Dialogi Marini

Doris And what did she do then?

Thetis She never said a word against her own sentence; she was ready to submit: but she pleaded hard for the child’s life, and cried, and held him up for his grandfather to see; and there was the sweet babe, that thought no harm, smiling at the waves. I am beginning again, at the mere remembrance of it.

Doris You make me cry, too. And is it all over?

Thetis No; the chest has carried them safely so far; it is by Seriphus.

Doris Then why should we not save them? We can put the

Thetis The very thing. She shall not die; nor the child, sweet treasure!

Triton Well, ladies: so the monster you sent against the daughter of Cepheus has got killed himself, and never done Andromeda any harm at all!”

Nereid Who did it? I suppose Cepheus was just using his daughter as a bait, and had a whole army waiting in ambush to kill him?

Triton No, no.—Iphianassa, you remember Perseus, Danae’s boy?—they were both thrown into the sea by the boy’s grandfather, in that chest, you know, and you took pity on them.

Iphianassa I know; why, I suppose he is a fine handsome young fellow by now?

Triton It was he who killed your monster.

Iphianassa But why? This was not the way to show his gratitude.