But , had the noble Theseus heard these falsehoods , he would have served their slanderous authors as he served the Minotaur ! Here is what Ariadne answered , when the brave prince of Athens besought her to accompany him : `` No , Theseus , '' the maiden said , pressing his hand , and then drawing back a step or two , `` I can not go with you . My father is old , and has nobody but myself to love him . Hard as you think his heart is , it would break to lose me . At first , King Minos will be angry ; but he will soon forgive his only child ; and , by and by , he will rejoice , I know , that no more youths and maidens must come from Athens to be devoured by the Minotaur . I have saved you , Theseus , as much for my father 's sake as for your own . Farewell ! Heaven bless you ! '' All this was so true , and so maiden-like , and was spoken with so sweet a dignity , that Theseus would have blushed to urge her any longer . Nothing remained for him , therefore , but to bid Ariadne an affectionate farewell , and to go on board the vessel , and set sail . In a few moments the white foam was boiling up before their prow , as Prince Theseus and his companions sailed out of the harbor , with a whistling breeze behind them . Talus , the brazen giant , on his never-ceasing sentinel 's march , happened to be approaching that part of the coast ; and they saw him , by the glimmering of the moonbeams on his polished surface , while he was yet a great way off . As the figure moved like clockwork , however , and could neither hasten his enormous strides nor retard them , he arrived at the port when they were just beyond the reach of his club . Nevertheless , straddling from headland to headland , as his custom was , Talus attempted to strike a blow at the vessel , and , overreaching himself , tumbled at full length into the sea , which splashed high over his gigantic shape , as when an iceberg turns a somerset . There he lies yet ; and whoever desires to enrich himself by means of brass had better go thither with a diving bell , and fish up Talus . On the homeward voyage , the fourteen youths and damsels were in excellent spirits , as you will easily suppose . They spent most of their time in dancing , unless when the sidelong breeze made the deck slope too much . In due season , they came within sight of the coast of Attica , which was their native country . But here , I am grieved to tell you , happened a sad misfortune . You will remember -LRB- what Theseus unfortunately forgot -RRB- that his father , King Aegeus , had enjoined it upon him to hoist sunshiny sails , instead of black ones , in case he should overcome the Minotaur , and return victorious .
XXXXX the joy of their success , however , and amidst the sports , dancing , and other merriment , with which these young folks wore away the time , they never once thought whether their sails were black , white , or rainbow colored , and , indeed , left it entirely to the mariners whether they had any sails at all .
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