the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第38节
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stretched out their bodies with terrible racks。 On him； likewise； Theseus
had no mercy； he slew Procrustes and gave liberty to his captives。
The King of Athens at the time was named Aegeus。 He was father of
Theseus； but neither Theseus nor he knew that this was so。 Aethra was his
mother； and she was the daughter of the King of Troezen。 Before Theseus
was born his father left a great sword under a stone； telling Aethra that the
boy was to have the sword when he was able to move that stone away。
King Aegeus was old and fearful now： there were wars and troubles in
the city； besides； there was in his palace an evil woman； a witch； to whom
the king listened。 This woman heard that a proud and fearless young man
had come into Athens； and she at once thought to destroy him。
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So the witch spoke to the fearful king； and she made him believe that
this stranger had come into Athens to make league with his enemies and
destroy him。 Such was her power over Aegeus that she was able to
persuade him to invite the stranger youth to a feast in the palace； and to
give him a cup that would have poison in it。
Theseus came to the palace。 He sat down to the banquet with the king。
But before the cup was brought something moved him to stand up and
draw forth the sword that he carried。 Fearfully the king looked upon the
sword。 Then he saw the heavy ivory hilt with the curious carving on it； and
he knew that this was the sword that he had once laid under the stone near
the palace of the King of Troezen。 He questioned Theseus as to how he
had come by the sword； and Theseus told him how Aethra his mother； had
shown him where it was hidden； and how he had been able to take it from
under the stone before he was grown a youth。 More and more Aegeus
questioned him； and he came to know that the youth before him was his
son indeed。 He dashed down the cup that had been brought to the table；
and he shook all over with the thought of how near he had been to a
terrible crime。 The witchwoman watched all that passed； mounting on a
car drawn by dragons she made flight from Athens。
And now the people of the city； knowing that it was he who had slain
the robbers Sinnias and Procrustes； rejoiced to have Theseus amongst
them。 When he appeared as their prince they rejoiced still more。 Soon he
was able to bring to an end the wars in the city and the troubles that
afflicted Athens。
II
The greatest king in the world at that time was Minos； King of Crete。
Minos had sent his son to Athens to make peace and friendship between
his kingdom and the kingdom of King Aegeus。 But the people of Athens
slew the son of King Minos； and because Aegeus had not given him the
protection that a king should have given a stranger come upon such an
errand he was deemed to have some part in the guilt of his slaying。
Minos； the great king； was wroth； and he made war on Athens；
wreaking great destruction upon the country and the people。 Moreover； the
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gods themselves were wroth with Athens； they punished the people with
famine； making even the rivers dry up。 The Athenians went to the oracle
and asked Apollo what they should do to have their guilt taken away。
Apollo made answer that they should make peace with Minos and fulfill
all his demands。
All this Theseus now heard； learning for the first time that behind the
wars and troubles in Athens there was a deed of evil that Aegeus； his
father； had some guilt in。
The demands that King Minos made upon Athens were terrible。 He
demanded that the Athenians should send into Crete every year seven
youths and seven maidens as a price for the life of his son。 And these
youths and maidens were not to meet death merely； nor were they to be
reared in slaverythey were to be sent that a monster called the Minotaur
might devour them。
Youths and maidens had been sent； and for the third time the
messengers of King Minos were coming to Athens。 The tribute for the
Minotaur was to be chosen by lot。 The fathers and mothers were in fear
and trembling； for each man and woman thought that his or her son or
daughter would be taken for a prey for the Minotaur。
They came together； the people of Athens； and they drew the lots
fearfully。 And on the throne above them all sat their pale…faced king；
Aegeus； the father of Theseus。
Before the first lot was drawn Theseus turned to all of them and said；
〃People of Athens； it is not right that your children should go and that I；
who am the son of King Aegeus； should remain behind。 Surely； if any of
the youths of Athens should face the dread monster of Crete； I should face
it。 There is one lot that you may leave undrawn。 I will go to Crete。〃
His father； on hearing the speech of Theseus； came down from his
throne and pleaded with him； begging him not to go。 But the will of
Theseus was set； he would go with the others and face the Minotaur。 And
he reminded his father of how the people had complained； saying that if
Aegeus had done the duty of a king； Minos's son would not have been
slain and the tribute to the Minotaur would have not been demanded。 It
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was the passing about of such complaints that had led to the war and
troubles that Theseus found on his coming to Athens。
Also Theseus told his father and told the people that he had hope in his
handsthat the hands that were strong enough to slay Sinnias and
Procrustes； the giant robbers； would be strong enough to slay the dread
monster of Crete。 His father at last consented to his going。 And Theseus
was able to make the people willing to believe that he would be able to
overcome the Minotaur； and so put an end to the terrible tribute that was
being exacted from them。
With six other youths and seven maidens Theseus went on board of the
ship that every year brought to Crete the grievous tribute。 This ship always
sailed with black sails。 But before it sailed this time King Aegeus gave to
Nausitheus； the master of the ship； a white sail to take with him。 And he
begged Theseus； that in case he should be able to overcome the monster；
to hoist the white sail he had given。 Theseus promised he would do this。
His father would watch for the return of the ship； and if the sail were black
he would know that the Minotaur had dealt with his son as it had dealt
with the other youths who had gone from Athens。 And if the sail were
white Aegeus would have indeed cause to rejoice。
III
And now the black…sailed ship had come to Crete； and the youths and
maidens of Athens looked from its deck on Knossos； the marvelous city
that Daedalus the builder had built for King Minos。 And they saw the
palace of the king； the red and black palace in which was the labyrinth；
made also by Daedalus； where the dread Minotaur was hidden。
In fear they looked upon the city and the palace。 But not in fear did
Theseus look； but in wonder at the magnificence of it allthe harbor with
its great steps leading up into the city； the far…spreading palace all red and
black； and the crowds of ships with their white and red sails。 They were
brought through the city of Knossos to the palace of the king。 And there
Theseus looked upon Minos。 In a great red chamber on which was painted
the sign of the axe； King Minos sat。
On a low throne he sat； holding in his hand a scepter on which a bird
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was perched。 Not in fear； but steadily； did Theseus look upon the king。
And he saw that Minos had the face of one who has thought long upon
troublesome things； and that his eyes we
