His nephews , not expecting him to live a very great while , intended to get all the power of the kingdom into their own hands . But when they heard that Theseus had arrived in Athens , and learned what a gallant young man he was , they saw that he would not be at all the kind of a person to let them steal away his father 's crown and scepter , which ought to be his own by right of inheritance . Thus these bad-hearted nephews of King Aegeus , who were the own cousins of Theseus , at once became his enemies . A still more dangerous enemy was Medea , the wicked enchantress ; for she was now the king 's wife , and wanted to give the kingdom to her son Medus , instead of letting it be given to the son of Aethra , whom she hated . It so happened that the king 's nephews met Theseus , and found out who he was , just as he reached the entrance of the royal palace . With all their evil designs against him , they pretended to be their cousin 's best friends , and expressed great joy at making his acquaintance . They proposed to him that he should come into the king 's presence as a stranger , in order to try whether Aegeus would discover in the young man 's features any likeness either to himself or his mother Aethra , and thus recognize him for a son . Theseus consented ; for he fancied that his father would know him in a moment , by the love that was in his heart . But , while he waited at the door , the nephews ran and told King Aegeus that a young man had arrived in Athens , who , to their certain knowledge , intended to put him to death , and get possession of his royal crown . `` And he is now waiting for admission to your majesty 's presence , '' added they . `` Aha ! '' cried the old king , on hearing this . `` Why , he must be a very wicked young fellow indeed ! Pray , what would you advise me to do with him ? '' In reply to this question , the wicked Medea put in her word . As I have already told you , she was a famous enchantress . According to some stories , she was in the habit of boiling old people in a large caldron , under pretense of making them young again ; but King Aegeus , I suppose , did not fancy such an uncomfortable way of growing young , or perhaps was contented to be old , and therefore would never let himself be popped into the caldron . If there were time to spare from more important matters , I should be glad to tell you of Medea 's fiery chariot , drawn by winged dragons , in which the enchantress used often to take an airing among the clouds . This chariot , in fact , was the vehicle that first brought her to Athens , where she had done nothing but mischief ever since her arrival . But these and many other wonders must be left untold ; and it is enough to say , that Medea , amongst a thousand other bad things , knew how to prepare a poison , that was instantly fatal to whomsoever might so much as touch it with his lips .
So , when the king asked what he should do with Theseus , this naughty woman had an answer ready XXXXX her tongue 's end .
As If against at in on since that while with