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and darker； and beneath them a torrent roared； half seen between bare
limestone crags。 And around there was neither tree nor bush； while
from the white peaks of Parnes the snow…blasts swept down the glen；
cutting and chilling till a horror fell on Theseus as he looked round at
that doleful place。 And he asked at last； 'Your castle stands； it seems；
in a dreary region。'
'Yes； but once within it； hospitality makes all things cheerful。 But
who are these？' and he looked back； and Theseus also； and far below；
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along the road which they had left； came a string of laden asses； and
merchants walking by them； watching their ware。
'Ah； poor souls！' said the stranger。 'Well for them that I looked back
and saw them！ And well for me too； for I shall have the more guests at
my feast。 Wait awhile till I go down and call them； and we will eat and
drink together the livelong night。 Happy am I； to whom Heaven sends
so many guests at once！'
And he ran back down the hill； waving his hand and shouting； to the
merchants； while Theseus went slowly up the steep pass。
But as he went up he met an aged man； who had been gathering
driftwood in the torrent…bed。 He had laid down his faggot in the road；
and was trying to lift it again to his shoulder。 And when he saw Theseus；
he called to him； and said …
'O fair youth； help me up with my burden； for my limbs are stiff and
weak with years。'
Then Theseus lifted the burden on his back。 And the old man blest
him； and then looked earnestly upon him； and said …
'Who are you； fair youth； and wherefore travel you this doleful road？'
'Who I am my parents know； but I travel this doleful road because I
have been invited by a hospitable man； who promises to feast me； and to
make me sleep upon I know not what wondrous bed。'
Then the old man clapped his hands together and cried …
'O house of Hades； man…devouring！ will thy maw never be full？
Know； fair youth； that you are going to torment and to death； for he who
met you （I will requite your kindness by another） is a robber and a
murderer of men。 Whatsoever stranger he meets he entices him hither
to death； and as for this bed of which he speaks； truly it fits all comers；
yet none ever rose alive off it save me。'
'Why？' asked Theseus； astonished。
'Because； if a man be too tall for it； he lops his limbs till they be
short enough； and if he be too short； he stretches his limbs till they be
long enough： but me only he spared； seven weary years agone； for I
alone of all fitted his bed exactly； so he spared me； and made me his
slave。 And once I was a wealthy merchant； and dwelt in brazen…gated
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Thebes； but now I hew wood and draw water for him； the torment of all
mortal men。'
Then Theseus said nothing； but he ground his teeth together。
'Escape； then；' said the old man； 'for he will have no pity on thy
youth。 But yesterday he brought up hither a young man and a maiden；
and fitted them upon his bed； and the young man's hands and feet he cut
off； but the maiden's limbs he stretched until she died； and so both
perished miserably … but I am tired of weeping over the slain。 And
therefore he is called Procrustes the stretcher； though his father called
him Damastes。 Flee from him： yet whither will you flee？ The cliffs
are steep； and who can climb them？ and there is no other road。'
But Theseus laid his hand upon the old man's month； and said； 'There
is no need to flee；' and he turned to go down the pass。
'Do not tell him that I have warned you； or he will kill me by some
evil death；' and the old man screamed after him down the glen； but
Theseus strode on in his wrath。
And he said to himself； 'This is an ill…ruled land； when shall I have
done ridding it of monsters？' And as he spoke； Procrustes came up the
hill； and all the merchants with him； smiling and talking gaily。 And
when he saw Theseus； he cried； 'Ah； fair young guest； have I kept you
too long waiting？'
But Theseus answered； 'The man who stretches his guests upon a bed
and hews off their hands and feet； what shall be done to him； when right
is done throughout the land？'
Then Procrustes' countenance changed； and his cheeks grew as green
as a lizard； and he felt for his sword in haste； but Theseus leapt on him；
and cried …
'Is this true； my host； or is it false？' and he clasped Procrustes round
waist and elbow； so that he could not draw his sword。
'Is this true； my host； or is it false？' But Procrustes answered never
a word。
Then Theseus flung him from him； and lifted up his dreadful club；
and before Procrustes could strike him he had struck； and felled him to
the ground。
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And once again he struck him； and his evil soul fled forth； and went
down to Hades squeaking； like a bat into the darkness of a cave。
Then Theseus stript him of his gold ornaments； and went up to his
house； and found there great wealth and treasure； which he had stolen
from the passers…by。 And he called the people of the country； whom
Procrustes had spoiled a long time； and parted the spoil among them；
and went down the mountains； and away。
And he went down the glens of Parnes； through mist； and cloud； and
rain； down the slopes of oak； and lentisk； and arbutus； and fragrant bay；
till he came to the Vale of Cephisus； and the pleasant town of Aphidnai；
and the home of the Phytalid heroes； where they dwelt beneath a mighty
elm。
And there they built an altar； and bade him bathe in Cephisus； and
offer a yearling ram； and purified him from the blood of Sinis； and sent
him away in peace。
And he went down the valley by Acharnai； and by the silver… swirling
stream； while all the people blessed him； for the fame of his prowess had
spread wide； till he saw the plain of Athens； and the hill where Athene
dwells。
So Theseus went up through Athens； and all the people ran out to see
him； for his fame had gone before him and every one knew of his
mighty deeds。 And all cried； 'Here comes the hero who slew Sinis； and
Phaia the wild sow of Crommyon； and conquered Kerkuon in wrestling；
and slew Procrustes the pitiless。' But Theseus went on sadly and
steadfastly； for his heart yearned after his father； and he said； 'How shall
I deliver him from these leeches who suck his blood？'
So he went up the holy stairs； and into the Acropolis； where AEgeus'
palace stood； and he went straight into AEgeus' hall； and stood upon the
threshold； and looked round。
And there he saw his cousins sitting about the table at the wine：
many a son of Pallas； but no AEgeus among them。 There they sat and
feasted； and laughed； and passed the wine…cup round； while harpers
harped； and slave…girls sang； and the tumblers showed their tricks。
Loud laughed the sons of Pallas； and fast went the wine…cup round；
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but Theseu