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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 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 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 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 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 fo