however wicked he might be , and partly , no doubt , because his heart was wiser than his head , and quaked within him at the thought of what he was going to do -- for all these reasons , the king 's hand trembled so much that a great deal of the wine slopped over . In order to strengthen his purpose , and fearing lest the whole of the precious poison should be wasted , one of his nephews now whispered to him : `` Has your Majesty any doubt of this stranger 's guilt ? This is the very sword with which he meant to slay you . How sharp , and bright , and terrible it is ! Quick ! -- let him taste the wine ; or perhaps he may do the deed even yet . '' At these words , Aegeus drove every thought and feeling out of his breast , except the one idea of how justly the young man deserved to be put to death . 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 XXXXX lift the heavy stone , and take the sword and sandals from beneath it , and come to Athens to seek my father . ''
At as because before by for in on to within