Then Theseus shouted to him, “Holla, thou valiant Pine-bender, hast thou two fir-trees left for me?”

The robber leapt to his feet and answered, pointing to the bones above his head, “My larder has grown empty lately, so I have two fir-trees ready for thee.”

He rushed on Theseus, lifting his club, and Theseus rushed upon him, and they fought together till the greenwoods rang.

Then Theseus heaved up a mighty stroke and smote the Pine-bearer down upon his face, and knelt upon his back, and bound him with his own cord, and said, “As thou hast done to others, so shall it be done to thee.”  And he bent down two young fir-trees and bound the robber between them for all his struggling and his prayers, and as he let the trees go the robber perished, and Theseus went on, leaving him to the hawks and crows.

Clearing the land of monsters as he went, Theseus saw at last the plain of Athens before him.

And as he went up through Athens all the people ran out to see him, for his fame had gone before him, and every one knew of his mighty deeds, and they shouted, “Here comes the hero!”

But Theseus went on sadly and steadfastly, for his heart yearned after his father.  He went up the holy stairs to the spot where the palace of AEgeus stood.  He went straight into the hall and stood upon the threshold and looked round.

He saw his cousins sitting at the table, and loud they laughed and fast they passed the wine-cup round, but no AEgeus sat among them.

They saw Theseus and called to him, “Holla, tall stranger at the door, what is your will to-day?”

“I come to ask for hospitality.”

“Then take it and welcome.  You look like a hero and a bold warrior, and we like such to drink with us.”

“I ask no hospitality of you; I ask it of AEgeus the King, the master of this house.”

At that some growled, and some laughed and shouted, “Heyday! we are all masters here.”

“Then I am master as much as the rest of you,” said Theseus, and he strode past the table up the hall, and looked around for AEgeus, but he was nowhere to be seen.

The revelers looked at him and then at each other, and each whispered to the man next him, “This is a forward fellow; he ought to be thrust out at the door.”

But each man’s neighbor whispered in return, “His shoulders are broad; will you rise and put him out?” So they all sat still where they were.

Then Theseus called to the servants and said, “Go tell King AEgeus, your master, that Theseus is here and asks to be his guest awhile.”

A servant ran and told AEgeus, where he sat in his chamber with Medeia, the dark witch-woman, watching her eye and hand.

And when AEgeus heard of Theseus he turned pale and again red, and rose from his seat trembling, while Medeia, the witch, watched him like a snake.

“What is Theseus to you?” she asked.