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himself quite out of breath； without being able to stir the heavy stone。 It
seemed to be rooted into the ground。 No wonder he could not move it； for
it would have taken all the force of a very strong man to lift it out of its
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earthy bed。
His mother stood looking on； with a sad kind of a smile on her lips and
in her eyes； to see the zealous and yet puny efforts of her little boy。 She
could not help being sorrowful at finding him already so impatient to
begin his adventures in the world。
〃You see how it is； my dear Theseus；〃 said she。 〃You must possess far
more strength than now before I can trust you to go to Athens； and tell
King Aegeus that you are his son。 But when you can lift this rock； and
show me what is hidden beneath it； I promise you my permission to
depart。〃
Often and often； after this； did Theseus ask his mother whether it was
yet time for him to go to Athens； and still his mother pointed to the rock；
and told him that； for years to come； he could not be strong enough to
move it。 And again and again the rosy…checked and curly…headed boy
would tug and strain at the huge mass of stone； striving； child as he was； to
do what a giant could hardly have done without taking both of his great
hands to the task。 Meanwhile the rock seemed to be sinking farther and
farther into the ground。 The moss grew over it thicker and thicker； until at
last it looked almost like a soft green seat； with only a few gray knobs of
granite peeping out。 The overhanging trees； also； shed their brown leaves
upon It； as often as the autumn came； and at its base grew ferns and wild
flowers； some of which crept quite over its surface。 To all appearance； the
rock was as firmly fastened as any other portion of the earth's substance。
But； difficult as the matter looked； Theseus was now growing up to be
such a vigorous youth； that； in his own opinion； the time would quickly
come when he might hope to get the upper hand of this ponderous lump of
stone。
〃Mother； I do believe it has started！〃 cried he； after one of his attempts。
〃The earth around it is certainly a little cracked！〃
〃No； no； child！〃 his mother hastily answered。 〃It is not possible you
can have moved it； such a boy as you still are！〃
Nor would she be convinced； although Theseus showed her the place
where he fancied that the stem of a flower had been partly uprooted by the
movement of the rock。 But Aethra sighed； and looked disquieted； for； no
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doubt； she began to be conscious that her son was no longer a child； and
that； in a little while hence； she must send him forth among the perils and
troubles of the world。
It was not more than a year afterwards when they were again sitting on
the moss…covered stone。 Aethra had once more told him the oft…repeated
story of his father； and how gladly he would receive Theseus at his stately
palace； and how he would present him to his courtiers and the people； and
tell them that here was the heir of his dominions。 The eyes of Theseus
glowed with enthusiasm； and he would hardly sit still to hear his mother
speak。
〃Dear mother Aethra；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I never felt half so strong as
now！ I am no longer a child； nor a boy； nor a mere youth！ I feel myself a
man！ It is now time to make one earnest trial to remove the stone。〃
〃Ah； my dearest Theseus；〃 replied his mother 〃not yet！ not yet！〃
〃Yes； mother；〃 said he； resolutely； 〃the time has come！〃
Then Theseus bent himself in good earnest to the task； and strained
every sinew； with manly strength and resolution。 He put his whole brave
heart into the effort。 He wrestled with the big and sluggish stone； as if it
had been a living enemy。 He heaved； he lifted； he resolved now to succeed；
or else to perish there； and let the rock be his monument forever！ Aethra
stood gazing at him； and clasped her hands； partly with a mother's pride；
and partly with a mother's sorrow。 The great rock stirred！ Yes； it was raised
slowly from the bedded moss and earth； uprooting the shrubs and flowers
along with it； and was turned upon its side。 Theseus had conquered！
While taking breath； he looked joyfully at his mother； and she smiled
upon him through her tears。
〃Yes； Theseus；〃 she said； 〃the time has come； and you must stay no
longer at my side！ See what King Aegeus； your royal father； left for you
beneath the stone； when he lifted it in his mighty arms； and laid it on the
spot whence you have now removed it。〃
Theseus looked； and saw that the rock had been placed over another
slab of stone； containing a cavity within it； so that it somewhat resembled
a roughly…made chest or coffer； of which the upper mass had served as the
lid。 Within the cavity lay a sword； with a golden hilt； and a pair of sandals。
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〃That was your father's sword；〃 said Aethra； 〃and those were his
sandals。 When he went to be king of Athens； he bade me treat you as a
child until you should prove yourself a man by lifting this heavy stone。
That task being accomplished； you are to put on his sandals； in order to
follow in your father's footsteps； and to gird on his sword； so that you may
fight giants and dragons； as King Aegeus did in his youth。〃
〃I will set out for Athens this very day！〃 cried Theseus。
But his mother persuaded him to stay a day or two longer； while she
got ready some necessary articles for his journey。 When his grandfather；
the wise King Pittheus； heard that Theseus intended to present himself at
his father's palace； he earnestly advised him to get on board of a vessel；
and go by sea； because he might thus arrive within fifteen miles of Athens；
without either fatigue or danger。
〃The roads are very bad by land；〃 quoth the venerable king； 〃and they
are terribly infested with robbers and monsters。 A mere lad； like Theseus；
is not fit to be trusted on such a perilous journey； all by himself。 No； no；
let him go by sea。〃
But when Theseus heard of robbers and monsters； he pricked up his
ears； and was so much the more eager to take the road along which they
were to be met with。 On the third day； therefore； he bade a respectful
farewell to his grandfather； thanking him for all his kindness； and； after
affectionately embracing his mother； he set forth with a good many of her
tears glistening on his cheeks； and some； if the truth must be told； that had
gushed out of his own eyes。 But he let the sun and wind dry them； and
walked stoutly on； playing with the golden hilt of his sword； and taking
very manly strides in his father's sandals。
I cannot stop to tell you hardly any of the adventures that befell
Theseus on the road to Athens。 It is enough to say； that he quite cleared
that part of the country of the robbers about whom King Pittheus had been
so much alarmed。 One of these bad people was named Procrustes； and he
was indeed a terrible fellow； and had an ugly way of making fun of the
poor travelers who happened to fall into his clutches。 In his cavern he had
a bed； on which； with great pretense of hospitality； he invited his guests to
lie down； but； if they happened to be shorter than the bed； this wicked
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villain stretched them out by main force； or； if they were too tall； he
lopped off their heads or feet； and laughed at what he had done； as an
excellent joke。 Thus； however weary a man might be； he never liked to lie
in the bed of Procrustes。 Another of these robbers； named Scinis； must
likewise have been a very great scoundrel。 He was in the habit of flinging
his victims off a high cliff into the sea； and； in order to give him exactly
his deserts； Theseus tossed him off the very same place。 But if you will
believe me； the sea would not pollute itself by receiving such a bad person
into its bosom； neither would the earth； having once got rid of him；
consent to take him b