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 into it , dead . Observing this , Medea looked round at the nephews , and smiled again . When Theseus was ushered into the royal apartment , the only object that he seemed to behold was the white-bearded old king . There he sat on his magnificent throne , a dazzling crown on his head , and a scepter in his hand . His aspect was stately and majestic , although his years and infirmities weighed heavily upon him , as if each year were a lump of lead , and each infirmity a ponderous stone , and all were bundled up together , and laid upon his weary shoulders . The tears both of joy and sorrow sprang into the young man 's eyes ; for he thought how sad it was to see his dear father so infirm , and how sweet it would be to support him with his own youthful strength , and to cheer him up with the alacrity of his loving spirit . When a son takes a father into his warm heart it renews the old man 's youth in a better way than by the heat of Medea 's magic caldron . And this was what Theseus resolved to do . He could scarcely wait to see whether King Aegeus would recognize him , so eager was he to throw himself into his arms . Advancing to the foot of the throne , he attempted to make a little speech , which he had been thinking about , as he came up the stairs . But he was almost choked by a great many tender feelings that gushed out of his heart and swelled into his throat , all struggling to find utterance together . And therefore , unless he could have laid his full , over-brimming heart into the king 's hand , poor Theseus knew not what to do or say . The cunning Medea observed what was passing in the young man 's mind .
She was more wicked at that moment than ever she had been before ; for -LRB- and it makes me tremble to tell you of it -RRB- she did her worst XXXXX turn all this unspeakable love with which Theseus was agitated to his own ruin and destruction .
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