or with poison, or with whatever thou wilt, slay
thy husband and his son, or they shall surely slay thee. For if thou
spare them thou wilt surely die. For if there be two enemies under one
roof, it must needs be that the one perish. And now, if thou wilt, I
will do this deed for thee, and slay them at the feast which he
prepareth; for I have had sustenance in the house of thy father to this
day, for which I would fain make this return."

Then the Queen and the old man talked together about the matter. And
when he would have had her slay her husband, she refused, saying that
she could not do the deed, for that she thought of the time when he was
faithful and loving to her. But when he would have her execute vengeance
on the youth, she consented. Only she doubted how this might be done.
Then the old man cried, "Arm thine attendants with the sword and slay
him."

"Aye," said the Queen, "and I would lead them myself; but where shall I
slay him?"

"Slay him," said the old man, "in the tent where he feasteth his
friends."

"Nay," answered the Queen, "the deed would be too manifest; the hands
also of slaves are ever feeble."

Then the old man cried in a rage, "I see thou playest the coward. Take
counsel for thyself."

Then said the Queen, "I have a plan in my heart that is both crafty and
sure. Listen now, and I will unfold it to thee. Thou knowest how in time
past the Giants that were the sons of Earth made war against the Gods in
the plain of Phlegra; and that Earth, seeking to help her children,
brought forth the Gorgon; and that Pallas, the daughter of Zeus, slew
the monster. Know then that Pallas gave to Ericthonius, who was the
first King of the land of Attica, being sprung from the earth, two drops
of the blood of the Gorgon, whereof the one hath the power to kill
whomsoever it shall touch, and the other to heal all manner of
diseases. And these she shut in gold to keep them; and Ericthonius gave
them to King Erechtheus my father, and he, when he died, gave them to
me. And I carry them in a bracelet on my wrist. And thou shalt take the
one that worketh death, and with it thou shalt slay this youth."

"'Tis well thought," the old man made answer; "but where shall I do the
deed?"

"In Athens," said the Queen, "when he shall have come to my house."

But the old man said, "That is not well; for thou wilt have the repute
of the deed, even if thou slay him not. Slay him rather in this place,
where thou shalt be m