theseus-第6章
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courage and resolution； chose rather to be persuaded than forced
into a compliance。 He then dissolved all the distinct statehouses；
council halls； and magistracies； and built one common state…house
and council hall on the site of the present upper town； and gave the
name of Athens to the whole state； ordaining a common feast and
sacrifice； which he called Panathenaea； or the sacrifice of all the
united Athenians。 He instituted also another sacrifice called
Metoecia； or Feast of Migration； which is yet celebrated on the
sixteenth day of Hecatombaeon。 Then； as he had promised； he
laid down his regal power and proceeded to order a commonwealth；
entering upon this great work not without advice from the gods。 For
having sent to consult the oracle of Delphi concerning the fortune
of his new government and city； he received this answer：…
〃Son of the Pitthean maid；
To your town the terms and fates；
My father gives of many states。
Be not anxious nor afraid；
The bladder will not fail to swim
On the waves that compass him。〃
Which oracle； they say； one of the sibyls long after did in a manner
repeat to the Athenians； in this verse：…
〃The bladder may be dipt； but not be drowned。〃
Farther yet designing to enlarge his city； he invited all strangers to
come and enjoy equal privileges with the natives； and it is said
that the common form； Come hither； all ye people； was the words that
Theseus proclaimed when he thus set up a commonwealth； in a manner；
for all nations。 Yet he did not suffer his state； by the promiscuous
multitude that flowed in； to be turned into confusion and he left
without any order or degree； but was the first that divided the
Commonwealth into three distinct ranks； the noblemen； the
husbandmen； and artificers。 To the nobility he committed the care of
religion； the choice of magistrates； the teaching and dispensing of
the laws； and interpretation and direction in all sacred matters；
the whole city being； as it were； reduced to an exact equality； the
nobles excelling the rest in honour； the husbandmen in profit； and the
artificers in number。 And that Theseus was the first； who； as
Aristotle says； out of an inclination to popular government； parted
with the regal power； Homer also seems to testify； in his catalogue of
the ships； where he gives the name of People to the Athenians only。
He also coined money； and stamped it with the image of an ox； either
in memory of the Marathonian bull； or of Taurus； whom he vanquished；
or else to put his people in mind to follow husbandry； and from this
coin came the expression so frequent among the Greeks； of a thing
being worth ten or a hundred oxen。 After this he joined Megara to
Attica； and erected that famous pillar on the Isthmus； which bears
an inscription of two lines； showing the bounds of the two countries
that meet there。 On the east side the inscription is；…
〃Peloponnesus there； Ionia here〃
and on the west side；…
〃Peloponnesus here； Ionia there。〃
He also instituted the games； in emulation of Hercules； being
ambitious that as the Greeks； by that hero's appointment； celebrated
the Olympian games to the honour of Jupiter； so by his institution；
they should celebrate the Isthmian to the honour of Neptune。 For those
that were there before observed； dedicated to Melicerta； were
performed privately in the night； and had the form rather of a
religious rite than of an open spectacle or public feast。 There are
some who say that the Isthmian games were first instituted in memory
of Sciron； Theseus thus making expiation for his death； upon account
of the nearness of kindred between them； Sciron being the son of
Canethus and Heniocha； the daughter of Pittheus； though others write
that Sinnis； not Sciron； was their son； and that to his honour； and
not to the other's； these games were ordained by Theseus。 At the
same time he made an agreement with the Corinthians； that they
should allow those that came from Athens to the celebration of the
Isthmian games as much space of honour before the rest to behold the
spectacle in； as the sail of the ship that brought them thither
stretched to its full extent； could cover； so Hellanicus and Andro
of Halicarnassus have established。
Concerning his voyage into the Euxine Sea； Philochorus and some
others write that he made it with Hercules； offering him his service
in the war against the Amazons； and had Antiope given him for the
reward of his valour； but the greater number； of whom are
Pherecydes； Hellanicus； and Herodorus； write that he made this
voyage many years after Hercules； with a navy under his own command；
and took the Amazon prisoner… the more probable story； for we do not
read that any other； of all those that accompanied him in this action；
took any Amazon prisoner。 Bion adds； that； to take her； he had to
use deceit and fly away； for the Amazons； he says； being naturally
lovers of men； were so far from avoiding Theseus when he touched
upon their coasts； that they sent him presents to his ship； but he；
having invited Antiope； who brought them； to come aboard；
immediately set sail and carried her away。 An author named Menecrates；
that wrote the History of Nicae in Bithynia； adds； that Theseus；
having Antiope aboard his vessel； cruised for some time about those
coasts； and that there were in the same ship three young men of
Athens； that accompanied him in this voyage； all brothers； whose names
were Euneos； Thoas； and soloon。 The last of these fell desperately
in love with Antiope； and； escaping the notice of the rest； revealed
the secret only to one of his most intimate acquaintances； and
employed him to disclose his passion to Antiope； she rejected his
pretences with a very positive denial； yet treated the matter with
much gentleness and discretion； and made no complaint to Theseus of
anything that had happened； but Soloon； the thing being desperate；
leaped into a river near the seaside and drowned himself。 As soon as
Theseus was acquainted with his death； and his unhappy love that was
the cause of it； he was extremely distressed； and； in the height of
his grief； an oracle which he had formerly received at Delphi came
into his mind； for he had been commanded by the priestess of Apollo
Pythius； that wherever in a strange land he was most sorrowful and
under the greatest affliction； he should build a city there； and leave
some of his followers to be governors of the place。 For this cause
he there founded a city； which he called； from the name of Apollo；
Pythopolis； and； in honour of the unfortunate youth； he named the
river that runs by it Soloon； and left the two surviving brothers
intrusted with the care of the government and laws； joining with
them Hermus； one of the nobility of Athens； from whom a place in the
city is called the House of Hermus； though by an error in the accent
it has been taken for the House of Hermes； or Mercury； and the
honour that was designed to the hero； transferred to the god。
This was the origin and cause of the Amazonian invasion of Attica；
which would seem to have been no slight or womanish enterprise。 For it
is impossible that they should have placed their camp in the very
city； and joined battle close by the Pnyx and the hill called
Museum； unless； having first conquered the country around about；
they had thus with impunity advanced to the city。 That they made so
long a journey by land； and passed the Cimmerian Bosphorus； when
frozen； as Hellanicus writes； is difficult to be believed。 That they
encamped all but in the city is certain； and may be sufficiently
confirmed by the names that the places hereabout yet retain； and the
graves and monuments of those that fell in the battle。 Both armies
being in sight； there was a long pause and doubt on each side which
should give the first onset； at last Theseus； having sacrificed to
Fear； in obedience to the command of an oracle he had received； gave
them battle； and this happened in the month of Boedromion； in which to
this very day the Athenians celebrate the Feast Boedromia。 Clidemus；
desirous to be very circumstantial； writes that the left wing of the
Amazo
