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answered Theseus； 〃 And you； my father； being king over these people；
and answerable to Heaven for their welfare； are bound to sacrifice what is
dearest to you； rather than that the son or daughter of the poorest citizen
should come to any harm。〃
The old king shed tears； and besought Theseus not to leave him
desolate in his old age； more especially as he had but just begun to know
the happiness of possessing a good and valiant son。 Theseus； however； felt
that he was in the right； and therefore would not give up his resolution。
But he assured his father that he did not intend to be eaten up；
unresistingly； like a sheep； and that； if the Minotaur devoured him； it
should not be without a battle for his dinner。 And finally； since he could
not help it； King Aegeus consented to let him go。 So a vessel was got
ready； and rigged with black sails； and Theseus； with six other young men；
and seven tender and beautiful damsels； came down to the harbor to
embark。 A sorrowful multitude accompanied them to the shore。 There was
the poor old king； too； leaning on his son's arm； and looking as if his
single heart held all the grief of Athens。
Just as Prince Theseus was going on board； his father bethought
himself of one last word to say。
〃My beloved son；〃 said he； grasping the Prince's hand； 〃you observe
that the sails of this vessel are black； as indeed they ought to be； since it
goes upon a voyage of sorrow and despair。 Now； being weighed down
with infirmities； I know not whether I can survive till the vessel shall
return。 But； as long as I do live； I shall creep daily to the top of yonder
cliff； to watch if there be a sail upon the sea。 And； dearest Theseus； if by
some happy chance； you should escape the jaws of the Minotaur； then tear
down those dismal sails； and hoist others that shall be bright as the
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sunshine。 Beholding them on the horizon； myself and all the people will
know that you are coming back victorious； and will welcome you with
such a festal uproar as Athens never heard before。〃
Theseus promised that he would do so。 Then going on board； the
mariners trimmed the vessel's black sails to the wind； which blew faintly
off the shore； being pretty much made up of the sighs that everybody kept
pouring forth on this melancholy occasion。 But by and by； when they had
got fairly out to sea； there came a stiff breeze from the north…west； and
drove them along as merrily over the white…capped waves as if they had
been going on the most delightful errand imaginable。 And though it was a
sad business enough； I rather question whether fourteen young people；
without any old persons to keep them in order； could continue to spend the
whole time of the voyage in being miserable。 There had been some few
dances upon the undulating deck； I suspect； and some hearty bursts of
laughter； and other such unseasonable merriment among the victims；
before the high blue mountains of Crete began to show themselves among
the far…off clouds。 That sight； to be sure； made them all very grave again。
Theseus stood among the sailors； gazing eagerly towards the land；
although； as yet； it seemed hardly more substantial than the clouds； amidst
which the mountains were looming up。 Once or twice； he fancied that he
saw a glare of some bright object； a long way off； flinging a gleam across
the waves。
〃Did you see that flash of light？〃 he inquired of the master of the
vessel。
〃No； prince； but I have seen it before；〃 answered the master。 〃It came
from Talus； I suppose。〃
As the breeze came fresher just then； the master was busy with
trimming his sails； and had no more time to answer questions。 But while
the vessel flew faster and faster towards Crete； Theseus was astonished to
behold a human figure； gigantic in size； which appeared to be striding；
with a measured movement； along the margin of the island。 It stepped
from cliff to cliff； and sometimes from one headland to another； while the
sea foamed and thundered on the shore beneath； and dashed its jets of
spray over the giant's feet。 What was still more remarkable； whenever the
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sun shone on this huge figure； it flickered and glimmered； its vast
countenance； too； had a metallic lustre； and threw great flashes of splendor
through the air。 The folds of its garments； moreover； instead of waving in
the wind； fell heavily over its limbs； as if woven of some kind of metal。
The nigher the vessel came； the more Theseus wondered what this
immense giant could be； and whether it actually had life or no。 For； though
it walked； and made other lifelike motions； there yet was a kind of jerk in
its gait； which； together with its brazen aspect； caused the young prince to
suspect that it was no true giant； but only a wonderful piece of machinery。
The figure looked all the more terrible because it carried an enormous
brass club on its shoulder。
〃What is this wonder？〃 Theseus asked of the master of the vessel； who
was now at leisure to answer him。
〃It is Talus； the Man of Brass；〃 said the master。
〃And is he a live giant； or a brazen image？〃 asked Theseus。
〃That； truly；〃 replied the master； 〃is the point which has always
perplexed me。 Some say； indeed； that this Talus was hammered out for
King Minos by Vulcan himself； the skilfullest of all workers in metal。 But
who ever saw a brazen image that had sense enough to walk round an
island three times a day； as this giant walks round the island of Crete；
challenging every vessel that comes nigh the shore？ And； on the other
hand； what living thing； unless his sinews were made of brass； would not
be weary of marching eighteen hundred miles in the twenty…four hours； as
Talus does； without ever sitting down to rest？ He is a puzzler； take him
how you will。〃
Still the vessel went bounding onward； and now Theseus could hear
the brazen clangor of the giant's