到目前为止，关于忒修斯的事绩的消息已传遍全国，早在他到达雅典之前，关于他探险的传说，已到达了王宫，当时埃勾斯正忧愁寡欢，因为他已为女巫美狄亚——就是那个在少女时代被伊阿宋从科林斯洛岸带走的那个人的邪恶的魔力所迷。美狄亚已劝服埃勾斯娶了她，她希望通过这种方式可以使她自己的一个孩子获得雅典的王位。
When Aegeus heard of the valiant(valiant adj.勇敢的， 英勇的 n.勇敢的人) strangers arrival in the city，he said to a messenger：“Bring the young man here to my court，for we should be glad to honour one who has rid the country of so many robbers．And let a great banquet be prepared，such as might be given to welcome a noble prince．”
当埃勾斯国王听说勇敢的陌生人到达城里的时候，便对一名信差说：“把那个年轻人带到这儿，我的宫殿上来，因为我将会很高兴地给这样一个为国家铲除如此多的强盗的人授予荣誉。准备好盛大的宴会，就像是欢迎高贵的王子的宴会一样。”
The messenger came and summoned(summon v.召集， 召唤， 号召， 鼓起， 振作) Theseus into the kings presence，and Theseus thought：“The time has come when I must appear before my father and show him the sword and the sandals．He will at once see that I am his son，and he will receive me gladly into his arms．”
信差来宣忒修斯去进见国王，忒修斯想：“我必须出现在父亲面前，给他展示宝剑和草鞋时间到了。他将马上看出我是他的儿子，并将欣喜地把我拥入他的怀抱。”
So Theseus entered the palace；and as he moved among the throng，the eyes of all men followed him，and womens hearts went out to him in secret．All made way for him as he advanced up the banqueting hall，and now he bowed low before the king and queen．The king looked aged and careworn；Medea gazed stonily(stonily adv.石头地， 冷酷地) at Theseus，and then knit her brows with evil intent．For she knew him at once for Aegeuss son，and she was afraid for heretly she poured some drops of deadly poison into the cup of wine at her side．
于是忒修斯走进宫殿。当他穿过人群的时候，所有男人的目光都追随着他，女人则悄悄地倾心于他。当他走上宴会大厅的时候，大家都为他让路，现在他来到国王和王后面前，深鞠一躬。国王看上去年迈且忧心忡忡；美狄亚冷冷盯着忒修斯，而后心怀叵测地皱起了眉头。因她马上就认出他是埃勾斯的儿子，并为自己和她未出世的孩子而感到担心。她把几滴致命的毒药迅速地秘密地倒进她旁边的葡萄酒杯里。
“Welcome to our court，young prince！”cried the king．“We have heard stories of your brave exploits in ridding the neighbouring lands of giants，and we know how to honour valiant men．”
“欢迎你到我们朝廷来，年轻的王子！”国王大声说，“我们已听说您勇敢探险铲除邻近地方的巨人的故事，我们懂得该如何将荣誉授予勇敢的人。”
“We do indeed.”said Medea．“And my lord and I would wish you to drink this cup of wine after your long journey．”
“我们确实如此，”美狄亚说，“我的主人和我希望你能长途跋涉之后饮用这杯葡萄酒。”
“That is a happy thought.”agreed the king．He took the cup from Medea，and with his own hands he held it out to Theseus，who received it courteously(courteously adv.有礼貌地， 亲切地)，and raised it to his lips．
“那是一个令人高兴的想法。”国王赞同道。他从美狄亚那儿拿过酒杯，亲手递给忒修斯，忒修斯谦恭地接过来，把它举到唇边。
But as Theseus was about to drink，the kings eye，travelling over the person of his visitor，lighted on the sword at his side．Aegeus at once recognized the sword，and leapt to his feet with a great shout．“My son！”he exclaimed．“My own son！”He held his arms wide，and Theseus，startled，let the cup fall to the ground．
但就当忒修斯正要喝的时候，国王的眼睛掠过来访者本人，突然发现他身旁的宝剑，埃勾斯立即认出那宝剑，大叫着跳起来。“我的儿子！”他大声地喊。“我的亲儿子！”他热烈地伸开双臂，忒修斯被惊呆了，酒杯掉在了地上。
As Aegeus clasped his son in a close embrace，there arose from all the bystanders a cry of surprise and fear．At first Aegeus thought that they merely showed astonishment， but when he unclenched from his son， he found that they were not looking at him，but at his favorite bloodhound，which lay stretched out dead on the floor．
正当埃勾斯紧紧地拥抱着儿子的时候，从所有旁观者中发出一片惊奇和恐惧的叫声。最初埃勾斯以为他们只是在表示惊讶而已；但当他与儿子稍微松开点距离的时候，他发觉人们不是在看他，而是在看他最喜爱的那只大猎犬——它直挺挺地躺在地板上，死了。
“How comes this？”Aegeus enquired hastily，gazing all round him，for he did not at once understand what had happened．
“这是怎么回事？”埃勾斯盯着四周，急促地询问，因为他一时还没有反应过来发生了什么事。
“The wine was spilt over the bloodhound，and the bloodhound lies dead.” replied Theseus calmly．He turned to Medea．“Was not this poisoned wine intended for me？”
“葡萄酒泼到了猎犬身上，猎犬就躺在这儿死了，”忒修斯平静地回答。他转向美狄亚：“这毒酒不是打算给我的吗？”
“Poison！Oh，my son！”
“毒！哦，我的儿子！”
All eyes were on the enchantress Medea．She turned very pale，and the kings hand moved to the hilt of his sword．In his face were both hatred and rage．Medea perceived that she had lost her power over him，and that if she were not speedy she might soon lose her life．She waited no longer，but raising her harsh voice she called up from the darkness her magic dragoncar．In she climbed，and fled away in a cloud of fire and smoke to a distant island，where she remained in perpetual banishment．
所有的目光集中在女妖美狄亚身上。她脸色变得惨白，国王的手移向剑柄。他的脸上满是仇恨和愤怒。美狄亚感到她已完全丧失了对他的控制，如果她不抓紧的话，可能很快就会丧命。她不再等待，发出沙哑的声音，召唤黑暗中的神龙车。她爬进车里，在一团烟火云中逃向远方的岛屿——她被永远地驱逐到那里。
The Aegeus spoke to the throng before him． “This is my own son that you see beside me.”he cried．“He has come here to free me from the spell of an enchantress，to comfort my old age and to subdue my foes．Let all men know that he is my heir，and that he will rule and protect the people of Athens after me．”
埃勾斯国王随后对对面的人群讲话。“你们所见的站在我身旁的这位是我亲生儿子，”他大声喊道，“他来到这儿使我从女妖的魔法中解脱出来，来安慰我的晚年、征服我的敌人。让所有的人都知道他是我的继承人，他将继我之后统治和保护雅典人民。”
And all voices with a general accord took up the name of Theseus．
所有的人都异口同声地欢呼起忒修斯这个名字。
