_A Greek legend in which a brave youth overcomes a giant robber._
Theseus was the son of the king of Athens. One day his father was
called away to the wars, and said to his wife, “Take care of the
boy, and bring him up like a king’s son. When he is strong enough
to lift this stone he may set out on his adventures,” and he
pointed to a large stone.
The king never came back and the mother devoted herself to the
training of her son. He grew up to be the handsomest, bravest, and
strongest young man in all Greece. Every day he tried to lift the
great stone, and at last it gave way a little. The next time he
tried it moved a little more. One day he raised it and rolled it
down the hill. Then he found underneath a splendid sword.
Now he was ready to set forth on his adventures. Taking the sword
he journeyed overland until he reached a village where he asked for
food and a night’s lodging. The innkeeper said, “Alas, there is no
food left, for the robber Sciron has been here and taken away every
scrap of bread and meat in the place.”
“Who is this Sciron?” asked Theseus. The man told him that Sciron
was a robber who lived in the mountains, and plundered the villages
of food, and took off cattle and seized men and women and made them
wait on him, and then threw them into the sea from a high rock.
“Where does he live?” asked Theseus. The man showed him a castle on
the top of a mountain. “Thank you,” said Theseus. “I am going to
sup with Sciron this very night,” and he started off.
When Theseus reached the gate he knocked on it with his sword and
it was opened by a fierce robber. Theseus told him he had come
to get food and to spend the night. “You have come to the right
place,” said the robber greedily and opened the gate. Theseus
followed him into the hall where he saw a giant eating a whole ox,
and other giants sitting near him waiting to be fed.
The big giant was Sciron. Theseus said, “I have come for food and
shelter.” The big giant looked up and said, “Oh, ho! you want food,
do you? Very well, you may eat, but afterwards I shall throw you
from the cliff into the sea. Before you begin to eat you must wash
my feet.”
Then one of the other robbers brought a bowl of hot water and
Sciron thrust out his feet to be washed. But Theseus had no notion
of doing that service, so he took up the bowl of water and threw
it in Sciron’s face, saying, “That needs washing first.”
The giant was in a great rage, and rushed at Theseus to kill him.
But Theseus drew his sword and a terrible battle followed. At last
the big giant was down on the floor and Theseus said, “Now you
shall wait on me and wash my feet. Get up and obey me.”
The giant arose and did what Theseus told him to do, but that did
not save him, for Theseus hurled him from the rock into the sea.
And all the other robbers laughed and clapped their hands for joy.