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captive to the hollow vale of Eurotas； till I sail across the seas a slave；
the handmaid of the pest of Greece。 Yet shall I be avenged； when the
golden…haired heroes sail against Troy； and sack the palaces of Ilium；
then my son shall set me free from thraldom； and I shall hear the tale of
Theseus' fame。 Yet beyond that I see new sorrows； but I can bear them
as I have borne the past。'
Then she kissed Theseus； and wept over him； and went into the
temple； and Theseus saw her no more。
PART II … HOW THESEUS SLEW THE
DEVOURERS OF MEN
SO Theseus stood there alone； with his mind full of many hopes。
And first he thought of going down to the harbour and hiring a swift ship；
and sailing across the bay to Athens； but even that seemed too slow for
him； and he longed for wings to fly across the sea； and find his father。
But after a while his heart began to fail him； and he sighed； and said
within himself …
'What if my father have other sons about him whom he loves？ What
if he will not receive me？ And what have I done that he should receive
me？ He has forgotten me ever since I was born： why should he
welcome me now？'
Then he thought a long while sadly； and at the last he cried aloud；
'Yes！ I will make him love me； for I will prove myself worthy of his
love。 I will win honour and renown； and do such deeds that AEgeus
shall be proud of me； though he had fifty other sons！ Did not Heracles
win himself honour； though he was opprest； and the slave of Eurystheus？
Did he not kill all robbers and evil beasts； and drain great lakes and
marshes； breaking the hills through with his club？ Therefore it was that
all men honoured him； because he rid them of their miseries； and made
life pleasant to them and their children after them。 Where can I go； to
do as Heracles has done？ Where can I find strange adventures； robbers；
and monsters； and the children of hell； the enemies of men？ I will go
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by land； and into the mountains； and round by the way of the Isthmus。
Perhaps there I may hear of brave adventures； and do something which
shall win my father's love。'
So he went by land； and away into the mountains； with his father's
sword upon his thigh； till he came to the Spider mountains； which hang
over Epidaurus and the sea； where the glens run downward from one
peak in the midst； as the rays spread in the spider's web。
And he went up into the gloomy glens； between the furrowed marble
walls； till the lowland grew blue beneath his feet and the clouds drove
damp about his head。
But he went up and up for ever； through the spider's web of glens； till
he could see the narrow gulfs spread below him； north and south； and
east and west； black cracks half…choked with mists； and above all a
dreary down。
But over that down he must go； for there was no road right or left； so
he toiled on through bog and brake； till he came to a pile of stones。
And on the stones a man was sitting； wrapt in a bearskin cloak。
The head of the bear served him for a cap； and its teeth grinned white
around his brows； and the feet were tied about his throat； and their claws
shone white upon his chest。 And when he saw Theseus he rose； and
laughed till the glens rattled。
'And who art thou； fair fly； who hast walked into the spider's web？'
But Theseus walked on steadily； and made no answer； but he thought； 'Is
this some robber？ and has an adventure come already to me？' But the
strange man laughed louder than ever； and said …
'Bold fly； know you not that these glens are the web from which no
fly ever finds his way out again； and this down the spider's house； and I
the spider who sucks the flies？ Come hither； and let me feast upon you；
for it is of no use to run away； so cunning a web has my father
Hephaistos spread for me when he made these clefts in the mountains；
through which no man finds his way home。'
But Theseus came on steadily； and asked …
'And what is your name among men； bold spider？ and where are
your spider's fangs？'
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Then the strange man laughed again …
'My name is Periphetes； the son of Hephaistos and Anticleia the
mountain nymph。 But men call me Corynetes the club… bearer； and here
is my spider's fang。'
And he lifted from off the stones at his side a mighty club of bronze。
'This my father gave me； and forged it himself in the roots of the
mountain； and with it I pound all proud flies till they give out their
fatness and their sweetness。 So give me up that gay sword of yours；
and your mantle； and your golden sandals； lest I pound you； and by ill…
luck you die。'
But Theseus wrapt his mantle round his left arm quickly； in hard
folds； from his shoulder to his hand； and drew his sword； and rushed
upon the club…bearer； and the club…bearer rushed on him。
Thrice he struck at Theseus； and made him bend under the blows like
a sapling； but Theseus guarded his head with his left arm； and the mantle
which was wrapt around it。
And thrice Theseus sprang upright after the blow； like a sapling
when the storm is past； and he stabbed at the club… bearer with his sword；
but the loose folds of the bearskin saved him。
Then Theseus grew mad； and closed with him； and caught him by
the throat； and they fell and rolled over together； but when Theseus rose
up from the ground the club…bearer lay still at his feet。
Then Theseus took his club and his bearskin； and left him to the kites
and crows； and went upon his journey down the glens on the farther
slope； till he came to a broad green valley； and saw flocks and herds
sleeping beneath the trees。
And by the side of a pleasant fountain； under the shade of rocks and
trees； were nymphs and shepherds dancing； but no one piped to them
while they danced。
And when they saw Theseus they shrieked； and the shepherds ran off；
and drove away their flocks； while the nymphs dived into the fountain
like coots； and vanished。
Theseus wondered and laughed： 'What strange fancies have folks
here who run away from strangers； and have no music when they dance！'
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But he was tired； and dusty； and thirsty； so he thought no more of them；
but drank and bathed in the clear pool； and then lay down in the shade
under a plane… tree； while the water sang him to sleep； as it tinkled down
from stone to stone。
And when he woke he heard a whispering； and saw the nymphs
peeping at him across the fountain from the dark mouth of a cave； where
they sat on green cushions of moss。 And one said； 'Surely he is not
Periphetes；' and another； 'He looks like no robber； but a fair and gentle
youth。'
Then Theseus smiled； and called them； 'Fair nymphs； I am not
Periphetes。 He sleeps among the kites and crows； but I have brought
away his bearskin and his club。'
Then they leapt across the pool； and came to him； and called the
shepherds back。