You look like a hero and a bold
warrior; and we like such to drink with us.'
'I ask no hospitality of you; I ask it of AEgeus the king, the
master of this house.'
At that some growled, and some laughed, and shouted, 'Heyday! we
are all masters here.'
'Then I am master as much as the rest of you,' said Theseus, and he
strode past the table up the hall, and looked around for AEgeus;
but he was nowhere to be seen.
The Pallantids looked at him, and then at each other, and each
whispered to the man next him, 'This is a forward fellow; he ought
to be thrust out at the door.' But each man's neighbour whispered
in return, 'His shoulders are broad; will you rise and put him
out?' So they all sat still where they were.
Then Theseus called to the servants, and said, 'Go tell King
AEgeus, your master, that Theseus of Troezene is here, and asks to
be his guest awhile.'
A servant ran and told AEgeus, where he sat in his chamber within,
by Medeia the dark witch-woman, watching her eye and hand. And
when AEgeus heard of Troezene he turned pale and red again, and
rose from his seat trembling, while Medeia watched him like a
snake.
'What is Troezene to you?' she asked. But he said hastily, 'Do you
not know who this Theseus is? The hero who has cleared the country
from all monsters; but that he came from Troezene, I never heard
before.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173