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PART VI … WHAT WAS THE END OF THE HEROES
AND now I wish that I could end my story pleasantly； but it is no fault of mine that I cannot。 The old songs end it sadly； and I believe that they are right and wise； for though the heroes were purified at Malea； yet sacrifices cannot make bad hearts good； and Jason had taken a wicked wife； and he had to bear his burden to the last。
And first she laid a cunning plot to punish that poor old Pelias； instead of letting him die in peace。
For she told his daughters； 'I can make old things young again； I will show you how easy it is to do。' So she took an old ram and killed him； and put him in a cauldron with magic herbs； and whispered her spells over him； and he leapt out again a young lamb。 So that 'Medeia's cauldron' is a proverb still； by which we mean times of war and change； when the world has become old and feeble； and grows young again through bitter pains。
Then she said to Pelias' daughters； 'Do to your father as I did to this ram； and he will grow young and strong again。' But she only told them half the spell； so they failed； while Medeia mocked them； and poor old Pelias died； and his daughters came to misery。 But the songs say she cured AEson； Jason's father； and he became young； and strong again。
But Jason could not love her； after all her cruel deeds。 So he was ungrateful to her； and wronged her； and she revenged herself on him。 And a terrible revenge she took … too terrible to speak of here。 But you will hear of it yourselves when you grow up； for it has been sung in noble poetry and music； and whether it be true or not； it stands for ever as a warning to us not to seek for help from evil persons； or to gain good ends by evil means。 For if we use an adder even against our enemies； it will turn again and sting us。
But of all the other heroes there is many a brave tale left； which I have no space to tell you； so you must read them for yourselves； … of the hunting of the boar in Calydon； which Meleager killed； and of Heracles' twelve famous labours； and of the seven who fought at Thebes； and of the noble love of Castor and Polydeuces； the twin Dioscouroi … how when one died the other would not live without him； so they shared their immortality between them； and Zeus changed them into the two twin stars which never rise both at once。
And what became of Cheiron； the good immortal beast？ That； too； is a sad story； for the heroes never saw him more。 He was wounded by a poisoned arrow； at Pholoe among the hills； when Heracles opened the fatal wine…jar； which Cheiron had warned him not to touch。 And the Centaurs smelt the wine； and flocked to it； and fought for it with Heracles； but he killed them all with his poisoned arrows； and Cheiron was left alone。 Then Cheiron took up one of the arrows； and dropped it by chance upon his foot； and the poison ran like fire along his veins； and he lay down and longed to die； and cried； 'Through wine I perish； the bane of all my race。 Why should I live for ever in this agony？ Who will take my immortality； that I may die？'
Then Prometheus answered； the good Titan； whom Heracles had set free from Caucasus； 'I will take your immortality and live for ever； that I may help poor mortal men。' So Cheiron gave him his immortality； and died； and had rest from pain。 And Heracles and Prometheus wept over him； and went to bury him on Pelion； but Zeus took him up among the stars； to live for ever； grand and mild； low down in the far southern sky。
And in time the heroes died； all but Nestor； the silver… tongued old man； and left behind them valiant sons； but not so great as they had been。 Yet their fame； too； lives till this day； for they fought at the ten years' siege of Troy： and their story is in the book which we call Homer； in two of the noblest songs on earth … the 'Iliad；' which tells us of the siege of Troy； and Achilles' quarrel with the kings； and the 'Odyssey；' which tells the wanderings of Odysseus； through many lands for many years； and how Alcinous sent him home at last； safe to Ithaca his beloved island； and to Penelope his faithful wife； and Telemachus his son； and Euphorbus the noble swineherd； and the old dog who licked his hand and died。 We will read that sweet story； children； by the fire some winter night。 And now I will end my tale； and begin another and a more cheerful one； of a hero who became a worthy king； and won his people's love。
STORY III。 … THESEUS
PART I … HOW THESEUS LIFTED THE STONE
ONCE upon a time there was a princess in Troezene； Aithra； the daughter of Pittheus the king。 She had one fair son； named Theseus； the bravest lad in all the land； and Aithra never smiled but when she looked at him； for her husband had forgotten her； and lived far away。 And she used to go up to the mountain above Troezene； to the temple of Poseidon and sit there all day looking out across the bay； over Methana； to the purple peaks of AEgina and the Attic shore beyond。 And when Theseus was full fifteen years old she took him up with her to the temple； and into the thickets of the grove which grew in the temple…yard。 And she led him to a tall plane…tree； beneath whose shade grew arbutus； and lentisk； and purple heather…bushes。 And there she sighed； and said； 'Theseus； my son； go into that thicket and you will find at the plane…tree foot a great flat stone； lift it； and bring me what lies underneath。'
Then Theseus pushed his way in through the thick bushes； and saw that they had not been moved for many a year。 And searching among their roots he found a great flat stone； all overgrown with ivy； and acanthus； and moss。 He tried to lift it； but he could not。 And he tried till the sweat ran down his brow from heat； and the tears from his eyes for shame； but all was of no avail。 And at last he came back to his mother； and said； 'I have found the stone； but I cannot lift it； nor do I think that any man could in all Troezene。'
Then she sighed； and said； 'The Gods wait long； but they are just at last。 Let it be for another year。 The day may come when you will be a stronger man than lives in all Troezene。'
Then she took him by the hand； and went into the temple and prayed； and came down again with Theseus to her home。
And when a full year was past she led Theseus up again to the temple； and bade him lift the stone； but he could not。
Then she sighed； and said the same words again； and went down； and came again the next year； but Theseus could not lift the stone then； nor the year after； and he longed to ask his mother the meaning of that stone； and what might lie underneath it； but her face was so sad that he had not the heart to ask。
So he said to himself； 'The day shall surely come when I will lift that stone； though no man in Troezene can。' And in order to grow strong he spent all his days in wrestling； and boxing； and hurling； and taming horses； and hunting the boar and the bull； and coursing goats and deer among the rocks； till upon all the mountains there was no hunter so swift as Theseus； and he killed Phaia the wild sow of Crommyon； which wasted all the land； till all the people said； 'Surely the Gods are with the lad。'
And when his eighteenth year was past； Aithra led him up again to the temple； and said； 'Theseus； lift the stone this day； or never know who you are。' And Theseus went into the thicket； and stood over the stone； and tugged at it； and it moved。 Then his spirit swelled within him； and he said； 'If I break my heart in my body； it shall up。' And he tugged at it once more； and lifted it； and rolled it over with a shout。
And when he looked beneath it； on the ground lay a sword of bronze； with a hilt of glittering gold； and by it a pair of golden sandals； and he caught them up； and burst through the bushes like a wild boar； and leapt to his mother； holding them high above his head。
But when she saw them she wept long in silence； hiding her fair face in her shawl； and Theseus stood by her wondering； and wept also； he knew not why。 And when she was tired of weeping； she lifted up her head； and laid her finger on her lips； and said； 'Hide them in your bosom； Theseus my son； and come with me where we can look down upon the sea。'
Then they went outside the sacred wall； and looked down over the bright blue sea； and Aithra said …
'Do you see this land at our feet？'
And he said； 'Yes； this is Troezene； where I was born and bred。'
And she said； 'It is but a little land； barren and rocky； and looks towards the bleak north…east。 Do you see that land beyond？'
'Yes； that is Attica； where the Athenian people dwell。'
'That is a fair land and large； Theseus my son； and it looks toward the sunny south； a land of olive…oil and honey； the joy of Gods and men。 For the Gods have girdled it with mountains； whose veins are of pure silver； and their bones of marble white as snow； and there the hills are sweet with thyme and basil； and the meadows with violet and asphodel； and the nightingales sing all day in the thickets； by the side of ever…flowing streams。 There are twelve towns well peopled； the homes of an ancient