire Medusa made. Here, stood still breathing statues, men before; There, rampant lions seem’d in stone to roar. Nor did he, yet affrighted, quit the field; But in the mirror of his polish’d shield, Reflected, saw Medusa slumbers take,
And not one serpent, by good chance, awake. Then backward an unerring blow he sped, And from her body lopp’d at once her head. The gore prolific proved; with sudden force Sprung Pegasus, and wing’d his airy course.
The heaven-born warrior faithfully went on, And told the numerous dangers which he run; What subject seas, what lands he had in view, And nigh what stars the advent’rous hero flew. At last he silent sat; the list’ning throng Sigh’d at the pause of his delightful tongue. Some begg’d to know why this alone should wear, Of all the sisters, such destructive hair.
Great Perseus then: “With me you shall prevail, Worth the relation, to relate a tale. Medusa once had charms; to gain her love A rival crowd of envious lovers strove. They who have seen her own, they ne’er did trace More moving features in a sweeter face: Yet, above all, her length of hair, they own, In golden ringlets waved, and graceful shone. Her Neptune saw, and with such beauties fired,
Resolved to compass what his soul desired. The bashful goddess turn’d her eyes away, Nor durst such bold impurity survey; But on the lovely virgin vengeance takes, Her shining hair is changed to hissing snakes. These, in her aegis, Pallas joys to bear: The hissing snakes her foes more sure insnare, Than they did lovers once, when shining hair.”