He flew on wingèd sandals near the shore
And saw her naked there bound tight to stone
As beautiful a maiden naught before,
Had Perseus, the hero, ever known.
 
He carried the decapitated head
Of the Gorgon sister who was widely known
As Medusa—who was definitely dead
But whose stare still could turn a man to stone.
 
He came up with a proffer for her father
If he could save the maiden they would wed.
And so he went to win the lovely daughter
And separated Cetus from his head.
 
But when they were to wed, her once-betrothed
Stood up to object; was turned to stone.