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which Daidalos had made by his skill。 For Daidalos was the most
cunning of all Athenians； and he first invented the plumb…line； and the
auger； and glue； and many a tool with which wood is wrought。 And he
first set up masts in ships； and yards； and his son made sails for them：
but Perdix his nephew excelled him； for he first invented the saw and its
teeth； copying it from the back…bone of a fish； and invented； too； the
chisel； and the compasses； and the potter's wheel which moulds the clay。
Therefore Daidalos envied him； and hurled him headlong from the
temple of Athene； but the Goddess pitied him （for she loves the wise）；
and changed him into a partridge； which flits for ever about the hills。
And Daidalos fled to Crete； to Minos； and worked for him many a year；
till he did a shameful deed； at which the sun hid his face on high。
Then he fled from the anger of Minos； he and Icaros his son having
made themselves wings of feathers； and fixed the feathers with wax。
So they flew over the sea toward Sicily； but Icaros flew too near the sun；
and the wax of his wings was melted； and he fell into the Icarian Sea。
But Daidalos came safe to Sicily； and there wrought many a wondrous
work； for he made for King Cocalos a reservoir； from which a great
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river watered all the land； and a castle and a treasury on a mountain；
which the giants themselves could not have stormed； and in Selinos he
took the steam which comes up from the fires of AEtna； and made of it a
warm bath of vapour； to cure the pains of mortal men； and he made a
honeycomb of gold； in which the bees came and stored their honey； and
in Egypt he made the forecourt of the temple of Hephaistos in Memphis；
and a statue of himself within it； and many another wondrous work。
And for Minos he made statues which spoke and moved； and the temple
of Britomartis； and the dancing…hall of Ariadne； which he carved of fair
white stone。 And in Sardinia he worked for I 攍 aos； and in many a land
beside； wandering up and down for ever with his cunning； unlovely and
accursed by men。
But Theseus stood before Minos； and they looked each other in the
face。 And Minos bade take them to prison； and cast them to the
monster one by one； that the death of Androgeos might be avenged。
Then Theseus cried …
'A boon； O Minos！ Let me be thrown first to the beast。 For I
came hither for that very purpose； of my own will； and not by lot。'
'Who art thou； then； brave youth？'
'I am the son of him whom of all men thou hatest most； AEgeus the
king of Athens； and I am come here to end this matter。'
And Minos pondered awhile； looking steadfastly at him； and he
thought； 'The lad means to atone by his own death for his father's sin；'
and he answered at last mildly …
'Go back in peace； my son。 It is a pity that one so brave should die。'
But Theseus said； 'I have sworn that I will not go back till I have
seen the monster face to face。'
And at that Minos frowned； and said； 'Then thou shalt see him； take
the madman away。'
And they led Theseus away into the prison； with the other youths and
maids。
But Ariadne； Minos' daughter； saw him； as she came out of her white
stone hall； and she loved him for his courage and his majesty； and said；
'Shame that such a youth should die！' And by night she went down to
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the prison； and told him all her heart； and said …
'Flee down to your ship at once； for I have bribed the guards before
the door。 Flee； you and all your friends； and go back in peace to
Greece； and take me； take me with you！ for I dare not stay after you are
gone； for my father will kill me miserably； if he knows what I have
done。'
And Theseus。 stood silent awhile； for he was astonished and
confounded by her beauty： but at last he said； 'I cannot go home in
peace； till I have seen and slain this Minotaur； and avenged the deaths of
the youths and maidens； and put an end to the terrors of my land。'
'And will you kill the Minotaur？ How； then？'
'I know not； nor do I care： but he must be strong if he be too strong
for me。'
Then she loved him all the more； and said； 'But when you have killed
him； how will you find your way out of the labyrinth？'
'I know not； neither do I care： but it must be a strange road； if I do
not find it out before I have eaten up the monster's carcase。'
Then she loved him all the more； and said … 'Fair youth； you are too
bold； but I can help you； weak as I am。 I will give you a sword； and
with that perhaps you may slay the beast； and a clue of thread； and by
that； perhaps； you may find your way out again。 Only promise me that
if you escape safe you will take me home with you to Greece； for my
father will surely kill me； if he knows what I have done。'
Then Theseus laughed； and said； 'Am I not safe enough now？' And
he hid the sword in his bosom； and rolled up the clue in his hand； and
then he swore to Ariadne； and fell down before her； and kissed her hands
and her feet； and she wept over him a long while； and then went away；
and Theseus lay down and slept sweetly。
And when the evening came； the guards came in and led him away
to the labyrinth。
And he went down into that doleful gulf； through winding paths
among the rocks； under caverns； and arches； and galleries； and over
heaps of fallen stone。 And he turned on the left hand； and on the right
hand； and went up and down； till his head was dizzy； but all the while he
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held his clue。 For when he went in he had fastened it to a stone； and left
it to unroll out of his hand as he went on； and it lasted him till he met the
Minotaur； in a narrow chasm between black cliffs。
And when he saw him he stopped awhile； for he had never seen so
strange a beast。 His body was a man's： but his head was the head of a
bull； and his teeth were the teeth of a lion； and with them he tore his prey。
And when he saw Theseus he roared； and put his head down； and rushed
right at him。
But Theseus stept aside nimbly； and as he passed by； cut him in the
knee； and ere he could turn in the narrow path； he followed him； and
stabbed him again and again from behind； till the monster fled bellowing
wildly； for he never before had felt a wound。 And Theseus followed
him at full speed； holding the clue of thread in his left hand。
Then on； through cavern after cavern； under dark ribs of sounding
stone； and up rough glens and torrent…beds； among the sunless roots of
Ida； and to the edge of the eternal snow； went they； the hunter and the
hunted； while the hills bellowed to the monster's bellow。
And at last Theseus came up with him； where he lay panting on a
slab among the snow； and caught him by the horns； and forced his head
back； and drove the keen sword through his throat。
Then he turned； and went back limping and weary； feeling his way
down by the clue of thread； till he came to the mouth of that doleful
place and saw waiting for him； w