But Theseus by this time had leaped up , and caught the monster off his guard . Fetching a sword stroke at him with all his force , he hit him fair upon the neck , and made his bull head skip six yards from his human body , which fell down flat upon the ground . So now the battle was ended . 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 . 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 . 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 . `` Thou hast slain the monster , '' cried Ariadne , clasping her hands . `` Thanks to thee , dear Ariadne , '' answered Theseus , `` I return victorious . '' `` Then , '' said Ariadne , `` we must quickly summon thy friends , and get them and thyself on board the vessel before dawn . If morning finds thee here , my father will avenge the Minotaur . '' 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 . 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 . `` Dear maiden , '' said he , `` thou wilt surely go with us . Thou art too gentle and sweet a child for such an iron-hearted father as King Minos . He cares no more for thee than a granite rock cares for the little flower that grows in one of its crevices . 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 . Come with us , then ; for King Minos will be very angry when he knows what thou hast done . '' 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 . They say , too , that Prince Theseus -LRB- who would have died sooner than wrong the meanest creature in the world -RRB- ungratefully deserted Ariadne , on a solitary island , where the vessel touched on its voyage to Athens . But , had the noble Theseus heard these falsehoods , he would have served their slanderous authors as he served the Minotaur !
Here is what Ariadne answered , when the brave prince of Athens besought her to accompany him : `` No , Theseus , '' the maiden said , pressing his hand , and then drawing back a step or two , `` I can not go XXXXX you .
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