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'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 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 made by his skill。 For Daidalos was the most cunning of all Athenians； and he first invented the plumb…line； and the auger； and glue； and many a tool with which wood is wrought。 And he first set up masts in ships； and yards； and his son made sails for them： but Perdix his nephew excelled him； for he first invented the saw and its teeth； copying it from the back…bone of a fish； and invented； too； the chisel； and the compasses； and the potter's wheel which moulds the clay。 Therefore Daidalos envied him； and hurled him headlong from the temple of Athene； but the Goddess pitied him （for she loves the wise）； and changed him into a partridge； which flits for ever about the hills。 And Daidalos fled to Crete； to Minos； and worked for him many a year； till he did a shameful deed； at which the sun hid his face on high。
Then he fled from the anger of Minos； he and Icaros his son having made themselves wings of feathers； and fixed the feathers with wax。 So they flew over the sea toward Sicily； but Icaros flew too near the sun； and the wax of his wings was melted； and he fell into the Icarian Sea。 But Daidalos came safe to Sicily； and there wrought many a wondrous work； for he made for King Cocalos a reservoir； from which a great river watered all the land； and a castle and a treasury on a mountain； which the giants themselves could not have stormed； and in Selinos he took the steam which comes up from the fires of AEtna； and made of it a warm bath of vapour； to cure the pains of mortal men； and he made a honeycomb of gold； in which the bees came and stored their honey； and in Egypt he made the forecourt of the temple of Hephaistos in Memphis； and a statue of himself within it； and many another wondrous work。 And for Minos he made statues which spoke and moved； and the temple of Britomartis； and the dancing…hall of Ariadne； which he carved of fair white stone。 And in Sardinia he worked for I攍aos； and in many a land beside； wandering up and down for ever with his cunning； unlovely and accursed by men。
But Theseus stood before Minos； and they looked each other in the face。 And Minos bade take them to prison； and cast them to the monster one by one； that the death of Androgeos might be avenged。 Then Theseus cried …
'A boon； O Minos！ Let me be thrown first to the beast。 For I came hither for that very purpose； of my own will； and not by lot。'
'Who art thou； then； brave youth？'
'I am the son of him whom of all men thou hatest most； AEgeus the king of Athens； and I am come here to end this matter。'
And Minos pondered awhile； looking steadfastly at him； and he thought； 'The lad means to atone by his own death for his father's sin；' and he answered at last mildly …
'Go back in peace； my son。 It is a pity that one so brave should die。'
But Theseus said； 'I have sworn that I will not go back till I have seen the monster face to face。'
And at that Minos frowned； and said； 'Then thou shalt see him； take the madman away。'
And they led Theseus away into the prison； with the other youths and maids。
But Ariadne； Minos' daughter； saw him； as she came out of her white stone hall； and she loved him for his courage and his majesty； and said； 'Shame that such a youth should die！' And by night she went down to the prison； and told him all her heart； and said …
'Flee down to your ship at once； for I have bribed the guards before the door。 Flee； you and all your friends； and go back in peace to Greece； and take me； take me with you！ for I dare not stay after you are gone； for my father will kill me miserably； if he knows what I have done。'
And Theseus。 stood silent awhile； for he was astonished and confounded by her beauty： but at last he said； 'I cannot go home in peace； till I have seen and slain this Minotaur； and avenged the deaths of the youths and maidens； and put an end to the terrors of my land。'
'And will you kill the Minotaur？ How； then？'
'I know not； nor do I care： but he must be strong if he be too strong for me。'
Then she loved him all the more； and said； 'But when you have killed him； how will you find your way out of the labyrinth？'
'I know not； neither do I care： but it must be a strange road； if I do not find it out before I have eaten up the monster's carcase。'
Then she loved him all the more； and said … 'Fair youth； you are too bold； but I can help you； weak as I am。 I will give you a sword； and with that perhaps you may slay the beast； and a clue of thread； and by that； perhaps； you may find your way out again。 Only promise me that if you escape safe you will take me home with you to Greece； for my father will surely kill me； if he knows what I have done。'
Then Theseus laughed； and said； 'Am I not safe enough now？' And he hid the sword in his bosom； and rolled up the clue in his hand； and then he swore to Ariadne； and fell down before her； and kissed her hands and her feet； and she wept over him a long while； and then went away； and Theseus lay down and slept sweetly。
And when the evening came； the guards came in and led him away to the labyrinth。
And he went down into that doleful gulf； through winding paths among the rocks； under caverns； and arches； and galleries； and over heaps of fallen stone。 And he turned on the left hand； and on the right hand； and went up and down； til