But Polydectes, you, the king of small
Seriphus, still were harsh, implacable:
despite young Perseus’ worth, his feats and trials,
your hatred of him, venomous and vile,
was endless. Yes, you even dared belittle
his slaying of Medusa; speaking ill,
you said it was invented, false—a fable.
But Perseus cried: “If you want proof, then I
will give it to you. Let the others hide
their eyes”—and with Medusa’s head held high,
he left that skeptic bloodless, petrified.