`` 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 at her tongue 's end . `` Leave that to me , please your majesty , '' she replied . `` Only admit this evil-minded young man to your presence , treat him civilly , and invite him to drink a goblet of wine . Your majesty is well aware that I sometimes amuse myself by distilling very powerful medicines . Here is one of them in this small phial . As to what it is made of , that is one of my secrets of state . Do but let me put a single drop into the goblet , and let the young man taste it ; and I will answer for it , he shall quite lay aside the bad designs with which he comes hither . '' As she said this , Medea smiled ; but , for all her smiling face , she meant nothing less than to poison the poor innocent Theseus , before his father 's eyes . And King Aegeus , like most other kings , thought any punishment mild enough for a person who was accused of plotting against his life . He therefore made little or no objection to Medea 's scheme , and as soon as the poisonous wine was ready , gave orders that the young stranger should be admitted into his presence .
The goblet was set on a table beside the king 's throne ; and a fly , meaning just to sip a little from the brim , immediately tumbled XXXXX it , dead .
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