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s Theseus； and he killed Phaia the wild sow of Crommyon； which wasted all the land； till all the people said； 'Surely the Gods are with the lad。'
And when his eighteenth year was past； Aithra led him up again to the temple； and said； 'Theseus； lift the stone this day； or never know who you are。' And Theseus went into the thicket； and stood over the stone； and tugged at it； and it moved。 Then his spirit swelled within him； and he said； 'If I break my heart in my body； it shall up。' And he tugged at it once more； and lifted it； and rolled it over with a shout。
And when he looked beneath it； on the ground lay a sword of bronze； with a hilt of glittering gold； and by it a pair of golden sandals； and he caught them up； and burst through the bushes like a wild boar； and leapt to his mother； holding them high above his head。
But when she saw them she wept long in silence； hiding her fair face in her shawl； and Theseus stood by her wondering； and wept also； he knew not why。 And when she was tired of weeping； she lifted up her head； and laid her finger on her lips； and said； 'Hide them in your bosom； Theseus my son； and come with me where we can look down upon the sea。'
Then they went outside the sacred wall； and looked down over the bright blue sea； and Aithra said …
'Do you see this land at our feet？'
And he said； 'Yes； this is Troezene； where I was born and bred。'
And she said； 'It is but a little land； barren and rocky； and looks towards the bleak north…east。 Do you see that land beyond？'
'Yes； that is Attica； where the Athenian people dwell。'
'That is a fair land and large； Theseus my son； and it looks toward the sunny south； a land of olive…oil and honey； the joy of Gods and men。 For the Gods have girdled it with mountains； whose veins are of pure silver； and their bones of marble white as snow； and there the hills are sweet with thyme and basil； and the meadows with violet and asphodel； and the nightingales sing all day in the thickets； by the side of ever…flowing streams。 There are twelve towns well peopled； the homes of an ancient race； the children of Kekrops the serpent king； the son of Mother Earth； who wear gold cicalas among the tresses of their golden hair； for like the cicalas they sprang from the earth； and like the cicalas they sing all day； rejoicing in the genial sun。 What would you do； son Theseus； if you were king of such a land？'
Then Theseus stood astonished； as he looked across the broad bright sea； and saw the fair Attic shore； from Sunium to Hymettus and Pentelicus； and all the mountain peaks which girdle Athens round。 But Athens itself he could not see； for purple AEgina stood before it； midway across the sea。
Then his heart grew great within him； and he said； 'If I were king of such a land I would rule it wisely and well in wisdom and in might； that when I died all men might weep over my tomb； and cry； 〃Alas for the shepherd of his people！〃'
And Aithra smiled； and said； 'Take； then； the sword and the sandals； and go to AEgeus； king of Athens； who lives on Pallas' hill； and say to him； 〃The stone is lifted； but whose is the pledge beneath it？〃 Then show him the sword and the sandals； and take what the Gods shall send。'
But Theseus wept； 'Shall I leave you； O my mother？'
But she answered； 'Weep not for me。 That which is fated must be； and grief is easy to those who do nought but grieve。 Full of sorrow was my youth； and full of sorrow my womanhood。 Full of sorrow was my youth for Bellerophon； the slayer of the Chimaera； whom my father drove away by treason； and full of sorrow my womanhood； for thy treacherous father and for thee； and full of sorrow my old age will be （for I see my fate in dreams）； when the sons of the Swan shall carry me 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 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 adven