That one loud word rolled all about the sky , while again there was a booming reverberation within the figure 's breast . The vessel glided between the headlands of the port , and the giant resumed his march . In a few moments , this wondrous sentinel was far away , flashing in the distant sunshine , and revolving with immense strides round the island of Crete , as it was his never-ceasing task to do . No sooner had they entered the harbor than a party of the guards of King Minos came down to the water side , and took charge of the fourteen young men and damsels . Surrounded by these armed warriors , Prince Theseus and his companions were led to the king 's palace , and ushered into his presence . Now , Minos was a stern and pitiless king . If the figure that guarded Crete was made of brass , then the monarch , who ruled over it , might be thought to have a still harder metal in his breast , and might have been called a man of iron . He bent his shaggy brows upon the poor Athenian victims . Any other mortal , beholding their fresh and tender beauty , and their innocent looks , would have felt himself sitting on thorns until he had made every soul of them happy by bidding them go free as the summer wind . But this immitigable Minos cared only to examine whether they were plump enough to satisfy the Minotaur 's appetite . For my part , I wish he himself had been the only victim ; and the monster would have found him a pretty tough one . One after another , King Minos called these pale , frightened youths and sobbing maidens to his footstool , gave them each a poke in the ribs with his sceptre -LRB- to try whether they were in good flesh or no -RRB- , and dismissed them with a nod to his guards . But when his eyes rested on Theseus , the king looked at him more attentively , because his face was calm and brave . `` Young man , '' asked he , with his stern voice , `` are you not appalled at the certainty of being devoured by this terrible Minotaur ? '' `` I have offered my life in a good cause , '' answered Theseus , `` and therefore I give it freely and gladly . But thou , King Minos , art thou not thyself appalled , who , year after year , hast perpetrated this dreadful wrong , by giving seven innocent youths and as many maidens to be devoured by a monster ? Dost thou not tremble , wicked king , to turn shine eyes inward on shine own heart ? Sitting there on thy golden throne , and in thy robes of majesty , I tell thee to thy face , King Minos , thou art a more hideous monster than the Minotaur himself ! '' `` Aha ! do you think me so ? ''
cried the king , laughing XXXXX his cruel way .
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