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was the sea always； and Salamis； with its island cliffs； and the sacred
strait of the sea…fight； where afterwards the Persians fled before the
Greeks。 So he went all day until the evening； till he saw the Thriasian
plain； and the sacred city of Eleusis； where the Earth…mother's temple
stands。 For there she met Triptolemus； when all the land lay waste；
Demeter the kind Earth…mother； and in her hands a sheaf of corn。 And
she taught him to plough the fallows； and to yoke the lazy kine； and
she taught him to sow the seed…fields； and to reap the golden grain； and
sent him forth to teach all nations； and give corn to labouring men。 So
at Eleusis all men honour her； whosoever tills the land； her and
Triptolemus her beloved； who gave corn to labouring men。
And he went along the plain into Eleusis； and stood in the market…
place； and cried …
'Where is Kerkuon； the king of the city？ I must wrestle a fall with
him to…day。'
Then all the people crowded round him； and cried； 'Fair youth； why
will you die？ Hasten out of the city； before the cruel king hears that a
stranger is here。'
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But Theseus went up through the town； while the people wept and
prayed； and through the gates of the palace…yard； and through the piles
of bones and skulls； till he came to the door of Kerkuon's hall； the terror
of all mortal men。
And there he saw Kerkuon sitting at the table in the hall alone； and
before him was a whole sheep roasted； and beside him a whole jar of
wine。 And Theseus stood and called him； 'Holla； thou valiant wrestler；
wilt thou wrestle a fall to… day？'
And Kerkuon looked up and laughed； and answered； 'I will wrestle a
fall to…day； but come in； for I am lonely and thou weary； and eat and
drink before thou die。'
Then Theseus went up boldly； and sat down before Kerkuon at the
board； and he ate his fill of the sheep's flesh； and drank his fill of the
wine； and Theseus ate enough for three men； but Kerkuon ate enough for
seven。
But neither spoke a word to the other； though they looked across the
table by stealth； and each said in his heart； 'He has broad shoulders； but I
trust mine are as broad as his。'
At last； when the sheep was eaten and the jar of wine drained dry；
King Kerkuon rose； and cried； 'Let us wrestle a fall before we sleep。'
So they tossed off all their garments； and went forth in the palace…
yard； and Kerkuon bade strew fresh sand in an open space between the
bones。
And there the heroes stood face to face； while their eyes glared like
wild bulls'； and all the people crowded at the gates to see what would
befall。
And there they stood and wrestled； till the stars shone out above their
heads； up and down and round； till the sand was stamped hard beneath
their feet。 And their eyes flashed like stars in the darkness； and their
breath went up like smoke in the night air； but neither took nor gave a
footstep； and the people watched silent at the gates。
But at last Kerkuon grew angry； and caught Theseus round the neck；
and shook him as a mastiff shakes a rat； but he could not shake him off
his feet。
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The Heroes
But Theseus was quick and wary； and clasped Kerkuon round the
waist； and slipped his loin quickly underneath him； while he caught him
by the wrist； and then he hove a mighty heave； a heave which would
have stirred an oak； and lifted Kerkuon； and pitched him right over his
shoulder on the ground。
Then he leapt on him； and called； 'Yield； or I kill thee！' but Kerkuon
said no word； for his heart was burst within him with the fall； and the
meat； and the wine。
Then Theseus opened the gates； and called in all the people； and they
cried； 'You have slain our evil king； be you now our king； and rule us
well。'
'I will be your king in Eleusis； and I will rule you right and well； for
this cause I have slain all evil…doers … Sinis； and Sciron； and this man last
of all。'
Then an aged man stepped forth； and said； 'Young hero； hast thou
slain Sinis？ Beware then of AEgeus； king of Athens； to whom thou
goest； for he is near of kin to Sinis。'
'Then I have slain my own kinsman；' said Theseus； 'though well he
deserved to die。 Who will purge me from his death； for rightfully I
slew him； unrighteous and accursed as he was？'
And the old man answered …
'That will the heroes do； the sons of Phytalus； who dwell beneath the
elm…tree in Aphidnai； by the bank of silver Cephisus； for they know the
mysteries of the Gods。 Thither you shall go and be purified； and after
you shall be our king。'
So he took an oath of the people of Eleusis； that they would serve
him as their king； and went away next morning across the Thriasian
plain； and over the hills toward Aphidnai； that he might find the sons of
Phytalus。
And as he was skirting the Vale of Cephisus； along the foot of lofty
Parnes； a very tall and strong man came down to meet him； dressed in
rich garments。 On his arms were golden bracelets； and round his neck
a collar of jewels； and he came forward； bowing courteously； and held
out both his hands； and spoke …
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'Welcome； fair youth； to these mountains； happy am I to have met
you！ For what greater pleasure to a good man； than to entertain
strangers？ But I see that you are weary。 Come up to my castle； and
rest yourself awhile。'
'I give you thanks；' said Theseus： 'but I am in haste to go up the
valley； and to reach Aphidnai in the Vale of Cephisus。'
'Alas！ you have wandered far from the right way； and you cannot
reach Aphidnai to…night； for there are many miles of mountain between
you and it； and steep passes； and cliffs dangerous after nightfall。 It is
well for you that I met you； for my whole joy is to find strangers； and to
feast them at my castle； and hear tales from them of foreign lands。
Come up with me； and eat the best of venison； and drink the rich red
wine； and sleep upon my famous bed； of which all travellers say that
they never saw the like。 For whatsoever the stature of my guest；
however tall or short； that bed fits him to a hair； and he sleeps on it as he
never slept before。' And he laid hold on Theseus' hands； and would not
let him go。
Theseus wished to go forwards： but he was ashamed to seem
churlish to so hospitable a man； and he was curious to see that wondrous
bed； and beside； he was hungry and weary： yet he shrank from the man；
he knew not why； for； though his voice was gentle and fawning； it was
dry and husky like a toad's； and though his eyes were gentle； they were
dull and cold like stones。 But he consented； and went with the man up
a glen which led from the road toward the peaks of Parnes； under the
dark shadow of the cliffs。
And as they went up； the glen grew narrower； and the cliffs higher
and darker； and beneath them a torrent roared； half