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brought with me to Crete。〃
〃Your sword will not avail you against the Minotaur；〃 said Ariadne；
〃when you look upon the monster you will know that it is not for your
hand to slay。〃
〃Oh； but bring me my sword； princess；〃 cried Theseus； and his hands
went out to her in supplication。
〃I will bring you your sword；〃 said she。
She took up a little lamp and went through a doorway； leaving Theseus
standing by the low throne in the chamber of Minos。 Then after a little
while she came back； bringing with her Theseus's great ivory…hilted sword。
〃It is a great sword；〃 she said； 〃I marked it before because it is your
sword； Theseus。 But even this great sword will not avail against the
Minotaur。〃
〃Show me the way to come to the Minotaur； O Ariadne；〃 cried
Theseus。
He knew that she did not think that he would deem himself able to
strive with the Minotaur； and that when he looked upon the dread monster
he would return to her and then take the way of his escape。
She took his hand and led him from the chamber of Minos。 She was
not tall； but she stood straight and walked steadily； and Theseus saw in her
something of the strange majesty that he had seen in Minos the king。
They came to high bronze gates that opened into a vault。 〃Here；〃 said
Ariadne； 〃the labyrinth begins。 Very devious is the labyrinth； built by
Daedalus； in which the Minotaur is hidden； and without the clue none
could find a way through the passages。 But I will give you the clue so that
you may look upon the Minotaur and then come back to me。 Theseus； now
I put into your hand the thread that will guide you through all the windings
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
of the labyrinth。 And outside the place where the Minotaur is you will find
another thread to guide you back。〃
A cone was on the ground and it had a thread fastened to it。 Ariadne
gave Theseus the thread and the cone to wind it around。 The thread as he
held it and wound it around the cone would bring him through all the
windings and turnings of the labyrinth。
She left him； and Theseus went on。 Winding the thread around the
cone he went along a wide passage in the vault。 He turned and came into a
passage that was very long。 He came to a place in this passage where a
door seemed to be； but within the frame of the doorway there was only a
blank wall。 But below that doorway there was a flight of six steps； and
down these steps the thread led him。 On he went； and he crossed the marks
that he himself had made in the dust； and he thought he must have come
back to the place where he had parted from Ariadne。 He went on； and he
saw before him a flight of steps。 The thread did not lead up the steps； it led
into the most winding of passages。 So sudden were the turnings in it that
one could not see three steps before one。 He was dazed by the turnings of
this passage； but still he went on。 He went up winding steps and then along
a narrow wall。 The wall overhung a broad flight of steps； and Theseus had
to jump to them。 Down the steps he went and into a wide； empty hall that
had doorways to the right hand and to the left hand。 Here the thread had its
end。 It was fastened to a cone that lay on the ground； and beside this cone
was anotherthe clue that was to bring him back。
Now Theseus； knowing he was in the very center of the labyrinth；
looked all around for sight of the Minotaur。 There was no sight of the
monster here。 He went to all the doors and pushed at them； and some
opened and some remained fast。 The middle door opened。 As it did
Theseus felt around him a chilling draft of air。
That chilling draft was from the breathing of the monster。 Theseus then
saw the Minotaur。 It lay on the ground； a strange； bull…faced thing。
When the thought came to Theseus that he would have to fight that
monster alone and in that hidden and empty place all delight left him； he
grew like a stone； he groaned； and it seemed to him that he heard the voice
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
of Ariadne calling him back。 He could find his way back through the
labyrinth and come to her。 He stepped back； and the door closed on the
Minotaur； the dread monster of Crete。
In an instant Theseus pushed the door again。 He stood within the hall
where the Minotaur was； and the heavy door shut behind him。 He looked
again on that dark； bull…faced thing。 It reared up as a horse rears and
Theseus saw that it would crash down on him and tear him with its dragon
claws。 With a great bound he went far away from where the monster
crashed down。 Then Theseus faced it： he saw its thick lips and its
slobbering mouth； he saw that its skin was thick and hard。
He drew near the monster； his sword in his hand。 He struck at its eyes；
and his sword made a great dint。 But no blood came； for the Minotaur was
a bloodless monster。 From its mouth and nostrils came a draft that covered
him with a chilling slime。
Then it rushed upon him and overthrew him； and Theseus felt its
terrible weight upon him。 But he thrust his sword upward； and it reared up
again； screaming with pain。 Theseus drew himself away； and then he saw
it searching around and around； and he knew he had made it sightless。
Then it faced him； all the more fearful it was because from its wounds no
blood came。
Anger flowed into Theseus when he saw the monster standing
frightfully before him； he thought of all the youths and maidens that this
bloodless thing had destroyed； and all the youths and maidens that it
would destroy if he did not slay it now。 Angrily he rushed upon it with his
great sword。 It clawed and tore him； and it opened wide its most evil
mouth as if to draw him into it。 But again he sprang at it； he thrust his
great sword through its neck； and he left his sword there。
With the last of his strength he pulled open the heavy door and he went
out from the hall where the Minotaur was。 He picked up the thread and he
began to wind it as he had wound the other thread on his way down。 On he
went； through passag