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第8章

theseus-第8章

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away by force when she was yet a child。 But the most probable account;
and that which has most witnesses on its side; is this: Theseus and
Pirithous went both together to Sparta; and; having seized the young
lady as she was dancing in the temple Diana Orthia; fled away with
her。 There were presently men sent in arms to pursue; but they
followed no further than to Tegea; and Theseus and Pirithous; being
now out of danger; having passed through Peloponnesus; made an
agreement between themselves; that he to whom the lot should fall
should have Helen to his wife; but should be obliged to assist in
procuring another for his friend。 The lot fell upon Theseus; who
conveyed her to Aphidnae; not being yet marriageable; and delivered
her to one of his allies; called Aphidnus; and; having sent his
mother; Aethra; after to take care of her; desired him to keep them so
secretly; that none might know where they were; which done; to
return the same service to his friend Pirithous; he accompanied him in
his journey to Epirus; in order to steal away the king of the
Molossians' daughter。 The king; his own name being Aidoneus; or Pluto;
called his wife Proserpina; and his daughter Cora; and a great dog;
which he kept; Cerberus; with whom he ordered all that came as suitors
to his daughter to fight; and promised her to him that should overcome
the beast。 But having been informed that the design of Pirithous and
his companion was not to court his daughter; but to force her away; he
caused them both to be seized; and threw Pirithous to be torn in
pieces by his dog; and put Theseus into prison; and kept him。
  About this time; Menestheus; the son of Peteus; grandson of
Orneus; and great…grandson of Erechtheus; the first man that is
recorded to have affected popularity and ingratiated himself with
the multitude; stirred up and exasperated the most eminent men of
the city; who had long borne a secret grudge to Theseus; conceiving
that he had robbed them of their several little kingdoms and
lordships; and having pent them all up in one city; was using them
as his subjects and slaves。 He put also the meaner people into
commotion; telling them; that; deluded with a mere dream of liberty;
though indeed they were deprived of both that and of their proper
homes and religious usages; instead of many good and gracious kings of
their own; they had given themselves up to be lorded over by a
new…comer and a stranger。 Whilst he was thus busied in infecting the
minds of the citizens; the war that Castor and Pollux brought
against Athens came very opportunely to further the sedition he had
been promoting; and some say that by his persuasions was wholly the
cause of their invading the city。 At their first approach; they
committed no acts of hostility; but peaceably demanded their sister
Helen; but the Athenians returning answer that they neither had her
there nor knew where she was disposed of; they prepared to assault the
city; when Academus; having; by whatever means; found it out;
disclosed to them that she was secretly kept at Aphidnae。 For which
reason he was both highly honoured during his life by Castor and
Pollux; and the Lacedaemonians; when often in aftertimes they made
incursions into Attica; and destroyed all the country round about;
spared the Academy for the sake of Academus。 But Dicaearchus writes
that there were two Arcadians in the army of Castor and Pollux; the
one called Echedemus; and the other Marathus; from the first that
which is now called Academia was then named Echedemia; and the village
Marathon had its name from the other; who; to fulfil some oracle;
voluntarily offered himself to be made a sacrifice before battle。 As
soon as they were arrived at Aphidnae; they overcame their enemies
in a set battle; and then assaulted and took the town。 And here;
they say; Alycus; the son of Sciron; was slain; of the party of the
Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux); from whom a place in Megara; where he
was buried; is called Alycus to this day。 And Hereas writes that it
was Theseus himself that killed him; in witness of which he cites
these verses concerning Alycus…

        〃And Alycus upon Aphidnae's plain;
        By Theseus in the cause of Helen slain。〃

Though it is not at all probable that Theseus himself was there when
both the city and his mother were taken。
  Aphidnae being won by Castor and Pollux; and the city of Athens
being in consternation; Menestheus persuaded the people to open
their gates; and receive them with all manner of friendship; for
they were; he told them; at enmity with none but Theseus; who had
first injured them; and were benefactors and saviours to all mankind
beside。 And their behviour gave credit to those promises; for;
having made themselves absolute masters of the place; they demanded no
more than to be initiated; since they were as nearly related to the
city as Hercules was; who had received the same honour。 This their
desire they easily obtained; and were adopted by Aphidnus; as Hercules
had been by Pylius。 They were honoured also like gods; and were called
by a new name; Anaces; either from the cessation of the war; or from
the care they took that none should suffer any injury; though there
was so great an army within the walls; for the phrase anakos ekhein is
used of those who look to or care for anything; kings for this reason;
perhaps; are called anactes。 Others say; that from the appearance of
their star in the heavens; they were thus called; for in the Attic
dialect this name comes very near the words that signify above。
  Some say that Aethra; Theseus's mother; was here taken prisoner; and
carried to Lacedaemon; and from thence went away with Helen to Troy;
alleging this verse of Homer to prove that she waited upon Helen…

        〃Aethra of Pittheus born; and large eyed Clymene。〃

Others reject this verse as none of Homer's; as they do likewise the
whole fable of Munychus; who; the story says; was the son of
Demophon and Laodice; born secretly; and brought up by Aethra at Troy。
But Ister; in the thirteenth book of his Attic History; gives us an
account of Aethra; different yet from all the rest: that Achilles
and Patroclus overcame Paris in Thessaly; near the river Sperchius;
but that Hector took and plundered the city of the Troezenians。 and
made Aethra prisoner there。 But this seems a groundless tale。
  Now Hercules; passing by the Molossians; was entertained in his
way to Aidoneus the king; who; in conversation; accidentally spoke
of the journey of Theseus and Pirithous into his country; of what they
had designed to do; and what they were forced to suffer。 Hercules
was much grieved for the inglorious death of the one and the miserable
condition of the other。 As for Pirithous; he thought it useless to
complain; but begged to have Theseus released for his sake; and
obtained that favour from the king。 Theseus; being thus set at
liberty; returned to Athens; where his friends were not yet wholly
suppressed; and dedicated to Hercules all the sacred places which
the city had set apart for himself; changing their names from Thesea
to Heraclea; four only excepted; as Philochorus writes。 And wishing
immediately to resume the first place in the commonwealth; and
manage the state as before; he soon found himself involved in factions
and troubles; those who long had hated him had now added to their
hatred contempt; and the minds of the people were so generally
corrupted; that; instead of obeying commands with silence; they
expected to be flattered into their duty。 He had some thoughts to have
reduced them by force; but was overpowered by demagogues and factions。
And at last; despairing of any good success of his affairs in
Athens; he sent away his children privately to Euboea; commending them
to the care of Elephenor; the son of Chalcodon; and he himself
having solemnly cursed the people of Athens in the village of
Gargettus; in which there yet remains the place called Araterion; or
the place of cursing; sailed to Scyros; where he had lands left him by
his father; and friendship; as he thought; with those of the island。
Lycomedes was then king of Scyros。 Theseus; therefore; addressed
himself to him and desired 

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