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but Theseus frowned； and said under his breath； 'No wonder that the land
is full of robbers； while such as these bear rule。'
Then the Pallantids saw him； and called to him； half…drunk with wine；
'Holla； tall stranger at the door； what is your will to…day？'
'I come hither to ask for hospitality。'
'Then take it； and welcome。 You look like a hero and a bold warrior；
and we like such to drink with us。'
'I ask no hospitality of you； I ask it of AEgeus the king； the master of
this house。'
At that some growled； and some laughed； and shouted； 'Heyday！ we
are all masters here。'
'Then I am master as much as the rest of you；' said Theseus； and he
strode past the table up the hall； and looked around for AEgeus； but he
was nowhere to be seen。
The Pallantids looked at him； and then at each other； and each
whispered to the man next him； 'This is a forward fellow； he ought to be
thrust out at the door。' But each man's neighbour whispered in return；
'His shoulders are broad； will you rise and put him out？' So they all sat
still where they were。
Then Theseus called to the servants； and said； 'Go tell King AEgeus；
your master； that Theseus of Troezene is here； and asks to be his guest
awhile。'
A servant ran and told AEgeus； where he sat in his chamber within；
by Medeia the dark witch…woman； watching her eye and hand。 And
when AEgeus heard of Troezene he turned pale and red again； and rose
from his seat trembling； while Medeia watched him like a snake。
'What is Troezene to you？' she asked。 But he said hastily； 'Do you
not know who this Theseus is？ The hero who has cleared the country
from all monsters； but that he came from Troezene； I never heard before。
I must go out and welcome him。'
So AEgeus came out into the hall； and when Theseus saw him； his
heart leapt into his mouth； and he longed to fall on his neck and
welcome him； but he controlled himself； and said； 'My father may not
wish for me； after all。 I will try him before I discover myself；' and he
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bowed low before AEgeus； and said； 'I have delivered the king's realm
from many monsters； therefore I am come to ask a reward of the king。'
And old AEgeus looked on him； and loved him； as what fond heart
would not have done？ But he only sighed； and said …
'It is little that I can give you； noble lad； and nothing that is worthy
of you； for surely you are no mortal man； or at least no mortal's son。'
'All I ask；' said Theseus； 'is to eat and drink at your table。'
'That I can give you；' said AEgeus； 'if at least I am master in my own
hall。'
Then he bade them put a seat for Theseus； and set before him the
best of the feast； and Theseus sat and ate so much； that all the company
wondered at him： but always he kept his club by his side。
But Medeia the dark witch…woman had been watching him all the
while。 She saw how AEgeus turned red and pale when the lad said that
he came from Troezene。 She saw； too； how his heart was opened
toward Theseus； and how Theseus bore himself before all the sons of
Pallas； like a lion among a pack of curs。 And she said to herself； 'This
youth will be master here； perhaps he is nearer to AEgeus already than
mere fancy。 At least the Pallantilds will have no chance by the side of
such as he。'
Then she went back into her chamber modestly； while Theseus ate
and drank； and all the servants whispered； 'This； then； is the man who
killed the monsters！ How noble are his looks； and how huge his size！
Ah； would that he were our master's son！'
But presently Medeia came forth； decked in all her jewels； and her
rich Eastern robes； and looking more beautiful than the day； so that all
the guests could look at nothing else。 And in her right hand she held a
golden cup； and in her left a flask of gold； and she came up to Theseus；
and spoke in a sweet； soft； winning voice …
'Hail to the hero； the conqueror； the unconquered； the destroyer of all
evil things！ Drink； hero； of my charmed cup； which gives rest after
every toil； which heals all wounds； and pours new life into the veins。
Drink of my cup； for in it sparkles the wine of the East； and Nepenthe；
the comfort of the Immortals。'
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And as she spoke； she poured the flask into the cup； and the
fragrance of the wine spread through the hall； like the scent of thyme
and roses。
And Theseus looked up in her fair face and into her deep dark eyes。
And as he looked； he shrank and shuddered； for they were dry like the
eyes of a snake。 And he rose； and said； 'The wine is rich and fragrant；
and the wine…bearer as fair as the Immortals； but let her pledge me first
herself in the cup； that the wine may be the sweeter from her lips。'
Then Medeia turned pale； and stammered； 'Forgive me； fair hero； but
I am ill； and dare drink no wine。'
And Theseus looked again into her eyes； and cried； 'Thou shalt
pledge me in that cup； or die。' And he lifted up his brazen club； while
all the guests looked on aghast。
Medeia shrieked a fearful shriek； and dashed the cup to the ground；
and fled； and where the wine flowed over the marble pavement； the
stone bubbled； and crumbled； and hissed； under the fierce venom of the
draught。
But Medeia called her dragon chariot； and sprang into it and fled
aloft； away over land and sea； and no man saw her more。
And AEgeus cried； 'What hast thou done？' But Theseus pointed to
the stone； 'I have rid the land of an enchantment： now I will rid it of
one more。'
And he came close to AEgeus； and drew from his bosom the sword
and the sandals； and said the words which his mother bade him。
And AEgeus stepped back a pace； and looked at the lad till his eyes
grew dim； and then he cast himself on his neck and wept； and Theseus
wept on his neck； till they had no strength left to weep more。
Then AEgeus turned to all the people； and cried； 'Behold my son；
children of Cecrops； a better man than his father was before him。'
Who； then； were mad but the Pallantids； though they had been mad
enough before？ And one shouted； 'Shall we make room for an upstart；
a pretender； who comes from we know not where？' And another； 'If he
be one； we are more than one； and the stronger can hold his own。' And
one shouted one thing； and one another； for they were hot and wild with
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wine： but all caught swords and lances off the wall； where the weapons
hung around； and sprang forward to Theseus； and Theseus sprang
forward to them。
And he cried； 'Go in peace； if you will； my cousins； but if not； your
blood be on your own heads。' But they rushed at him； and then stopped
short and railed him； as curs stop and bark when they rouse a lion from
his lair。
But one hurled a lance from the rear rank； which past close by
Theseus' head； and at that Theseus rushed forward； and the fight began
indeed。 Twenty against one they fought； and yet Theseus beat them all；
and those who we