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indeed。 Twenty against one they fought； and yet Theseus beat them all；
and those who were left fled down into the town； where the people set
on them； and drove them out； till Theseus was left alone in the palace；
with AEgeus his new…found father。 But before nightfall all the town
came up； with victims； and dances； and songs； and they offered
sacrifices to Athene； and rejoiced all the night long； because their king
had found a noble son； and an heir to his royal house。
So Theseus stayed with his father all the winter： and when the
spring equinox drew near； all the Athenians grew sad and silent； and
Theseus saw it； and asked the reason； but no one would answer him a
word。
Then he went to his father； and asked him： but AEgeus turned
away his face and wept。
'Do not ask； my son； beforehand； about evils which must happen： it
is enough to have to face them when they come。'
And when the spring equinox came； a herald came to Athens； and
stood in the market； and cried； 'O people and King of Athens； where is
your yearly tribute？' Then a great lamentation arose throughout the city。
But Theseus stood up to the herald； and cried …
'And who are you； dog…faced； who dare demand tribute here？ If I
did not reverence your herald's staff； I would brain you with this club。'
And the herald answered proudly； for he was a grave and ancient
man …
'Fair youth； I am not dog…faced or shameless； but I do my master's
bidding； Minos； the King of hundred…citied Crete； the wisest of all kings
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on earth。 And you must be surely a stranger here； or you would know
why I come； and that I come by right。'
'I am a stranger here。 Tell me； then； why you come。'
'To fetch the tribute which King AEgeus promised to Minos； and
confirmed his promise with an oath。 For Minos conquered all this land；
and Megara which lies to the east； when he came hither with a great fleet
of ships； enraged about the murder of his son。 For his son Androgeos
came hither to the Panathenaic games； and overcame all the Greeks in
the sports； so that the people honoured him as a hero。 But when
AEgeus saw his valour； he envied him； and feared lest he should join
the sons of Pallas； and take away the sceptre from him。 So he plotted
against his life； and slew him basely； no man knows how or where。
Some say that he waylaid him by Oinoe； on the road which goes to
Thebes； and some that he sent him against the bull of Marathon； that the
beast might kill him。 But AEgeus says that the young men killed him
from envy； because he had conquered them in the games。 So Minos
came hither and avenged him； and would not depart till this land had
promised him tribute … seven youths and seven maidens every year； who
go with me in a black…sailed ship； till they come to hundred…citied Crete。'
And Theseus ground his teeth together； and said； 'Wert thou not a
herald I would kill thee for saying such things of my father； but I will go
to him； and know the truth。' So he went to his father； and asked him；
but he turned away his head and wept； and said； 'Blood was shed in the
land unjustly； and by blood it is avenged。 Break not my heart by
questions； it is enough to endure in silence。'
Then Theseus groaned inwardly； and said； 'I will go myself with
these youths and maidens； and kill Minos upon his royal throne。'
And AEgeus shrieked； and cried； 'You shall not go； my son； the light
of my old age； to whom alone I look to rule this people after I am dead
and gone。 You shall not go； to die horribly； as those youths and
maidens die； for Minos thrusts them into a labyrinth； which Daidalos
made for him among the rocks； … Daidalos the renegade； the accursed；
the pest of this his native land。 From that labyrinth no one can escape；
entangled in its winding ways； before they meet the Minotaur； the
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monster who feeds upon the flesh of men。 There he devours them
horribly； and they never see this land again。'
Then Theseus grew red； and his ears tingled； and his heart beat loud
in his bosom。 And he stood awhile like a tall stone pillar on the cliffs
above some hero's grave； and at last he spoke …
'Therefore all the more I will go with them； and slay the accursed
beast。 Have I not slain all evil…doers and monsters； that I might free
this land？ Where are Periphetes； and Sinis； and Kerkuon； and Phaia the
wild sow？ Where are the fifty sons of Pallas？ And this Minotaur
shall go the road which they have gone； and Minos himself； if he dare
stay me。'
'But how will you slay him； my son？ For you must leave your club
and your armour behind； and be cast to the monster； defenceless and
naked like the rest。'
And Theseus said； 'Are there no stones in that labyrinth； and have I
not fists and teeth？ Did I need my club to kill Kerkuon； the terror of all
mortal men？'
Then AEgeus clung to his knees； but he would not hear； and at last
he let him go； weeping bitterly； and said only this one word …
'Promise me but this； if you return in peace； though that may hardly
be： take down the black sail of the ship （for I shall watch for it all day
upon the cliffs）； and hoist instead a white sail； that I may know afar off
that you are safe。'
And Theseus promised； and went out； and to the market…place where
the herald stood； while they drew lots for the youths and maidens； who
were to sail in that doleful crew。 And the people stood wailing and
weeping； as the lot fell on this one and on that； but Theseus strode into
the midst； and cried … 'Here is a youth who needs no lot。 I myself will
be one of the seven。'
And the herald asked in wonder； 'Fair youth； know you whither you
are going？'
And Theseus said； 'I know。 Let us go down to the black… sailed ship。'
So they went down to the black…sailed ship； seven maidens； and
seven youths； and Theseus before them all； and the people following
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them lamenting。 But Theseus whispered to his companions； 'Have
hope； for the monster is not immortal。 Where are Periphetes； and Sinis；
and Sciron； and all whom I have slain？' Then their hearts were
comforted a little； but they wept as they went on board； and the cliffs of
Sunium rang； and all the isles of the AEgean Sea； with the voice of
their lamentation； as they sailed on toward their deaths in Crete。
PART III … HOW THESEUS SLEW THE
MINOTAUR
AND at last they came to Crete； and to Cnossus； beneath the peaks
of Ida； and to the palace of Minos the great king； to whom Zeus himself
taught laws。 So he was the wisest of all mortal kings； and conquered
all the AEgean isles； and his ships were as many as the sea…gulls； and his
palace like a marble hill。 And he sat among the pillars of the hall； upon
his throne of beaten gold； and around him stood the speaking statues
which Daidalos had