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Next he proclaimed a great feast, and invited to it all the
chiefs, and landowners, and the young men of the island, and
among them Perseus, that they might all do him homage as
their king, and eat of his banquet in his hall.
On the appointed day they all came; and as the custom was
then, each guest brought his present with him to the king:
one a horse, another a shawl, or a ring, or a sword; and
those who had nothing better brought a basket of grapes, or
of game; but Perseus brought nothing, for he had nothing to
bring, being but a poor sailor-lad.
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.'
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