Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - The Adventures of Theseus - Part 2

Episode Date: June 29, 2025

We continue the second part of this Greek myth. In this second part Theseus meets some robbers and rogues, and has a few interesting encounters. Really think you will enjoy this as the action gets going. Please leave a 5-star review & SUBSCRIBE on Apple and Spotify. Sleep Cove Premium Become a Premium Member for Bonus Episodes & Ad-Free listening: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sleepcove.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and become a Premium Member. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Instant Access⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and sign up in two taps. The Sleep Cove Premium Feed includes: - Access to over 400 Ad-free Episodes - Regular Exclusive Bonus Episodes - A Back Catalogue of Dozens of Exclusive Episodes - Full Audiobooks like Alice in Wonderland - Your name read out on the Show - Our Love! Get your 7-day free trial:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://sleepcove.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For Apple users, click the TRY FREE button for a 2-week free trial and become a Premium Member Today. Support our Sponsors: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Zoe.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and find out what ZOE Membership could do for you. And because you listen to Sleep Cove, you can use the exclusive code SLEEPCOVE10 to to get 10% off membership. Our Sister Shows: - Calm Cove - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.chtbl.com/bgSKfkbt⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Relaxing Music & Ambient Sounds - Mysteries at Midnight - Mystery Bedtime Stories - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.chtbl.com/skj6YFah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Let's Begin - Daytime Meditations with wake sections at the end - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.chtbl.com/Z--DgSH4 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - YouTube Bedtime Story Channel -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://rb.gy/t7wyjk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - YouTube Sleep Hypnosis & Meditation Channel - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClE6WJgPYRBtwVQ1qDBrbqw⁠⁠⁠ Connect: - Join the Newsletter for a Bonus Meditation -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.sleepcove.com/bonus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://rb.gy/azpdrd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sleep_cove/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@sleepcovechris⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Recommended Products: Comfortable Sleep Headphones -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.sleepcove.com/headphones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Best Mattress from Puffy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sleepcove.com/puffy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ _______________ All Content by Sleep Cove is for educational or entertainment purposes and does not provide or replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical professional before making any changes to your treatment and if in any doubt, contact your doctor. Please listen in a place where you can safely go to sleep. Sleep Cove is not responsible or liable for any loss, damage or injury arising from the use of this content. _________________ Sleep Cove content includes guided sleep meditations, sleep hypnosis (hypnotherapy), sleep stories (visualizations) and Bedtime Stories for adults and grown-ups, all designed to help you get a great night's sleep Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back by popular demand, the Sleep Cove Premium Sale has started. For the next two months, you can get Sleep Cove Premium for free. That's right, completely free. There you'll get access to all my exclusive episodes, as well as every episode, add free. You'll also have access to my own. other podcasts and their exclusive and ad-free content too. Sleepcove can't carry on without your support. So if you want to become a VIP member and get access to our premium feed,

please go to sleepcove.com slash support. That's sleepcove.com slash support. If you can't support the show right now, please subscribe with a bell to get alerts on all new free content. Thank you. Have you ever gazed in wonder at the Great Pyramid? Have you marvelled at the golden face of Tudankhamun? Or admired the delicate features of Queen Nefertiti?

If you have, you'll probably like The History of Egypt podcast. Every week, we explore tales of this ancient culture. The history of Egypt is available. wherever you get your podcasting fix. Come, let me introduce you to the world of ancient Egypt. Hello and welcome to Sleep Cove. The podcaster get a great night's sleep. With me, Christopher Fitton.

Tonight, I continue with a second part of Theseus and his adventures. In this story, he meets some robbers, and rogues and has a few interesting encounters. I really think you'll enjoy this as the action gets going, so please get comfortable, and let's begin the continuation of the Adventures of Theseus. Part 3, Rough Roads and Robbers With a brave heart

Theseus walked on Keeping the sea Always upon his right Soon the old city of treason Was left far behind And he came to the great marshes But the ground sank under him at every step

And green pools of stagnant water Lay on both sides of their narrow pathway. But no fiery dragon came out of the reeds to meet him. So he walked on and on till he came to the rugged mountain land which bordered the western shore of the sea.

Then he climbed one slope after another until at last he stood on the summit of a grey peak from which he could see the whole country spread out around him.

Then downward and onward he went on again but his way led him through dark mountain glens and along the edges of mighty precipices and underneath many a frowning cliff

until he came to a dreary wood, where the trees grew tall and close together, and the light of the sun was seldom seen. In that forest there dwelt a rubber giant called Club Carrier, who was the terror of all the country. For oftentimes he would go down into the valleys where the shepherds fed their flocks, and would carry off not only sheep and lambs, but sometimes children and the men themselves. It was his custom to hide in the thickets of underbrush,

close to a pathway, and when a traveller passed that way, leap out upon him and beat him to death. When he saw Theseus coming through the woods, he thought that he would have a rich prize, for he knew from the youth's dress and manner that he must be a prince. He lay on the ground,

where leaves of ivy and tall grass screamed him from view, and he held his great iron club, ready to strike. But Theseus had sharp eyes, eyes and quick ears, and neither beast nor rubber giant could have taken him by surprise. When a club carrier leaped out of his hiding place to strike him down, and young man dodged aside so quickly that the heavy club struck the ground behind him, and then before the robber giant

could raise it for a second stroke. Theseus seized the fellow's legs and tripped him up. Club carrier roared loudly and tried to strike again, but Theseus wrenched the club out of his hands, then dealt him such a blow on the head that he never again harmed travellers passing through the forest. Then the youth went on his way,

carrying the huge club on his shoulder, and singing a song of victory, and looking sharply around him for any other foes that might be lurking among the trees. Just over the ridge of the next mountain, he met an old man, who warned him not to go farther. He said that close by a grove of pine trees,

which he would soon pass on his way down the slope, there dwelt a robber named Sinus. He was very cruel to strangers. He is called pine bender, said the old man. For when he is called a traveller, he bends, Too tall lithe pine trees to the ground, and binds as captive to them, a hand of foot to the top of each one,

and a hand on a foot to the top of the other. Then he lets the trees fly up, and rules with laughter, when he sees the Travers' body torn in sunder. It seems to me, said Theseus, that it is full time to rid the world of such a monster. And he thanked the kind man who had warned him and hastened onward, whistling merrily as he went down towards the grove of pines.

Soon he came in sight of the robber's house, built near the foot of a jutting cliff. Behind it was a rocky gorge and a roaring mountain stream and in front of it was a garden where in grew all kinds of rare plants and beautiful flowers but the tops of the pine trees below it were laden with the bones of unlucky travellers which hung bleaching white in the sun and wind On a stone by the roadside sat Sanis himself

And when he saw Theseus coming He ran to meet him Twirling a long rope in his hands And crying out Welcome, welcome dear Prince Welcome to our in the true traveller's rest What kind of entertainment have you asked Theseus,

Have you a pine tree Bender down to the ground and ready for me? I, two of them, said the robber, I knew that you were coming And I bent two of them for you. As he spoke, He threw his rope towards Theseus And tried to entangle him in its coils.

But the young man leaped aside and when the robber rushed upon him, he dodged beneath his hands and seized his legs. As he had seized, Club Carius, and threw him heavily to the ground. Then the two wrestled among the trees, but not long, for Sinus was no match for his lithe young foe. And Theseus knelt upon the robber's back, as he lay prone among the leaves, and tied him up with his own cord to the two pine trees, which were already bent down, as you would have done unto me. So will I do unto you, he said. The pine bender wept and prayed, and made many. a fair promise. But Theseus would not hear him. He turned away. The tree sprang up and the robber's

body was left dangling from the branches. Now this old pine bender had a daughter named Perugoon. He was no more like him than a fair and tender violet is like the niled old oak at whose feet it nestles, and it was she who cared for the flowers and the rare plants which grew in the garden by the robber's house. Then she saw how Theseus had dealt with her father. She was afraid and ran to hide herself from him. Oh save me, dear plants. She cried, for she often talked to the flowers as though they could understand her. Dear plants saved me, and I will never pluck your leaves, nor harm you in any way, so long as I live.

There was one of the plants which up to that time had no leaves, but came up out of the ground, looking like a mere club or stick. This plant took pity. on the maiden. It began at once to send out long feathery branches with delicate green leaves, which grew so fast that Perugoon was soon hidden from sight beneath them. Theseus knew that she must be somewhere in the garden, but he could not find her. So well did the feathery branches conceal her. So he called to her. Perigoon, he said, you need not fear me, for I know that you are gentle and good,

and it is only against things dark and cruel that I lift at my hand. The maiden peeped from her hiding place, and when she saw the fair face of the youth and heard his kind voice, she came out trembling and talked with him. And Theseus rested that evening in her house, and she picked some of her choiciest flowers for him, and gave him food, and when in the morning, the dawn began to appear in the east, and the stars grew dim above the mountain peaks. He bade her farewell, and journeyed onwards over the hills. and Perigoon tended her plants and watched her flowers in the lone garden in the midst of the piney grove but she never plucked the stalks of asparagus nor used them for food

and when she afterwards became the wife of a hero and had children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren she taught them all to spare the plant which had taken pity upon her in her need. The road which Theseus followed now let him closer to the shore and by and by he came to a place where the mountains seemed to rise sheer out of the sea

and there was only a narrow path high along the side of the cliff. Far down beneath him, his feet, he could hear the waves dashing evermore against the rocky wall, while above him and the mountain eagles circled and screamed, and grey crags and barren peaks, glistened in the sunlight. But Theseus went on fearlessly and came at last to a place where a spring of clear water bubbled out from a cleft in the rock, and then the path was narrower still, and the low doorway of a cavern

opened upon it. Close by the spring sat a red-faced giant with a huge club across his knees, guarding the road so that no one could pass, and in the sea at the foot of the cliff, basked a huge turtle his leaden eyes looking always upward for its food Theseus knew for Perigoon had told him that this was the dwelling place of a robber named Skiron

who was the terror of all the coast and whose custom it was to make strangers wash his feet so that while they were doing so he might kick them over the cliff to be eaten by his pet turtle below when Theseus came up the robber raised his club and said fiercely

No man can pass here Until he has washed my feet Come, set to work Then Theseus smiled and said Is your turtle hungry today And do you want me to feed you? him?" The robber's eyes flashed fire, and he said, You shall feed him, but you shall wash my feet

first. And with that he brandished his club in the air, and rushed forward to strike. But Theseus was ready for him, with the iron club, which had taken from club carrier in the forest. He met the blow midway, and the robber's weapon was knocked out of his hands and sent spinning away over the edge of the cliff. Then Skiron, black with rage, tried to grapple with him, but Theseus was too quick for that. He dropped his club and seized Skiron by the throat. He pushed him back, against the ledge on which he had been sitting. He threw him, sprawling upon the sharp

rocks, and held him there, hanging halfway over the cliff. Enough, enough, cried the robber. Let me up, and you may pass on your way. Is not enough, said Theseus, and he drew his sword and sat down by the side of the spring. You must wash my feet now. Come, set to work. Then Skiron, white with fear, washed his feet. And now, said Theseus, when the task was ended, as you have done unto others,

so will I do unto you. There was a scream in mid-air, when the mountain eagles answered from above. There was a great, great splashing in the water below, and the turtle fled in terror from its lurking place. Then the sea cried out, I will have naught to do with so vile a wretch, and a great wave cast the body of Scyron out upon the shore.

But it had no longer touched the ground, then the land cried out, I will have naught to do with so vile a wretch And there was a sudden earthquake And the body of Scyron was thrown back into the sea Then the sea waxed furious A raging storm arose The waters were lashed into foam

And the waves with one mighty effort Through the detested body high into the air air. And there it would have hung until his day, had not the air itself disdained to give it lodging and changed it into a black, huge rock. And this rock, which men say is the body of Skiron, may still be seen, grim, ugly and desolate. And one third of it lies in the sea. One third is embedded in the Sunday shore, and one third is exposed to the air. Thoughts for wrestler and wrongdoer, keeping the sea always in view. Theseus went onward a long day's journey to the north and east, and he left the rugged

mountains behind and came down into the valleys, and in the mountains. into a pleasant plain where there were sheep and cattle, pasturing, and where there were many fields of ripening grain. The fame of his deeds had gone before him, and men and women came crowding to the roadside to see the hero who had slain club carrier and pine bender and grinned. the grim old Scyron of the cliff. Now we shall live in peace, they cried, for the robbers, who devoured our flocks and our children are no more.

Then Theseus passed through the old town of Magara and followed the shore of the bay, towards the sacred city of Elusis. Do not go into Elusis, but take the road which, leads around it through the hills, whispered a poor man who was carrying a sheep to market. Why should I do that? asked Theseus. Listen and I will tell you, was the answer. There is a king in Elusis, whose name is Scyon,

and he is a great wrestler. He makes every stranger who come, who comes, and he is a great stranger. He makes every stranger who comes into the city wrestle with him, and such is the strength of his arms, that when he has overcome a man, he crushes the life out of his body. Many travellers come to Elusis, but no one ever goes away. But I will both come and go away, said Theseus, and with his club upon his shoulder, he strode onward into the sacred city. Where is Scyon, the wrestler? He asked of the warden at the gate.

The king is dining in his marble palace, was the answer. If you wish to save yourself, turn now and flee before he has heard of your coming. Why should I flee? asked Theseus, I am not afraid, and he walked on through the narrow street to old Circian's palace. The king was sitting at his table, eating and drinking, and he grinned hideously, as he thought of the many noble young men whose lives he had destroyed.

Theseus went up boldly to the door and cried out, Scyon, come out and wrestle with me. Ah, said the king, here comes another young fool whose days are numbered. Fetch him in and let him dine with me, and after that he shall have his fill of resting. So Theseus was given a person, place at the table of the king, and the two sat there, and ate and stared at each other, but spoke not a word, and Surycion, as he looked at the young man's sharp eyes, and his fair face and silken hair, had half a mind to bid him go in peace and seek not to test

his strength and skill. But when they had finished, Thurseus arose and laid aside his sword, and his sandals and his iron club, and stripped himself off his robes and said, Come now, Sersion, if you are not afraid, come and wrestle with me. Then the two went out into the courtyard, where many a young man had met his fate, and there they wrestled until the sun went down, and neither could gain aught of advantage over the other. but it was plain that the trained skill of Therseus would in the end win against the brute strength of Circeon. Then the men of Elusis, who stood watching the contest, saw the youth lift the giant king bodily into the air and hurl him headlong over his shoulder, to the hard pavement beyond.

As you have done to others, so will I do unto you, cried Theseus. But grim old Circeon never moved nor spoke, and when the youth turned his body over and looked into his cruel face, he saw that the life had quite gone out of him. Then the people of Elusis came to Theseus, and wanted to make him their king. You have slain the tyrant who was the bane of Elusis, they said, and we have heard how you have also rid the world of the giant robbers who were the terror of the land.

Come now and be our king, for we know that you will rule over us wisely and well. Someday, said Theseus, I will be your king, but not now, for there are other deeds for me to do. And with that he donned his sword and his sandals, and his princely cloak, and threw his great iron club upon his shoulder, and went out of Elusis, and all the people ran after him for quite a little way, shouting, May good fortune be with you, O King, and may Athena bless and guide you.