`` Let the people of Athens this year draw lots for only six young men , instead of seven , '' said he , `` I will myself be the seventh ; and let the Minotaur devour me if he can ! '' `` O my dear son , '' cried King Aegeus , `` why should you expose yourself to this horrible fate ? You are a royal prince , and have a right to hold yourself above the destinies of common men . '' `` It is because I am a prince , your son , and the rightful heir of your kingdom , that I freely take upon me the calamity of your subjects , '' answered Theseus , `` And you , my father , being king over these people , and answerable to Heaven for their welfare , are bound to sacrifice what is dearest to you , rather than that the son or daughter of the poorest citizen should come to any harm . '' The old king shed tears , and besought Theseus not to leave him desolate in his old age , more especially as he had but just begun to know the happiness of possessing a good and valiant son . Theseus , however , felt that he was in the right , and therefore would not give up his resolution . But he assured his father that he did not intend to be eaten up , unresistingly , like a sheep , and that , if the Minotaur devoured him , it should not be without a battle for his dinner . And finally , since he could not help it , King Aegeus consented to let him go . So a vessel was got ready , and rigged with black sails ; and Theseus , with six other young men , and seven tender and beautiful damsels , came down to the harbor to embark . A sorrowful multitude accompanied them to the shore . There was the poor old king , too , leaning on his son 's arm , and looking as if his single heart held all the grief of Athens . Just as Prince Theseus was going on board , his father bethought himself of one last word to say . `` My beloved son , '' said he , grasping the Prince 's hand , `` you observe that the sails of this vessel are black ; as indeed they ought to be , since it goes upon a voyage of sorrow and despair . Now , being weighed down with infirmities , I know not whether I can survive till the vessel shall return . But , as long as I do live , I shall creep daily to the top of yonder cliff , to watch if there be a sail upon the sea . And , dearest Theseus , if by some happy chance , you should escape the jaws of the Minotaur , then tear down those dismal sails , and hoist others that shall be bright as the sunshine . Beholding them on the horizon , myself and all the people will know that you are coming back victorious , and will welcome you with such a festal uproar as Athens never heard before . '' Theseus promised that he would do so . Then going on board , the mariners trimmed the vessel 's black sails to the wind , which blew faintly off the shore , being pretty much made up of the sighs that everybody kept pouring forth on this melancholy occasion . But by and by , when they had got fairly out to sea , there came a stiff breeze from the north-west , and drove them along as merrily over the white-capped waves as if they had been going on the most delightful errand imaginable .
And though it was a sad business enough , I rather question XXXXX fourteen young people , without any old persons to keep them in order , could continue to spend the whole time of the voyage in being miserable .
So because by for in of that till whether without