But why did they find his bones in Scuros? Why did he not die in
peace at Athens, and sleep by his father's side? Because after his
triumph he grew proud, and broke the laws of God and man. And one
thing worst of all he did, which brought him to his grave with
sorrow. For he went down (they say beneath the earth) with that
bold Peirithoos his friend to help him to carry off Persephone, the
queen of the world below. But Peirithoos was killed miserably, in
the dark fire-kingdoms under ground; and Theseus was chained to a
rock in everlasting pain. And there he sat for years, till
Heracles the mighty came down to bring up the three-headed dog who
sits at Pluto's gate. So Heracles loosed him from his chain, and
brought him up to the light once more.
But when he came back his people had forgotten him, and Castor and
Polydeuces, the sons of the wondrous Swan, had invaded his land,
and carried off his mother Aithra for a slave, in revenge for a
grievous wrong.
So the fair land of Athens was wasted, and another king ruled it,
who drove out Theseus shamefully, and he fled across the sea to
Scuros. And there he lived in sadness, in the house of Lucomedes
the king, till Lucomedes killed him by treachery, and there was an
end of all his labours.
So it is still, my children, and so it will be to the end.
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