sell a man! it is now time to make one earnest
trial to remove the stone."

"Ah, my dearest Theseus," replied his mother,
"not yet! not yet!"

"Yes, mother," said he, resolutely, "the time
has come."

Then Theseus bent himself in good earnest to
the task, and strained every sinew, with manly
strength and resolution. He put his whole brave
heart into the effort. He wrestled with the big
and sluggish stone, as if it had been a living
enemy. He heaved, he lifted, he resolved now
to succeed, or else to perish there, and let the
rock be his monument forever! Aethra stood
gazing at him, and clasped her hands, partly
with a mother's pride, and partly with a mother's
sorrow. The great rock stirred! Yes, it was
raised slowly from the bedded moss and earth,
uprooting the shrubs and flowers along with it,
and was turned upon its side. Theseus had
conquered!

While taking breath, he looked joyfully at his
mother, and she smiled upon him through her
tears.

"Yes, Theseus," she said, "the time has come,

[[24]]

p023 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p024w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p025

v?