"daedalus was the architect who had contrived the labyrinth for the minotaur in crete, and who showed ariadne how theseus could escape from it. when king minos learned that the athenians had found their way out, he was convinced that they could have done so only if daedalus has helped them. accordingly he imprisoned him and his son icarus in the labyrinth, certainly a proof that it was excellently devised since not even the maker of it could discover the exit without a clue. but the great inventor was not at a loss. he told his son, 'escape may be checked by water and land, but the air and the sky are free,' and he made two pairs of wings for them. they put them on and just before they took flight daedalus warned icarus to keep a middle course over the sea. if he flew too high the sun might melt the glue and the wings drop off. however, as stories so often show, what elders say youth disregards. as the two flew lightly and without effort away from crete the delight of this new and wonderful power went to the boy's head. he soared exultingly up and up, paying no heed to his father's anguished commands. then he fell. the wings had come off. he dropped into the sea and the waters closed over him..."
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