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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
he knew that Theseus was the one whom he had been searching for； he led
him into a little chamber where there were three maidens。 One started up
and came to him quickly； and Theseus again saw Ariadne。
She hid him in the chamber of the palace where her singing birds were；
and she would come and sit beside him； asking about his own country and
telling him that she would go with him there。 〃I showed you how you
might come to the Minotaur；〃 she said； 〃and you went there and you slew
the monster； and now I may not stay in my father's palace。〃
And Theseus thought all the time of his return； and of how he might
bring the youths and maidens of Athens back to their own people。 For
Ariadne； that strange princess； was not dear to him as Medea was dear to
Jason； or Atalanta the Huntress to young Meleagrus。
One sunset she led him to a roof of the palace and she showed him the
harbor with the ships； and she showed him the ship with the black sail that
had brought him to Knossos。 She told him she would take him aboard that
ship； and that the youths and maidens of Athens could go with them。 She
would bring to the master of the ship the seal of King Minos； and the
master； seeing it； would set sail for whatever place Theseus desired to go。
Then did she become dear to Theseus because of her great kindness；
and he kissed her eyes and swore that he would not go from the palace
unless she would come with him to his own country。 The strange princess
smiled and wept as if she doubted what he said。 Nevertheless； she led him
from the roof and down into one of the palace gardens。 He waited there；
and the youths and maidens of Athens were led into the garden； all
wearing cloaks that hid their forms and faces。 Young Icarus led them from
the grounds of the palace and down to the ships。 And Ariadne went with
them； bringing with her the seal of her father； King Minos。
And when they came on board of the black…sailed ship they showed
the seal to the master； Nausitheus； and the master of the ship let the sail
take the breeze of the evening； and so Theseus went away from Crete。
VII
To the Island of Naxos they sailed。 And when they reached that place
the master of the ship； thinking that what had been done was not in
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
accordance with the will of King Minos； stayed the ship there。 He waited
until other ships came from Knossos。 And when they came they brought
word that Minos would not slay nor demand back Theseus nor the youths
and maidens of Athens。 His daughter； Ariadne； he would have back； to
reign with him over Crete。
Then Ariadne left the black…sailed ship； and went back to Crete from
Naxos。 Theseus let the princess go； although he might have struggled to
hold her。 But more strange than dear did Ariadne remain to Theseus。
And all this time his father； Aegeus； stayed on the tower of his palace；
watching for the return of the ship that had sailed for Knossos。 The life of
the king wasted since the departure of Theseus； and now it was but a
thread。 Every day he watched for the return of the ship； hoping against
hope that Theseus would return alive to him。 Then a ship came into the
harbor。 It had black sails。 IF…geus did not know that Theseus was aboard
of it； and that Theseus in the hurry of his flight and in the sadness of his
parting from Ariadne had not thought of taking out the white sail that his
father had given to Nausitheus。
Joyously Theseus sailed into the harbor； having slain the Minotaur and
lifted for ever the tribute put upon Athens。 Joyously he sailed into the
harbor； bringing back to their parents the youths and maidens of Athens。
But the king； his father； saw the black sails on his ship； and straightway
the thread of his life broke； and he died on the roof of the tower which he
had built to look out on the sea。
Theseus landed on the shore of his own country。 He had the ship
drawn up on the beach and he made sacrifices of thanksgiving to the gods。
Then he sent messengers to the city to announce his return。 They went
toward the city； these joyful messengers； but when they came to the gate
they heard the sounds of mourning and lamentation。 The mourning and the
lamentation were for the death of the king； Theseus's father。 They hurried
back and they came to Theseus where he stood on the beach。 They brought
a wreath of victory for him； but as they put it into his hand they told him
of the death of his father。 Then Theseus left the wreath on the ground； and
he wept for the death of Aegeusof Aegeus； the hero； who had left the
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
sword under the stone for him before he was born。
The men and women who came to the beach wept and laughed as they
clasped in their arms the children brought back to them。 And Theseus
stood there； silent and bowed； the memory of his last moments with his
father； of his fight with the Minotaur； of his parting with Ariadneall
flowed back upon him。 He stood there with head bowed； the man who
might not put upon his brows the wreath of victory that had been brought
to him。
VIII
There had come into the city a youth of great valor whose name was
Peirithous： from a far country he had come； filled with a desire of meeting
Theseus； whose fame had come to him。 The youth was in Athens at the
time Theseus returned。 He went down to the beach with the townsfolk； and
he saw Theseus standing alone with his head bowed down。 He went to him
and he spoke； and Theseus lifted his head and he saw before him a young
man of strength and beauty。 He looked upon him； and the thought of high
deeds came into his mind again。 He wanted this young man to be his
comrade in dangers and upon quests。 And Peirithous looked upon Theseus；
and he felt that he was greater and nobler than he had thought。 They
became friends and sworn brothers； and together they went into far
countries。
Now there was in Epirus a savage king who had a very fair daughter。
He had named this daughter Persephone； naming her thus to show that she
was held as fast by him as that other Persephone was held who ruled in the
Underworld。 No man might see her； and no man might wed her。 But
Peirithous had seen the daughter of this king； and he desired above all
things to take her from。 her father and make her his wife。 He begged
Theseus to help him enter that king's palace and carry off the maiden。
So they came to Epirus； Theseus and Peirithous； and they entered the
king's palace； and they heard the bay of the dread hound that was there to
let no one out who had once come within the walls。 Suddenly the guards
of the savage king came upon them； and they took Theseus and Peirithous
and they dragged them down into dark dungeons。
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
Two great chairs of stone were there； and Theseus and Peirithous were
left seated in them。 And the magic powers that were in the chairs of stone
were such that the heroes could not lift themselves out of them。 There they
stayed； held in the great stone chairs in the dungeons of that savage king。
Then it so happened that Heracles came into the palace of the king。
The harsh king feasted Heracles and abated his savagery before him。 But
he could not forbear boasting of how he had trapped the heroes who had
come to carry off Persephone。 And he told how they could not get out of
the stone chairs and how they were held captive in his dark dungeon。
Heracles listened； his heart full of pity for the heroes from Greece who had
met with such a harsh fate。 And when the king mentioned that one of the
heroes was Theseus； Heracles would feast no more with him until he had
promised that the one who had been his comrade on the Argo would be let
go。
The king said he would giv