The Minotaur
Theseus held to what he was told; he ventured steadily into the deep of the Labyrinth in accord with what wise Daedalus had instructed. Strung from entrance to man his exit was certain, so his descent was fearless.
And behold, he saw the beast: the consumer of Athens’ sons and daughters, the seething and monstrous Minotaur. The aberration, the bull-man of Crete who had captured the horrors of all man; he menaced before Theseus with severe taunts and condemning fates. “Death,” cried the Minotaur, “awaits you as an eternal peril! Flee and hide with the children of Athens, seek what life you can find within my inescapable Labyrinth; it is this or death!”
Theseus, bravest of Athenians and son of Zeus, held bravery superior to man and beast. The sight of the Minotaur engendered in him no fear, but instead indignation towards the beast and his evil acts against Athens. The hero of Athens drew his sword, glimmering in finest metal, and with swift motion acted upon the Minotaur.
Horrible combat took place with each strike against the one being returned against the other. But Theseus acted not so that he might be glorious, but instead acted as he was son of Zeus. And so his strikes became fierce and his determination unstoppable.
Theseus struck against the Minotaur, now twice, now thrice! Blow to blow, the Minotaur began to cower before the might of his foe. But Theseus did not relent, his strength overcoming the beast like a blast of the wind overcomes the steer of a ship, and he damned the Minotaur that had consumed so many of Athens’ sons and daughters.
In submission, the Minotaur pleaded to him, “For I have hold of many riches, my stores are in great plenitude. Of Pluto himself I draw envy, amongst the golds of Hades none can compare to that I store in my own chambers. Relent, powerful son of Zeus, and all the gold you desire shall be yours.”
Stirred by nothing of which the Minotaur said, Theseus answered, “Offer your gold; what good is it to me? Better yet, offer all you have, great beast, for you are lord of all the world with your power, but yet none of it is lusted by me to be mine. Behold, creature of the deep, and see. Among me lies no love of gold, no lust for woman, no endearing love of thing; see for yourself where my love lies. Seek in me my soul, and see why I do not love gold. Indeed, you do see, and it terrifies you. Not a soul in me loves what you offer, as within it holds all things you could say. But still yet, me a being who walks this earth, I love yet greater. Yes, horrific creature, that which you admonish is what I love: gods above, my father Zeus, superior to you. And for this reason, I care not for you, and you shall be slain.”
And it was with these words that Theseus had drawn his sword against the Minotaur, puncturing into the chest of the beast Theseus’ wielded iron. The Minotaur fell before him, slumping as he did with no strength. “Would you not love me as I loved you?”, said the Minotaur in his final breath.
“No,” answered Theseus, “just as you never loved my children before me.” Hence from this the Minotaur was without bull-head.
