theseus-第4章

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general　joy　and　revelling；　but　all　the　sacrifices　performed　to　the
latter　are　attended　with　mourning　and　gloom。
　　Now　Theseus；　in　his　return　from　Crete；　put　in　at　Delos；　and　having
sacrificed　to　the　god　of　the　island；　dedicated　to　the　temple　the　image
of　Venus　which　Ariadne　had　given　him；　and　danced　with　the　young
Athenians　a　dance　that；　in　memory　of　him；　they　say　is　still
preserved　among　the　inhabitants　of　Delos；　consisting　in　certain
measured　turnings　and　returnings；　imitative　of　the　windings　and
twistings　of　the　labyrinth。　And　this　dance；　as　Dicaearchus　writes；
is　called　among　the　Delians　the　Crane。　This　he　danced　around　the
Ceratonian　Altar；　so　called　from　its　consisting　of　horns　taken　from
the　left　side　of　the　head。　They　say　also　that　he　instituted　games　in
Delos；　where　he　was　the　first　that　began　the　custom　of　giving　a　palm
to　the　victors。
　　When　they　were　come　near　the　coast　of　Attica；　so　great　was　the　joy
for　the　happy　success　of　their　voyage；　that　neither　Theseus　himself
nor　the　pilot　remembered　to　hang　out　the　sail　which　should　have　been
the　token　of　their　safety　to　Aegeus；　who；　in　despair　at　the　sight；
threw　himself　headlong　from　a　rock；　and　perished　in　the　sea。　But
Theseus　being　arrived　at　the　port　of　Phalerum；　paid　there　the
sacrifices　which　he　had　vowed　to　the　gods　at　his　setting　out　to　sea；
and　sent　a　herald　to　the　city　to　carry　the　news　of　his　safe　return。　At
his　entrance；　the　herald　found　the　people　for　the　most　part　full　of
grief　for　the　loss　of　their　king；　others；　as　may　well　be　believed；
as　full　of　joy　for　the　tidings　that　he　brought；　and　eager　to　welcome
him　and　crown　him　with　garlands　for　his　good　news；　which　he　indeed
accepted　of；　but　hung　them　upon　his　herald's　staff；　and　thus　returning
to　the　seaside　before　Theseus　had　finished　his　libation　to　the　gods；
he　stayed　apart　for　fear　of　disturbing　the　holy　rites；　but；　as　soon　as
the　libation　was　ended；　went　up　and　related　the　king's　death；　upon　the
hearing　of　which；　with　great　lamentations　and　a　confused　tumult　of
grief；　they　ran　with　all　haste　to　the　city。　And　from　hence；　they
say；　it　comes　that　at　this　day；　in　the　feast　of　Oschophoria；　the
herald　is　not　crowned；　but　his　staff；　and　all　who　are　present　at　the
libation　cry　out　eleleu；　iou；　iou；　the　first　of　which　confused
sounds　is　commonly　used　by　men　in　haste；　or　at　a　triumph；　the　other　is
proper　to　people　in　consternation　or　disorder　of　mind。
　　Theseus；　after　the　funeral　of　his　father；　paid　his　vows　to　Apollo
the　seventh　day　of　Pyanepsion；　for　on　that　day　the　youth　that　returned
with　him　safe　from　Crete　made　their　entry　into　the　city。　They　say；
also；　that　the　custom　of　boiling　pulse　at　this　feast　is　derived　from
hence；　because　the　young　men　that　escaped　put　all　that　was　left　of
their　provision　together；　and；　boiling　it　in　one　common　pot；　feasted
themselves　with　it；　and　ate　it　all　up　together。　Hence；　also；　they
carry　in　procession　an　olive　branch　bound　about　with　wool　（such　as
they　then　made　use　of　in　their　supplications）；　which　they　call
Eiresione；　crowned　with　all　sorts　of　fruits；　to　signify　that
scarcity　and　barrenness　was　ceased；　singing　in　their　procession　this
song：…

　　　　　　　　〃Eiresione　bring　figs；　and　Eiresione　bring　loaves；
　　　　　　　　Bring　us　boney　in　pints；　and　oil　to　rub　on　our　bodies；
　　　　　　　　And　a　strong　flagon　of　wine；　for　all　to　go　mellow　to　bed　on。〃

Although　some　hold　opinion　that　this　ceremony　is　retained　in　memory　of
the　Heraclidae；　who　were　thus　entertained　and　brought　up　by　the
Athenians。　But　most　are　of　the　opinion　which　we　have　given　above。
　　The　ship　wherein　Theseus　and　the　youth　of　Athens　returned　had　thirty
oars；　and　was　preserved　by　the　Athenians　down　even　to　the　time　of
Demetrius　Phalereus；　for　they　took　away　the　old　planks　as　they
decayed；　putting　in　new　and　stronger　timber　in　their　place；　insomuch
that　this　ship　became　a　standing　example　among　the　philosophers；　for
the　logical　question　of　things　that　grow；　one　side　holding　that　the
ship　remained　the　same；　and　the　other　contending　that　it　was　not　the
same。
　　The　feast　called　Oschophoria；　or　the　feast　of　boughs；　which　to
this　day　the　Athenians　celebrate；　was　then　first　instituted　by
Theseus。　For　he　took　not　with　him　the　full　number　of　virgins　which
by　lot　were　to　be　carried　away；　but　selected　two　youths　of　his
acquaintance；　of　fair　and　womanish　faces；　but　of　a　manly　and　forward
spirit；　and　having；　by　frequent　baths；　and　avoiding　the　heat　and
scorching　of　the　sun；　with　a　constant　use　of　all　the　ointments　and
washes　and　dresses　that　serve　to　the　adorning　of　the　head　or　smoothing
the　skin　or　improving　the　complexion；　in　a　manner　changed　them　from
what　they　were　before；　and　having　taught　them　farther　to　counterfeit
the　very　voice　and　carriage　and　gait　of　virgins　so　that　there　could
not　be　the　least　difference　perceived；　he；　undiscovered　by　any；　put
them　into　the　number　of　the　Athenian　maids　designed　for　Crete。　At
his　return；　he　and　these　two　youths　led　up　a　solemn　procession；　in　the
same　habit　that　is　now　worn　by　those　who　carry　the　vine…branches。
Those　branches　they　carry　in　honour　of　Bacchus　and　Ariadne；　for　the
sake　of　their　story　before　related；　or　rather　because　they　happened　to
return　in　autumn；　the　time　of　gathering　the　grapes。　The　women；　whom
they　call　Deipnopherae；　or　supper…carriers；　are　taken　into　these
ceremonies；　and　assist　at　the　sacrifice；　in　remembrance　and
imitation　of　the　mothers　of　the　young　men　and　virgins　upon　whom　the
lot　fell；　for　thus　they　ran　about　bringing　bread　and　meat　to　their
children；　and　because　the　women　then　told　their　sons　and　daughters
many　tales　and　stories；　to　comfort　and　encourage　them　under　the　danger
they　were　going　upon；　it　has　still　continued　a　custom　that　at　this
feast　old　fables　and　tales　should　be　told。　For　these　particularities
we　are　indebted　to　the　history　of　Demon。　There　was　then　a　place　chosen
out；　and　a　temple　erected　in　it　to　Theseus；　and　those　families　out
of　whom　the　tribute　of　the　youth　was　gathered　were　appointed　to　pay
tax　to　the　temple　for　sacrifices　to　him。　And　the　house　of　the
Phytalidae　had　the　overseeing　of　these　sacrifices；　Theseus　doing
them　that　honour　in　recompense　of　their　former　hospitality。
　　Now；　after　the　death　of　his　father　Aegeus；　forming　in　his　mind　a
great　and　wonderful　design；　he　gathered　together　all　the　inhabitants
of　Attica　into　one　town；　and　made　them　one　people　of　one　city；　whereas
before　they　lived　dispersed；　and　were　not　easy　to　assemble　upon　any
affair　for　the　common　interest。　Nay；　differences　and　even　wars　often
occurred　between　them；　which　he　by　his　persuasions　appeased；　going
from　township　to　township；　and　from　tribe　to　tribe。　And　those　of　a
more　private　and　mean　condition　readily　embracing　such　good　advice；　to
those　of　greater　power　he　promised　a　commonwealth　without　monarchy；
a　democracy；　or　people's　government；　in　which　he　should　only　be
continued　as　their　commander　in　war　and　the　protector　of　their　laws；
all　things　else　being　equally　distributed　among　them；…　and　by　this
means　brought　a　part　of　them　over　to　his　proposal。　The　rest；　fearing
his　power；　which　was　already　grown　very　formidable；　and　knowing　his
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　spa