But she only sighed, and wept the more, and cried-- 'Why will you die, young as you are?
Is there not death and sorrow enough in the world already?
It is noble for me to die, that I may save the lives of a whole people; but you, better than them all, why should I slay you too?
Go you your way; I must go mine.' But Perseus cried, 'Not so; for the Lords of Olympus, whom I serve, are the friends of the heroes, and help them on to noble deeds.

Led by them, I slew the Gorgon, the beautiful horror; and not without them do I come hither, to slay this monster with that same Gorgon's head.

Yet hide your eyes when I leave you, lest the sight of it freeze you too to stone.' But the maiden answered nothing, for she could not believe his words.
And then, suddenly looking up, she pointed to the sea, and shrieked-- 'There he comes, with the sunrise, as they promised.

I must die now.
How shall I endure it?
Oh, go! Is it not dreadful enough to be torn piecemeal, without having you to look on ?' And she tried to thrust him away.
But he said, 'I go; yet promise me one thing ere I go: that if I slay this beast you will be my wife, and come back with me to my kingdom in fruitful Argos, for I am a king's heir.

Promise me, and seal it with a kiss.' Then she lifted up her face, and kissed him; and Perseus laughed for joy, and flew upward, while Andromeda crouched trembling on the rock, waiting for what might befall.
On came the great sea-monster, coasting along like a huge black galley, lazily breasting the ripple, and stopping at times by creek or headland to watch for the laughter of girls at their bleaching, or cattle pawing on the sand-hills, or boys bathing on the beach.