the path to the daughters of the Evening Star and swear to me that you
tell me right."

Then they wept and chattered and scolded, but all in vain. They were
forced to tell the truth, though when they told it, Perseus could
hardly make out the way. But he gave them back the eye and leaped away
to the southward, leaving the snow and ice behind.

At last he heard sweet voices singing, and he guessed that he was come
to the garden of the daughters of the Evening Star.

When they saw him they trembled and said, "Are you come to rob our
garden and carry off our golden fruit?"

But Perseus answered, "I want none of your golden fruit. Tell me the
way which leads to the Gorgon that I may go on my way and slay her."

"Not yet, not yet, fair boy," they answered, "come dance with us
around the trees in the garden."

"I cannot dance with you, fair maidens, so tell me the way to the
Gorgon, lest I wander and perish in the waves."

Then they sighed and wept, and answered, "The Gorgon! She will freeze
you into stone."

But Perseus said, "The gods have lent me weapons, and will give me
wisdom to use them."

Then the fair maidens told him that the Gorgon lived on an island