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into its bosom； neither would the earth； having once got rid of him；
consent to take him back； so that； between the cliff and the sea； Scinis
stuck fast in the air； which was forced to bear the burden of his
naughtiness。
After these memorable deeds； Theseus heard of an enormous sow；
which ran wild； and was the terror of all the farmers round about； and； as
he did not consider himself above doing any good thing that came in his
way； he killed this monstrous creature； and gave the carcass to the poor
people for bacon。 The great sow had been an awful beast； while ramping
about the woods and fields； but was a pleasant object enough when cut up
into joints； and smoking on I know not how many dinner tables。
Thus； by the time he reached his journey's end； Theseus had done
many valiant feats with his father's golden…hilled sword； and had gained
the renown of being one of the bravest young men of the day。 His fame
traveled faster than he did； and reached Athens before him。 As he entered
the city； he heard the inhabitants talking at the street corners； and saying
that Hercules was brave； and Jason too； and Castor and Pollux likewise；
but that Theseus； the son of their own king； would turn out as great a hero
as the best of them。 Theseus took longer strides on hearing this； and
fancied himself sure of a magnificent reception at his father's court； since
he came thither with Fame to blow her trumpet before him； and cry to
King Aegeus； 〃Behold your son！〃
He little suspected； innocent youth that he was； that here； in this very
Athens； where his father reigned； a greater danger awaited him than any
which he had encountered on the road。 Yet this was the truth。 You must
understand that the father of Theseus； though not very old in years； was
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almost worn out with the cares of government； and had thus grown aged
before his time。 His nephews； not expecting him to live a very great while；
intended to get all the power of the kingdom into their own hands。 But
when they heard that Theseus had arrived in Athens； and learned what a
gallant young man he was； they saw that he would not be at all the kind of
a person to let them steal away his father's crown and scepter； which ought
to be his own by right of inheritance。 Thus these bad…hearted nephews of
King Aegeus； who were the own cousins of Theseus； at once became his
enemies。 A still more dangerous enemy was Medea； the wicked
enchantress； for she was now the king's wife； and wanted to give the
kingdom to her son Medus； instead of letting it be given to the son of
Aethra； whom she hated。
It so happened that the king's nephews met Theseus； and found out
who he was； just as he reached the entrance of the royal palace。 With all
their evil designs against him； they pretended to be their cousin's best
friends； and expressed great joy at making his。acquaintance。 They
proposed to him that he should come into the king's presence as a stranger；
in order to try whether Aegeus would discover in the young man's features
any likeness either to himself or his mother Aethra； and thus recognize
him for a son。 Theseus consented； for he fancied that his father would
know him in a moment； by the love that was in his heart。 But； while he
waited at the door； the nephews ran and told King Aegeus that a young
man had arrived in Athens； who； to their certain knowledge； intended to
put him to death； and get possession of his royal crown。
〃And he is now waiting for admission to your majesty's presence；〃
added they。
〃Aha！〃 cried the old king； on hearing this。 〃Why； he must be a very
wicked young fellow indeed！ Pray； what would you advise me to do with
him？ 〃
In reply to this question； the wicked Medea put in her word。 As I have
already told you； she was a famous enchantress。 According to some stories；
she was in the habit of boiling old people in a large caldron； under
pretense of making them young again； but King Aegeus； I suppose； did not
fancy such an uncomfortable way of growing young； or perhaps was
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contented to be old； and therefore would never let himself be popped into
the caldron。 If there were time to spare from more important matters； I
should be glad to tell you of Medea's fiery chariot； drawn by winged
dragons； in which the enchantress used often to take an airing among the
clouds。 This chariot； in fact； was the vehicle that first brought her to
Athens； where she had done nothing but mischief ever since her arrival。
But these and many other wonders must be left untold； and it is enough to
say； that Medea； amongst a thousand other bad things； knew how to
prepare a poison； that was instantly fatal to whomsoever might so much as
touch it with his lips。
So； when the king asked what he should do with Theseus； this naughty
woman had an answer ready at her tongue's end。
〃Leave that to me； please your majesty；〃 she replied。 〃Only admit this
evil…minded young man to your presence； treat him civilly； and invite him
to drink a goblet of wine。 Your majesty is well aware that I sometimes
amuse myself by distilling very powerful medicines。 Here is one of them
in this small phial。 As to what it is made of； that is one of my secrets of
state。 Do but let me put a single drop into the goblet； and let the young
man taste it； and I will answer for it； he shall quite lay aside the bad
designs with which he comes hither。〃
As she said this； Medea smiled； but； for all her smiling face； she meant
nothing less than to poison the poor innocent Theseus； before his father's
eyes。 And King Aegeus； like most other kings； thought any punishment
mild enough for a person who was accused of plotting against his life。 He
therefore made little or no objection to Medea's scheme； and as soon as the
poisonous wine was ready； gave orders that the young stranger should be
admitted into his presence。
The goblet was set on a table beside the king's throne； and a fly；
meaning just to sip a little from the brim； immediately tumbled into it；
dead。 Observing this； Medea looked round at the nephews； and smiled
again。
When Theseus was ushered into the royal apartment； the only object
that he seemed to behold was the white…bearded old king。 There he sat on
his magnificent throne； a dazzling crown on his head； and a scepter in his
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hand。 His aspect was stately and majestic； although his years and
infirmities weighed heavily upon him； as if each year were a lump of lead；
and each infirmity a ponderous stone； and all were bundled up together；
and laid upon his weary shoulders。 The tears both of joy and sorrow
sprang into the young man's eyes； for he thought how sad it was to see his
dear father so infirm； and how sweet it would be to support him with his
own youthful strength； and to cheer him up with the alacrity of his loving
spirit。 When a son takes a father into his warm heart it renews the old
man's youth in a better way than by the heat of Medea's magic caldron。
And this was what Theseus resolved to do。 He could scarcely wait to see
whether King Aegeus would recognize him； so eager was he to throw
himself into his arms。
Advancing to the foot of the throne； he attempted to make a little
speech； which he had been thinking about； as he came up the stairs。 But he
was almost choked by a great many tender feelings that gushed out of his
heart and swelled into his throat； all struggling to find utterance together。
And therefore； unless he could have laid his full； over… brimming heart
into the king's hand； poor Theseus knew not what to do or say。 T