And for Minos
he made statues which spoke and moved, and the temple of
Britomartis, and the dancing-hall of Ariadne, which he carved of
fair white stone. And in Sardinia he worked for Iolaos, and in
many a land beside, wandering up and down for ever with his
cunning, unlovely and accursed by men.
But Theseus stood before Minos, and they looked each other in the
face. And Minos bade take them to prison, and cast them to the
monster one by one, that the death of Androgeos might be avenged.
Then Theseus cried -
'A boon, O Minos! Let me be thrown first to the beast. For I came
hither for that very purpose, of my own will, and not by lot.'
'Who art thou, then, brave youth?'
'I am the son of him whom of all men thou hatest most, AEgeus the
king of Athens, and I am come here to end this matter.'
And Minos pondered awhile, looking steadfastly at him, and he
thought, 'The lad means to atone by his own death for his father's
sin;' and he answered at last mildly -
'Go back in peace, my son. It is a pity that one so brave should
die.'
But Theseus said, 'I have sworn that I will not go back till I have
seen the monster face to face.'
And at that Minos frowned, and said, 'Then thou shalt see him; take
the madman away.'
And they led Theseus away into the prison, with the other youths
and maids.
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