At each pause in her song comes the voice of Echo repeating the sad syllables, till Andromeda is joined by the maidens who form the chorus. The lyric dialogue concluded, it seems[795] that the father and mother, Cepheus and Cassiopeia, enter and that there is some talk of attacking the monster; Phineus, brother of the king and the affianced of Andromeda, shrinks from the risk. But now comes unlooked-for aid. Perseus, fresh from his slaughter of the Gorgon, arrives, borne through the air on his winged sandals. Though Zeus is his father, in this play he figures as the lowly hero familiar in our own fairy-tales. Certainly he appears to be contrasted with the rich but cowardly Phineus, and the helpless despairing king. His first words have been preserved:— Gods! To what alien kingdom am I come On sandals swift, between the earth and Heaven Journeying homewards on these wingèd feet?... But soft! what crag is that by tossing foam Surrounded? Lo, the statue of a maid Hewn from the living rock by patient art, Its craftsman’s master-work! Drawing near, he perceives that this thing of beauty is a living maiden, and at once longs to make her his bride. When she asks his name, instead of proudly claiming Zeus as his father, he mentions his own name, his journey’s end, and his achievement:— Περσεύς, πρὸς Ἄργος ναυστολῶν, τὸ Γοργόνος κάρα κομίζων. But he is no mediæval knight; he does not forbear to state his claim before addressing himself to the task: “And if I save thee, maid, wilt give me thanks?” Andromeda, on her side, feels and speaks without subtlety:— Stranger, have pity on my sore distress: Free me from bonds, and again Take me, O stranger, for thy handmaiden, Or wife, or slave. Before encountering the monster Perseus comes to an understanding with Cepheus and goes forth to the conflict, calling upon Eros to aid his chosen:— O Love, of gods and men tyrannic Lord, Either teach Beauty to unlearn her power, Or speed true lovers, through th’ adventurous maze That in thy name they enter, to success. So shall all men to thee pay reverence. Refuse, and lo! thy glories fade to naught E’en through thy very boon of wakened hearts. Two or three lines picture the grateful crowd of rustics who surrounded the victor: “all the shepherd-folk flowed around him, one bringing an ivy-bowl of milk for his refreshing, another the joyous grape-juice”. Phineus sought to assert his claim upon Andromeda, but was repulsed by her father. Later the maiden’s parents themselves begged her not to leave them desolate. In a thrilling[796] reply she declared that she would cleave to her husband. Then follows mention of a wedding-feast, and at the close it seems probable that Athena foretold the future.