mischief ever since her arrival. But these and
many other wonders must be left untold; and it
is enough to say, that Medea, amongst a thou-
sand other bad things, knew how to prepare a
poison, that was instantly fatal to whomsoever
might so much as touch it with his lips.

So, when the king asked what he should do
with Theseus, this naughty woman had an
answer ready at her tongue's end.

"Leave that to me, please your majesty," she
replied. "Only admit this evil-minded young
man to your presence, treat him civilly, and in-
vite him to drink a goblet of wine. Your ma-
jesty is well aware that I sometimes amuse
myself with distilling very powerful medicines.
Here is one of them in this small phial. As to
what it is made of, that is one of my secrets of
state. Do but let me put a single drop into the
goblet, and let the young rr an taste it; and ]
will answer for it, he shall quite lay aside the
bad designs with which he comes hither."

As she said this, Medea smiled; but, for all
her smiling face, she meant nothing less than to
poison the poor innocent Theseus, before hia
father's eyes. And King Aegeus, like most other

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v?