A banquet, according to the wont of those hospitable times, was given to the stranger.

The king was at the board, the cup of poison at hand, when Theseus, wishing to prepare his father for the welcome news he had to divulge, drew the sword or cutlass which Aegeus had made the token of his birth, and prepared to carve with it the meat that was set before him.

The sword caught the eye of the king--he dashed the poison to the ground, and after a few eager and rapid questions, recognised his son in his intended victim.

The people were assembled--Theseus was acknowledged by the king, and received with joy by the multitude, who had already heard of the feats of the hero.

The traditionary place where the poison fell was still shown in the time of Plutarch.