36 HISTORICAL TALES.

The eyes of the young princess fell upon the face
of Theseus, the Athenian prince, and her heart
throbbed with a feeling she had never before known.
Never had she gazed upon a man who seemed to her
half so brave and handsome as this princely youth.
All that night thoughts of him drove slumber from
her eyes. In the early morning, moved by a new-
born love, she sought the prison, and, through her
privilege as the king’s daughter, was admitted to see
the prisoners. Venus was doing the work which
the oracle had promised.

Calling Theseus aside, the blushing maiden told
him of her sudden love, and that she ardently longed
to save him. If he would follow her directions he
would escape. She gave him a sword, which she
had taken from her father’s armory and concealed
beneath her cloak, that he might be armed against
the devouring beast. And she provided him besides
with a ball of thread, bidding him to fasten the end
of it to the entrance of the Labyrinth, and unwind
it as he went in, that it might serve him as a clue to
find his way out again.

As may well be believed, Theseus warmly thanked
his lovely visitor, told her that he was a king’s son,
and that he returned her love, and begged her, in
case he escaped, to return with him to Athens and
be his bride. Ariadne willingly consented, and left
the prison before the guards came to conduct the
victims to their fate. It was like the story of Jason
and Medea retold.

With hidden sword and clue Theseus followed the
guards, in the midst of his fellow-prisoners. They