He sat erect on his throne , and held out the goblet of wine with a steady hand , and bent on Theseus a frown of kingly severity ; for , after all , he had too noble a spirit to murder even a treacherous enemy with a deceitful smile upon his face . `` Drink ! '' said he , in the stern tone with which he was wont to condemn a criminal to be beheaded . `` You have well deserved of me such wine as this ! '' Theseus held out his hand to take the wine . But , before he touched it , King Aegeus trembled again . His eyes had fallen on the gold-hilted sword that hung at the young man 's side . He drew back the goblet . `` That sword ! '' he exclaimed : `` how came you by it ? '' `` It was my father 's sword , '' replied Theseus , with a tremulous voice . `` These were his sandals . My dear mother -LRB- her name is Aethra -RRB- told me his story while I was yet a little child . But it is only a month since I grew strong enough to lift the heavy stone , and take the sword and sandals from beneath it , and come to Athens to seek my father . '' `` My son ! my son ! '' cried King Aegeus , flinging away the fatal goblet , and tottering down from the throne to fall into the arms of Theseus . `` Yes , these are Aethra 's eyes . It is my son . '' I have quite forgotten what became of the king 's nephews .
But when the wicked Medea saw this new turn XXXXX affairs , she hurried out of the room , and going to her private chamber , lost no time to setting her enchantments to work .
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