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were now led away； and clapped into a dungeon； where the jailer advised
them to go to sleep as soon as possible； because the Minotaur was in the
habit of calling for breakfast early。 The seven maiden s and six of the
young men soon sobbed themselves to slumber。 But Theseus was not like
them。 He felt conscious that he was wiser； and braver； and stronger than
his companions； and that therefore he had the responsibility of all their
lives upon him； and must consider whether there was no way to save them；
even in this last extremity。 So he kept himself awake； and paced to and fro
across the gloomy dungeon in which they were shut up。
Just before midnight； the door was softly unbarred； and the gentle
Ariadne showed herself； with a torch in her hand。
〃Are you awake； Prince Theseus？〃 she whispered。
〃Yes；〃 answered Theseus。 〃With so little time to live； I do not choose
to waste any of it in sleep。〃
〃Then follow me；〃 said Ariadne； 〃and tread softly。〃
What had become of the jailer and the guards； Theseus never knew。
But； however that might be； Ariadne opened all the doors； and led him
forth from the darksome prison into the pleasant moonlight。
〃Theseus；〃 said the maiden； 〃you can now get on board your vessel；
and sail away for Athens。〃
〃No；〃 answered the young man； 〃I will never leave Crete unless I can
first slay the Minotaur； and save my poor companions； and deliver Athens
from this cruel tribute。〃
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〃I knew that this would be your resolution；〃 said Ariadne。 〃Come； then；
with me； brave Theseus。 Here is your own sword； which the guards
deprived you of。 You will need it； and pray Heaven you may use it well。〃
Then she led Theseus along by the hand until they came to a dark；
shadowy grove； where the moonlight wasted itself on the tops of the trees；
without shedding hardly so much as a glimmering beam upon their
pathway。 After going a good way through this obscurity； they reached a
high marble wall； which was overgrown with creeping plants； that made it
shaggy with their verdure。 The wall seemed to have no door； nor any
windows； but rose up； lofty； and massive； and mysterious； and was neither
to be clambered over； nor； as far as Theseus could perceive； to be passed
through。 Nevertheless； Ariadne did but press one of her soft little fingers
against a particular block of marble and； though it looked as solid as any
other part of the wall； it yielded to her touch； disclosing an entrance just
wide enough to admit them They crept through； and the marble stone
swung back into its place。
〃We are now；〃 said Ariadne； 〃in the famous labyrinth which Daedalus
built before he made himself a pair of wings； and flew away from our
island like a bird。 That Daedalus was a very cunning workman； but of all
his artful contrivances； this labyrinth is the most wondrous。 Were we to
take but a few steps from the doorway； we might wander about all our
lifetime； and never find it again。 Yet in the very center of this labyrinth is
the Minotaur； and； Theseus； you must go thither to seek him。〃
〃But how shall I ever find him；〃 asked Theseus； 〃if the labyrinth so
bewilders me as you say it will？〃
Just as he spoke； they heard a rough and very disagreeable roar； which
greatly resembled the lowing of a fierce bull； but yet had some sort of
sound like the human voice。 Theseus even fancied a rude articulation in it；
as if the creature that uttered it were trying to shape his hoarse breath into
words。 It was at some distance； however； and he really could not tell
whether it sounded most like a bull's roar or a man's harsh voice。
〃That is the Minotaur's noise；〃 whispered Ariadne； closely grasping the
hand of Theseus； and pressing one of her own hands to her heart； which
was all in a tremble。 〃You must follow that sound through the windings of
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the labyrinth； and； by and by； you will find him。 Stay！ take the end of this
silken string； I will hold the other end； and then； if you win the victory。 it
will lead you again to this spot。 Farewell； brave Theseus。〃
So the young man took the end of the silken string in his left hand； and
his gold…hilled sword； ready drawn from its scabbard； in the other； and trod
boldly into the inscrutable labyrinth。 How this labyrinth was built is more
than I can tell you。 But so cunningly contrived a mizmaze was never seen
in the world； before nor since。 There can be nothing else so intricate；
unless it were the brain of a man like Daedalus； who planned it； or the
heart of any ordinary man； which last； to be sure； is ten times as great a
mystery as the labyrinth of Crete。 Theseus had not taken five steps before
he lost sight of Ariadne； and in five more his head was growing dizzy。 But
still he went on； now creeping through a low arch； now ascending a flight
of steps； now in one crooked passage and now in another； with here a door
opening before him； and there one banging behind； until it really seemed
as if the walls spun round； and whirled him round along with them。 And
all the while； through these hollow avenues； now nearer； now farther off
again； resounded the cry of the Minotaur； and the sound was so fierce； so
cruel； so ugly； so like a bull's roar； and withal so like a human voice； and
yet like neither of them； that the brave heart of Theseus grew sterner and
angrier at every step； for he felt it an insult to the moon and sky； and to our
affectionate and simple Mother Earth； that such a monster should have the
audacity to exist。
As he passed onward； the clouds gathered over the moon； and the
labyrinth grew so dusky that Theseus could no longer discern the
bewilderment through which he was passing。 He would have left quite lost；
and utterly hopeless of ever again walking in a straight path； if； every little
while； he had not been conscious of a gentle twitch at the silken cord。
Then he knew that the tender…hearted Ariadne was still holding the other
end； and that she was fearing for him； and hoping for him； and giving him
just as much of her sympathy as if she were close by his side。 O； indeed； I
can assure you； there was a vast deal of human sympathy running along
that slender thread of silk。 But still he followed the dreadful roar of the
Minotaur； which now grew louder and louder； and finally so very loud that
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Theseus fully expected to come close upon him； at every new zizgag and
wriggle of the path。 And at last； in an open space； at the very center of the
labyrinth； he did discern the hideous creature。
Sure enough； what an ugly monster it was！ Only his horned head
belonged to a bull； and yet； somehow or other； he looked like a bull all
over； preposterously waddling on his hind legs； or； if you happened to
view him in another way； he seemed wholly a man； and all the more
monstrous for being so。 And there he was； the wretched thing； with no
society； no companion； no kind of a mate； living only to do mischief； and
incapable of knowing what affection means。 Theseus hated him； and
shuddered at him； and yet could not but be sensible of some sort of pity；
and all the more； the uglier and more detestable the creature was。 For he
kept striding to and fro； in a solitary frenzy of rage； continually emitting a
hoarse roar； which was oddly mixed up with half…shaped words； and； after
listening a while； Theseus understood that the Minotaur was saying to
himself how miserable he was； and how hungry； and how he hated
everybody； and how he longed to eat up the human race alive。
Ah！ the bull…headed villain！ And O； my good little people； you will
perhaps see； one of these days； as I do now； that every human being who
suffers any thing evil to get into his nature； or to remain there； is a kind of
Minotaur； an enemy of his fellow…cr