--- title: The Minotaur., part 4 — Tanglewood Tales · full text with trees · page 2 description: The Minotaur., part 4, «Tanglewood Tales» by Nathaniel Hawthorne: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: "But how shall I ever find him," asked Theseus, "if the labyrinth so bewilders me as you say it will?" --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/6/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Tanglewood Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/) / The Minotaur., part 4 # The Minotaur., part 4 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/6/) **2** So now the battle was ended.[50](../../50/ "tree and pragmatics") Immediately the moon shone out as brightly as if all the troubles of the world, and all the wickedness and the ugliness that infest human life, were past and gone forever.[51](../../51/ "tree and pragmatics") And Theseus, as he leaned on his sword, taking breath, felt another twitch of the silken cord; for all through the terrible encounter, he had held it fast in his left hand.[52](../../52/ "tree and pragmatics") Eager to let Ariadne know of his success, he followed the guidance of the thread, and soon found himself at the entrance of the labyrinth.[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") "Thou hast slain the monster," cried Ariadne, clasping her hands.[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") "Thanks to thee, dear Ariadne," answered Theseus, "I return victorious."[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") "Then," said Ariadne, "we must quickly summon thy friends, and get them and thyself on board the vessel before dawn.[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") If morning finds thee here, my father will avenge the Minotaur."[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") To make my story short, the poor captives were awakened, and, hardly knowing whether it was not a joyful dream, were told of what Theseus had done, and that they must set sail for Athens before daybreak.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") Hastening down to the vessel, they all clambered on board, except Prince Theseus, who lingered behind them on the strand, holding Ariadne's hand clasped in his own.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") "Dear maiden," said he, "thou wilt surely go with us.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") Thou art too gentle and sweet a child for such an iron-hearted father as King Minos.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") He cares no more for thee than a granite rock cares for the little flower that grows in one of its crevices.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") But my father, King Aegeus, and my dear mother, Aethra, and all the fathers and mothers in Athens, and all the sons and daughters too, will love and honor thee as their benefactress.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") Come with us, then; for King Minos will be very angry when he knows what thou hast done."[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, some low-minded people, who pretend to tell the story of Theseus and Ariadne, have the face to say that this royal and honorable maiden did really flee away, under cover of the night, with the young stranger whose life she had preserved.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") They say, too, that Prince Theseus (who would have died sooner than wrong the meanest creature in the world) ungratefully deserted Ariadne, on a solitary island, where the vessel touched on its voyage to Athens.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") But, had the noble Theseus heard these falsehoods, he would have served their slanderous authors as he served the Minotaur\![67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") Here is what Ariadne answered, when the brave prince of Athens besought her to accompany him:[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") "No, Theseus," the maiden said, pressing his hand, and then drawing back a step or two, "I cannot go with you.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") My father is old, and has nobody but myself to love him.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") Hard as you think his heart is, it would break to lose me.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") At first, King Minos will be angry; but he will soon forgive his only child; and, by and by, he will rejoice, I know, that no more youths and maidens must come from Athens to be devoured by the Minotaur.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") I have saved you, Theseus, as much for my father's sake as for your own.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") Farewell\![74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") Heaven bless you!"[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") All this was so true, and so maiden-like, and was spoken with so sweet a dignity, that Theseus would have blushed to urge her any longer.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Nothing remained for him, therefore, but to bid Ariadne an affectionate farewell, and to go on board the vessel, and set sail.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") In a few moments the white foam was boiling up before their prow, as Prince Theseus and his companions sailed out of the harbor, with a whistling breeze behind them.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") Talus, the brazen giant, on his never-ceasing sentinel's march, happened to be approaching that part of the coast; and they saw him, by the glimmering of the moonbeams on his polished surface, while he was yet a great way off.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") As the figure moved like clockwork, however, and could neither hasten his enormous strides nor retard them, he arrived at the port when they were just beyond the reach of his club.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") Nevertheless, straddling from headland to headland, as his custom was, Talus attempted to strike a blow at the vessel, and, overreaching himself, tumbled at full length into the sea, which splashed high over his gigantic shape, as when an iceberg turns a somerset.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") There he lies yet; and whoever desires to enrich himself by means of brass had better go thither with a diving bell, and fish up Talus.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") On the homeward voyage, the fourteen youths and damsels were in excellent spirits, as you will easily suppose.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") They spent most of their time in dancing, unless when the sidelong breeze made the deck slope too much.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") In due season, they came within sight of the coast of Attica, which was their native country.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") But here, I am grieved to tell you, happened a sad misfortune.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") You will remember (what Theseus unfortunately forgot) that his father, King Aegeus, had enjoined it upon him to hoist sunshiny sails, instead of black ones, in case he should overcome the Minotaur, and return victorious.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") In the joy of their success, however, and amidst the sports, dancing, and other merriment, with which these young folks wore away the time, they never once thought whether their sails were black, white, or rainbow colored, and, indeed, left it entirely to the mariners whether they had any sails at all.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus the vessel returned, like a raven, with the same sable wings that had wafted her away.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") But poor King Aegeus, day after day, infirm as he was, had clambered to the summit of a cliff that overhung the sea, and there sat watching for Prince Theseus, homeward bound; and no sooner did he behold the fatal blackness of the sails, than he concluded that his dear son, whom he loved so much, and felt so proud of, had been eaten by the Minotaur.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") He could not bear the thought of living any longer; so, first flinging his crown and sceptre into the sea (useless baubles that they were to him now), King Aegeus merely stooped forward, and fell headlong over the cliff, and was drowned, poor soul, in the waves that foamed at its base\![91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") This was melancholy news for Prince Theseus, who, when he stepped ashore, found himself king of all the country, whether he would or no; and such a turn of fortune was enough to make any young man feel very much out of spirits.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") However, he sent for his dear mother to Athens, and, by taking her advice in matters of state, became a very excellent monarch, and was greatly beloved by his people.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/6/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/6/) - next →: [The Pygmies., part 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/7/) - ↑ back to [Tanglewood Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/)