me his story while I was yet a little child. But
it is only a month since I grew strong enough
to lift the heavy stone, and take the sword and
sandals from beneath it, and come to Athens to
seek my father."

"My son! my son!" cried King Aegeus, fling-
ing away the fatal goblet, and tottering down
from the throne to fall into the arms of Theseus.
"Yes, these are Aethra's eyes. It is my son."

I have quite forgotten what became of the
king's nephews. But when the wicked Medea
saw this new turn of affairs, she hurried out of
the room, and going to her private chamber, lost
no time in setting her enchantments at work. In
a few moments, she heard a great noise of hissing
snakes outside of the chamber window; and,
behold! there was her fiery chariot, and four
huge winged serpents, wriggling and twisting in
the air, flourishing their tails higher than the
top of the palace, and all ready to set off on an
aerial journey. Medea staid only long enough to
take her son with her, and to steal the crown
jewels, together with the king's best robes, and
whatever other valuable things she could lay
hands on; and getting into the chariot, she

[[38]]

p037 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p038w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p039

v?