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gentle and sweet a child for such an iron…hearted father as King Minos。 He
cares no more for thee than a granite rock cares for the little flower that
grows in one of its crevices。 But my father； King Aegeus； and my dear
mother； Aethra； and all the fathers and mothers in Athens； and all the sons
and daughters too； will love and honor thee as their benefactress。 Come
with us； then； for King Minos will be very angry when he knows what
thou hast done。〃
Now； some low…minded people； who pretend to tell the story of
Theseus and Ariadne； have the face to say that this royal and honorable
maiden did really flee away； under cover of the night； with the young
stranger whose life she had preserved。 They say； too； that Prince Theseus
（who would have died sooner than wrong the meanest creature in the
world） ungratefully deserted Ariadne； on a solitary island； where the vessel
touched on its voyage to Athens。 But； had the noble Theseus heard these
falsehoods； he would have served their slanderous authors as he served the
Minotaur！ Here is what Ariadne answered； when the brave prince of
Athens besought her to accompany him：
〃No； Theseus；〃 the maiden said； pressing his hand； and then drawing
back a step or two； 〃I cannot go with you。 My father is old； and has
nobody but myself to love him。 Hard as you think his heart is； it would
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break to lose me。 At first； King Minos will be angry； but he will soon
forgive his only child； and； by and by； he will rejoice； I know； that no more
youths and maidens must come from Athens to be devoured by the
Minotaur。 I have saved you； Theseus； as much for my father's sake as for
your own。 Farewell！ Heaven bless you！〃
All this was so true； and so maiden…like； and was spoken with so sweet
a dignity； that Theseus would have blushed to urge her any longer。
Nothing remained for him； therefore； but to bid Ariadne an affectionate
farewell； and to go on board the vessel； and set sail。
In a few moments the white foam was boiling up before their prow； as
Prince Theseus and his companions sailed out of the harbor； with a
whistling breeze behind them。 Talus； the brazen giant； on his never…
ceasing sentinel's march； happened to be approaching that part of the coast；
and they saw him； by the glimmering of the moonbeams on his polished
surface； while he was yet a great way off。 As the figure moved like
clockwork； however； and could neither hasten his enormous strides nor
retard them； he arrived at the port when they were just beyond the reach of
his club。 Nevertheless； straddling from headland to headland； as his
custom was； Talus attempted to strike a blow at the vessel； and；
overreaching himself； tumbled at full length into the sea； which splashed
high over his gigantic shape； as when an iceberg turns a somerset。 There
he lies yet； and whoever desires to enrich himself by means of brass had
better go thither with a diving bell； and fish up Talus。
On the homeward voyage； the fourteen youths and damsels were in
excellent spirits； as you will easily suppose。 They spent most of their time
in dancing； unless when the sidelong breeze made the deck slope too much。
In due season； they came within sight of the coast of Attica； which was
their native country。 But here； I am grieved to tell you； happened a sad
misfortune。
You will remember （what Theseus unfortunately forgot） that his father；
King Aegeus； had enjoined it upon him to hoist sunshiny sails； instead of
black ones； in case he should overcome the Minotaur； and return
victorious。 In the joy of their success； however； and amidst the sports；
dancing； and other merriment； with which these young folks wore away
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the time； they never once thought whether their sails were black； white； or
rainbow colored； and； indeed； left it entirely to the mariners whether they
had any sails at all。 Thus the vessel returned； like a raven； with the same
sable wings that had wafted her away。 But poor King Aegeus； day after
day； infirm as he was； had clambered to the summit of a cliff that
overhung the sea； and there sat watching for Prince Theseus； homeward
bound； and no sooner did he behold the fatal blackness of the sails； than he
concluded that his dear son； whom he loved so much； and felt so proud of；
had been eaten by the Minotaur。 He could not bear the thought of living
any longer； so； first flinging his crown and sceptre into the sea （useless
baubles that they were to him now）； King Aegeus merely stooped forward；
and fell headlong over the cliff； and was drowned； poor soul； in the waves
that foamed at its base！
This was melancholy news for Prince Theseus； who； when he stepped
ashore； found himself king of all the country； whether he would or no； and
such a turn of fortune was enough to make any young man feel very much
out of spirits。 However； he sent for his dear mother to Athens； and； by
taking her advice in matters of state； became a very excellent monarch；
and was greatly beloved by his people。
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THE PYGMIES。
A great while ago； when the world was full of wonders； there lived an
earth…born Giant； named Antaeus； and a million or more of curious little
earth…born people； who were called Pygmies。 This Giant and these
Pygmies being children of the same mother （that is to say； our good old
Grandmother Earth）； were all brethren； and dwelt together in a very
friendly and affectionate manner； far； far off； in the middle of hot Africa。
The Pygmies were so small； and there were so many sandy deserts and
such high mountains between them and the rest of mankind； that nobody
could get a peep at them oftener than once in a hundred years。 As for the
Giant； being of a very lofty stature； it was easy eno