按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the greatest sanctity of all the Greeks； and Cychreus； the Salaminian；
was honoured at Athens with divine worship； and the virtues of
Peleus and Telamon were not unknown to any one。 Now Sciron was
son…in…law to Cychreus； father…in…law to Aeacus； and grandfather to
Peleus and Telamon； who were both of them sons of Endeis； the daughter
of Sciron and Chariclo； it was not probable； therefore； that the
best of men should make these alliances with one who was worst； giving
and receiving mutually what was of greatest value and most dear to
them。 Theseus； by their account； did not slay Sciron in his first
journey to Athens； but afterwards； when he took Eleusis； a city of the
Megarians； having circumvented Diocles； the governor。 Such are the
contradictions in this story。 In Eleusis he killed Cercyon； the
Arcadian； in a wrestling match。 And going on a little farther； in
Erineus； he slew Damastes； otherwise called Procrustes； forcing his
body to the size of his own bed； as he himself was used to do with all
strangers； this he did in imitation of Hercules； who always returned
upon his assailants the same sort of violence that they offered to
him； sacrificed Busiris； killed Antaeus in wrestling； and Cycnus in
single combat； and Termerus by breaking his skull in pieces （whence；
they say； comes the proverb of 〃a Termerian mischief〃）； for it seems
Termerus killed passengers that he met by running with his head
against them。 And so also Theseus proceeded in the punishment of
evil men； who underwent the same violence from him which they had
inflicted upon others； justly suffering after the manner of their
own injustice。
As he went forward on his journey； and was come as far as the
river Cephisus； some of the race of the Phytalidae met him and saluted
him； and upon his desire to use the purifications； then in custom；
they performed them with all the usual ceremonies； and； having offered
propitiatory sacrifices to the gods； invited him and entertained him
at their house； a kindness which； in all his journey hitherto； he
had not met。
On the eighth day of Cronius； now called Hecatombaeon； he arrived at
Athens； where he found the public affairs full of all confusion； and
divided into parties and factions； Aegeus also； and his whole
private family； labouring under the same distemper； for Medea；
having fled from Corinth； and promised Aegeus to make him； by her art；
capable of having children； was living with him。 She first was aware
of Theseus； whom as yet Aegeus did not know； and he being in years；
full of jealousies and suspicions； and fearing everything by reason of
the faction that was then in the city； she easily persuaded him to
kill him by poison at a banquet； to which he was to be invited as a
stranger。 He； coming to the entertainment； thought it not fit to
discover himself at once； but willing to give his father the
occasion of first finding him out； the meat being on the table； he
drew his sword as if he designed to cut with it； Aegeus； at once
recognising the token； threw down the cup of poison； and；
questioning his son； embraced him； and having gathered together all
his citizens； owned him publicly before them； who； on their part；
received him gladly for the fame of his greatness and bravery； and
it is said； that when the cup fell； the poison was spilt there where
now is the enclosed space in the Delphinium； for in that place stood
Aegeus's house； and the figure of Mercury on the east side of the
temple is called the Mercury of Aegeus's gate。
The sons of Pallas； who before were quiet upon expectation of
recovering the kingdom after Aegeus's death； who was without issue； as
soon as Theseus appeared and was acknowledged the successor； highly
resenting that Aegeus first； an adopted son only of Pandion； and not
at all related to the family of Erechtheus； should be holding the
kingdom； and that after him； Theseus； a visitor and stranger； should
be destined to succeed to it； broke out into open war。 And dividing
themselves into two companies； one part of them marched openly from
Sphettus； with their father； against the city； the other； hiding
themselves in the village of Gargettus； lay in ambush； with a design
to set upon the enemy on both sides。 They had with them a crier of the
township of Agnus； named Leos； who discovered to Theseus all the
designs of the Pallantidae。 He immediately fell upon those that lay in
ambuscade； and cut them all off； upon tidings of which Pallas and
his company fled and were dispersed。
From hence they say is derived the custom among the people of the
township of Pallene to have no marriages or any alliance with the
people of Agnus； nor to suffer the criers to pronounce in their
proclamations the words used in all other parts of the country；
Acouete Leoi （Hear ye people）； hating the very sound of Leo； because
of the treason of Leos。
Theseus； longing to be in action； and desirous also to make
himself popular； left Athens to fight with the bull of Marathon； which
did no small mischief to the inhabitants of Tetrapolis。 And having
overcome it； he brought it alive in triumph through the city； and
afterwards sacrificed it to the Delphinian Apollo。 The story of
Hecale； also； of her receiving and entertaining Theseus in this
expedition； seems to be not altogether void of truth； for the
townships round about； meeting upon a certain day； used to offer a
sacrifice which they called Hecalesia； to Jupiter Hecaleius； and to
pay honour to Hecale； whom； by a diminutive name； they called
Hecalene； because she； while entertaining Theseus； who was quite a
youth； addressed him； as old people do； with similar endearing
diminutives； and having made a vow to Jupiter for him as he was
going to the fight； that； if he returned in safety； she would offer
sacrifices in thanks of it； and dying before he came back； she had
these honours given her by way of return for her hospitality； by the
command of Theseus； as Philochorus tells us。
Not long after arrived the third time from Crete the collectors of
the tribute which the Athenians paid them upon the following occasion。
Androgeus having been treacherously murdered in the confines of
Attica； not only Minos； his father； put the Athenians to extreme
distress by a perpetual war； but the gods also laid waste their
country； both famine and pestilence lay heavy upon them； and even
their rivers were dried up。 Being told by the oracle that； if they
appeased and reconciled Minos； the anger of the gods would cease and
they should enjoy rest from the miseries they laboured under； they
sent heralds； and with much supplication were at last reconciled；
entering into an agreement to send to Crete every nine years a tribute
of seven young men and as many virgins； as most writers agree in
stating； and the most poetical story adds； that the Minotaur destroyed
them； or that； wandering in the labyrinth； and finding no possible
means of getting out； they miserably ended their lives there； and that
this Minotaur was （as Euripides hath it）…
〃A mingled form where two strange shapes combined；
And different natures； bull and man； were joined。〃
But Philochorus says that the Cretans will by