He was ashamed, however, to go into the king's presence without his
gift; and he was too proud to ask Dictys to lend him one. So he
stood at the door sorrowfully, watching the rich men go in; and his
face grew very red as they pointed at him, and smiled, and
whispered, 'What has that foundling to give?'
Now this was what Polydectes wanted; and as soon as he heard that
Perseus stood without, he bade them bring him in, and asked him
scornfully before them all, 'Am I not your king, Perseus, and have
I not invited you to my feast? Where is your present, then?'
Perseus blushed and stammered, while all the proud men round
laughed, and some of them began jeering him openly. 'This fellow
was thrown ashore here like a piece of weed or drift-wood, and yet
he is too proud to bring a gift to the king.'
'And though he does not know who his father is, he is vain enough
to let the old women call him the son of Zeus.'
And so forth, till poor Perseus grew mad with shame, and hardly
knowing what he said, cried out,--'A present! who are you who talk
of presents? See if I do not bring a nobler one than all of yours
together!'
So he said boasting; and yet he felt in his heart that he was
braver than all those scoffers, and more able to do some glorious
deed.
'Hear him! Hear the boaster! What is it to be?' cried they all,
laughing louder than ever.
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