And there she sighed, and said, 'Theseus, my son, go into that thicket and you will find at the plane-tree foot a great flat stone; lift it, and bring me what lies underneath.' Then Theseus pushed his way in through the thick bushes, and saw that they had not been moved for many a year.

And searching among their roots he found a great flat stone, all overgrown with ivy, and acanthus, and moss.

He tried to lift it, but he could not.

And he tried till the sweat ran down his brow from heat, and the tears from his eyes for shame; but all was of no avail.

And at last he came back to his mother, and said, 'I have found the stone, but I cannot lift it; nor do I think that any man could in all Troezene.' Then she sighed, and said, 'The Gods wait long; but they are just at last.