Perseus igitur multōs annōs ibi habitābat, et cum mātre suā vītam beātam agēbat. At Polydectēs Danaēn māgnopere amābat, atque eam in mātrimōnium dūcere volēbat. Hōc tamen cōnsilium Perseō minimē grātum erat. Polydectēs igitur Perseum dīmittere cōnstituit. Tum iuvenem ad sē vocāvit et haec dīxit:
"Turpe est hanc īgnāvam vītam agere; iam dūdum tū adulēscēns es.
Quō ūsque hīc manēbis? Tempus est arma capere et virtūtem praestāre. Hinc abī, et caput Medūsae mihi refer."
Perseus was dwelling on the island for many yaers, and lived a beautiful life with his mother. But [^1] Polydectes loves Danae greatly, and wished to lead her into marriage. This plan was not pleasing to Perseus. Polydectes, therefore, sent Perseus away. Then he called for the young man and said this:
“It is shameful to live a lazy life; for a long time now you have been a youth. For how long will you stay? It is time for you to show your bravery. Leave from here, and bring me back the head of Medusa.”
[^1] This is a grammatically important “but”; it is like a change in scene, not just a drawback.