Plutarch's Lives Volume
I
Source: Plutarch of Charonea, 46-120 A.D.
The
Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romanes Compared Together. Translated
out of Greek into French by James Amyot, Abbot of Bellozane, Bishop of
Auxerre, and out of French into Englishe by Thomas North. Printed at the
Shakespeare Head Press, Stratford-upon-Avon. Boston and New York: Houghton
Mifflin, 1928. 8 volumes. Before using any portion of this text
in any theme, essay, research paper, thesis, or dissertation, please read
the disclaimer.
Transcription conventions: Volume I page
numbers in angle brackets refer to the edition cited as the source. Words
or phrases singled out for indexing are marked by plus signs. In the index,
numbers in parentheses indicate how many times the item appears. I have
allowed Greek passages to stand as the scanner read them, in unintelligible
strings of characters.
Table of Contents: Amiot to the Readers+
THE reading of bookes which bring but a vaine and unprofitable pleasure
to the Reader, is justly misliked of wise and grave men. Againe, the reading
of such as doe but onely bring profit, and make the Reader to be in love
therewith, and doe not ease the payne of the reading by some pleasauntnes
in the same: doe seeme somewhat harshe to divers delicate wits, that can
not tary long upon them. But such bookes as yeeld pleasure and profit,
and doe both delight and teache, have all that a man can desire why they
should be universally liked and allowed of all sortes of men, according
to the common saying of the Poet Horace: That he which matcheth profit
with delight, Doth winne the price in every poynt aright. Eyther of these
yeeld his effect the better, by reason the one runneth with of the other,
profiting the more bicause of the delight, and deliting the more bicause
of the profit. This commendation (in my opinion) is most proper to the
reading of stories, to have pleasure and profit matched together which
kind of delight and teaching meeting in this wise arme in arme, hath more
allowance then any other kind of waiting or invention of man. In respect
whereof it may be reasonably avowed, that men are more beholding to <Plut1-xiii>
TO THE READERS such good wits, as by their, grave and wise writing
have deserved the name of Historiographers, then they are to any other
kind of writers: bicause an historie is an orderly register of notable
things said, done, or happened in time past, to mainteyne the continual
remembrance of them, and to serve for the instruction of them to come.
And like as memorie is as a storehouse of mens conceits and devises, without
the which the actions of the other two parts should be unperfect and welneare
unprofitable: So may it also be sayd, that an historie is the very treasury
of mans life, whereby the notable doings and sayings of men, and the wonderful
adventures and straunge cases (which the long continuance of time bringeth
forth) are preserved from the death of forgetfulnes. Here-uppon it riseth,
that Plato the wise sayth, that the name of historie was given to this
recording of matters, to stay the fleting of our memorie, which otherwise
would be soone lost, and retaine litle. And we may well perceive how greatly
we be beholding unto it, if we doe no more but consider in how horrible
darkenes, and in how beastly and pestilent a quamyre of ignorance we should
be plunged: if the remembrance of all the thinges that have beene done,
and have happened before we were borne, were utterly drowned and forgotten.
Now therefore I will overpasse the excellencie and worthines of the thing
it selfe, forasmuch as it is not onely of more antiquatie then any other
kind of writing that ever was in the worlde, but also was used among men,
before there was any use of letters at all: bicause that men in those dayes
delivered in their lifetimes the remembrance of things past to their successors,
in songes, which thy caused their children to learne by hart, from hand
to hand, as is to be seene yet in our dayes, by thexample of the barbarous
people that inhabite the newfound landes in the West, who without any records
of writings, have had the knowledge of thinges pafst welneare eight hundred
yeares afore. Likewise I leave to discourse, that it is the surest, safest,
and durablest monument that men can leave of their doings in <Plut1-xiv>
TO THE READERS this world, to consecrate their names to immortality.
For there is nether picture, nor image of marble, nor arche of triumph,
nor piller, nor sumptuous sepulchre, that can match the durablenes of an
eloquent history, furnished with the properties which it ought to have.
Again, I mind not to stand much upon this, that it hath a certaine troth
in it, in that it alwayes professeth to speake truth, and for that the
proper ground therof is to treate of the greatest and highest things that
are done in the world: insomuch that (to my seeming) the great profit thereof
is as Horace sayth, that it is commonly called the mother of trothe and
uprightness which commendeth it so greatly, as it nedeth not elswhere to
seeke any authoritie, or ornament or dignitie, but of her very selfe. For
it is a certaine rule and instruction+, which by examples past, teacheth
us to judge of things present, and to foresee things to come: so as we
may knowe what to like of, and what to follow, what to mislike, and what
to eschew. It is a picture, which (as it were in a table) setteth before
our eyes the things worthy of remembrance that have bene done in olde time
by mighty nations, noble kings and Princes, wise governors, Valliant Capteines,
and persons renowned for some notable qualitie, representing unto us the
maners of straunge nations, the lawes and customes of old time, the particular
affaires of men, their consultations and enterprises, the meanes that they
have used to compasse them withall, and their demeaning of them selves
when they were comen to the highest, or throwen downe to the lowest degree
of state. So as it is not possible for any case to rise either in peace
or warre, in publike or private affaires, but that the person which shall
have diligently red, well conceived, and throughly remembred histories,
shall find matter in them whereat to take light and counsell wherby to
resolve himselfe to take a part, or to give advice unto others, how to
choose in doubtfull and dangerous cases that, which may be for their most
profit and in time to find out to what poynt the matter will come if it
be well handled; and how to moderate him selfe in prosperity and how to
cheer up and beare him selfe <Plut1-xv>
TO THE READERS adversities. These things it doth with much greater
grace, efficacie and speede, than the bookes of morall_Philosophie+ doe:
forasmuch as examples are of more force to move and instruct, than are
the arguments and proofs of reason, or their precise precepts, bicause
examples be the very formes of our deedes and accompanied with all circumstances.
Whereas reasons and demonstrations are generall, and tend to the proofe
of things, and to the beating of them into understanding: and examples
tende to the showing of them in practise and execution, bicause they doe
not only declare what is to be done, but also worke a desire to do it,
as well in respect of a certaine naturall inclination which all men have
to follow examples, as also for the beawtie of vertue+, which is of such
power, that wheresoever she is seene, she maketh herselfe to be loved and
liked. Againe, it doth things with greater weight and gravitie, than the
inventions and devices of the Poets: bicause it helpeth not it selfe with
any other thing than with the plaine truth, wheras Poetry doth commonly
inrich things by commending them above the starres and their deserving,
bicause the chiefe intent thereof is to delight. Moreover, it doth thinges
with more grace and modestie than the civill lawes and ordinances doe:
bicause it is more grace for a man to teach and instruct, than to chastise
or punisb. And yet for all this, an historie also hath his maner of punishing
the wicked, by the reproch of everlasting infamies wherewith it defaceth
their remembrance, which is a great meane to withdraw them from vice, who
otherwise would be lewd & wickedly disposed. Likewise on the contrarie
parte, the immortal praise and glorie wherewith it rewardeth welldoers,
is a very lively and sharpe spurre for men of noble corage and gentlemanlike+
nature, to cause them to adventure upon all maner of noble and great things.
For bookes are full of examples of men of high corage and wisedom, who
for desire to continue remembraunce of their name, by the sure and certain
recorde of histories, have willing yeelded their lives to the service of
the common weale, spent their goods, <Plut1-xvi>
TO THE READERS suffered infinite peines both of bodie and minde in
defence of the oppressed, in making common buildings, in establishing of
lawes and governments, and in the finding out of artes and sciences necessarie
for the maintenance and ornament of mans life: for the faithfull regsitering
thereof, the thankes is due to histories. And although true vertue seeke
no reward of her commendable doings like a hireling, but contenteth her
selfe with the conscience of her well doing: yet notwithstanding I am of
opinion, that it is good and meete to draw men by all meanes to good doing,
and good men ought not to be forbidden to hope for the honor of their vertuous
deedes, seeing that honor doth naturally accompanie vertue, as the shadow
doth the bodie. For we commonly see, not to feele the markes of desire
of honor, is an infallible signe of a base, vile and cloynish nature: and
that such as account it an unnecessarie, needelesse, or unseemely thing
to be praised, are likewise no doers of any things worthy of praise, but
are commonly men of faint corage, whose thoughtes extend no further than
to their lives, whereof also the have no further remembraunce than is before
their eyes. But if the Counsel of olde men be to be greatlie esteemed,
bicause they must needes have seene much by reason of their long life:
and if they that have travelled long in straunge countries, and have had
the managing of many affaires, and have gotten great experience of the
doings of this world, are reputed for sage, and worthie to hbave the reynes
of great governmentes put into their handes: how greatly is the reading
of histories to be esteemed, which is able to furnishe us with mo examples
in one day, than the whole Course of the longest iife of any man is able
to doe? Insomuch that they which exercise them selves in in reading as
they ought to doe, although they be but young, become such in respect of
understanding the affaires of this world, as if they were old and grayheaded,and
of long experience. Yea though they never have removed out of their houses,
yet are they advertised, informed, and satisfied of all things in the world,
aswell as they that have shortned their lives by innumerable travells and
<Plut1-xvii>
TO THE READERS infinite daungers, in ronning over the whole earth that
is inhabited. Whereas on the contrary part, they that are ignorant of the
things that were done and come to passe before they were borne, continue
stil as children, though they be never so aged, and are but as straungers
in their owne native contries. To be short, it may be truely sayd, that
the reading of histories is the schole of wisedom, to facion mens understanding,
by considering advisedly the state of the world that is past, and by marking
diligently by what lawes, maners, & discipline, Empires, kingdoms &
dominions, have in old time bene established, and afterward mainteyned
& increased: or contrariwise chaunged, diminished, & overthrowen.
Also we reade, that whensoever the right sage & vertuous Emperour of
Rome, Alexander Severus, was to consult of any matter of great importance
whether it concerned warres or government: he alwayes called such to counsell,
as were reported to be well seene in histories. Notwithstanding I know
there are that will stand against me in this poynt, and uphold that the
reading of histories can serve to small purpose, or none at all, towards
the getting of skill: bicause skill consisteth in action, and is ingendred
by the very experience and practise of things, when a man doth wel marke
and throughly beare away the things that be hath seene with his eyes, and
found true by proofe, according to the saying of the auncient Poet Afranius.
My name is skill, my Syre Experience hyght, And memorie bred and brought
me forth to lyght. Which thing was ment likewise by the Philosopher that
sayd, that the hand is the instrument of skill. By reason whereof it comes
to passe (say they) that such as speake of matters of government and state,
but specially of matters of warre by the booke, speake but as booke knights,
as the Frenche proverbe termeth them, after the manner of Graecians, who
call him a booke Pilot, which hath not the sure and certaine knowledge
of the things that he speakes of: meaning thereby, that it is not for <Plut1-xviii>
TO THE READERS a man to trust to the understanding which he hathe gotten
by reading, in things that consist in the deede doing, where the hand is
to be set to the worke: no more then the often hearing of men talke and
reason of paynting or the disputing uppon colors, without taking of the
pensill in hand, can stand a man in any stead at all to make him a good
paynter. But on the contrary part, many have proved wise men and good Captaines,
which could neither write nor reade. Besides this, they alleage further,
that in matters of warre, all things alter from yeare to yeare: by meanes
whereof the slights and policies that are to be learned out of bookes,
will serve the turne no more than mynes that are blowen up. According whereunto
Cambyses telleth his sonne Cyrus in Xenophon, that like as in Musicke the
newest songs are commonly best liked of for once, bicause they were never
heard afore: So in the warres, those policies that never were practised
afore, are those that take best successe, and commonly have the best effect,
bicause the enemies doe least doubt of them. Neverthelesse I am not he
that will mainteyne that a wise governor of a common weale or a great Captaine
can be made of such a person, as hath never travelled out of his study,
and from his bookes: howbeit that which Cicero writeth of Lucius Lucullus,
is true, that when he departed out of Rome as Captaine generall and Lieuetenant
of the Pomanes, to make warre against kinge Mithridates, he had no experience
at all of the warres, and yet afterward be bestowed so great diligence
in the reading of histories, and in conferring uppon every poynt with the
olde Captaines and men of long experience, whome he caried with him, that
by the tyme of his comming into Asia, where he was in deede to put his
matters in execution, he was found to he a very suffcient Captaine, as
appeared by his deedes: insomuch that by those wayes, cleane contrary to
the common order of warre, he discomfited two of the most puyssant, and
greatest Princes that were at that time in the East. For his understanding
was so quicke, his care so vigilant, and his courage so greate, that he
needed no longe tray- <Plut1-xix>
TO THE READERS ning nor grosse instrucion by experience. And although
I graunt there have beene diverse Governors and Captaynes, which by the
onely force of nature (furthered by longe continewed experience) have done
goodly and greate exploytes: yet can it not be denyed me, but that if they
had matched the giftes of nature with the knowledge of learning, and the
reading of histories, they might have done much greater thinges, and the
might have becomen much more perfect. For like as in every other cunning
and skill wherein a man intendeth to excell: so also to become a perfect
and sufficient person to governe in peace and warre, there are three thinges
of necessitie required, nameley, nature, art, and practise. Nature (in
the case that we treate of) must furnishe us with a good mother wit, with
a bodie well disposed to endure all maner of travell, and with a good will
to advaunce our selves: Art must geve us judgement and knowledge, gotten
by the examples and wise discourses that we have read and double read in
good histories: and practise will get us readinesse, assurednesse, and
the ease how to put thinges in execucion. For though skill be the ruler
of doing the deede, yet it is a vertue of the minde which teacheth a man
the meane poynt, betwene the two faultie extremities of too much and too
litle, wherein the commendation of all doinges consisteth. And whosoever
he is that goeth about to attaine to it by the onely triall of experience,
and had lever to learne it at his owne cost, than at an other mans: he
may well be of the number of those that are touched by the auncient proverbe,
which sayth, Experience is the schoolemistresse of fooles: because mans
life is so short, and experience is hard and daungerous, specially in matters
of warre, wherein (according to the sayin of Tamachus the Athenian Captaine)
a man can not fault twice, bicause the faultes are so great, that most
commonly they bringe with them the overthrow of the state, or the losse
of the lives of those that do them. Therefore we must not tary for this
wiit that is won by experience, which costeth so deere, and is so long
a comming, that a man is ofttimes dead in the seeking of it before he <Plut1-xx>
TO THE READERS have attained it, so as he had neede of a seconde life
to imploy it in, because of the overlate comming by it. But we must make
speed by our diligent and continual reading of histories both old and new,
that we may enjoy this happinesse which the Poet speaketh of. A happie
wight is he that by mishappes of others, doth beware of afterclappes. By
the way, as concerning those that say that paper will beare all things:
if there be any that unworthily take upon them the name of historiographers,
and deface the dignity of the story for hatred or favor, by mingling any
untrueth with it. that is not the fault of the historie, but of the men
that are partial, who abuse that name unworthily, to cover and cloke their
owne passions withall, which thing shall never come to passe, if the writer
of the storie have the properties that are necessarily required in a storie
writer, as these: That he set aside all affection, he voyde of envy, hatred,
and flattery: that he be a man experienced in the affaires of the world,
of good utterance, and good judgement to discerne what is to he sayd, and
what to he left unsayd, and what would do more harme to have it declared,
than do good to have it reproved or condemned: forasmuch as his chiefe
drift ought to be to serve the common weale, and that he is but as a register
to set downe the judgements and definitive sentences of Gods Court, whereof
some are geven according to the ordinarie course and capacitie of our weake
naturall reason, and other some goe according to Gods infinite power and
incomprehensible wisedom, of mans understanding, who being unable to reach
the bottom of his judgements, and to finde out the first motions and groundes
thereof, do impute the cause of them to a certaine fortune, which is nought
else but a fained device of mans wit, dazzled at the beholding of such
brightnesse, and confounded a the gaging of so bottomlesse a deepe, howbeit
nothing commeth to passe nor is done without the leave of him that <Plut1-xxi>
TO THE READERS is the verie right and trueth it selfe, with whom nothing
is past or to come, and who knoweth and understandeth the very originall
causes of all necessitie. The consideration whereof teacheth men to humble
them selves under his mightie hande hy acknowledging that there is one
first cause which overruleth nature, whereof it commeth, that neither hardinesse
is alwaies happie, nor wisedom alwaies sure of good successe. {fortune+}
These so notable commodities are every where accompanied with singular
delight, which proceedeth chiefly of diversitie and novelty wherein our
nature delighteth and is greatly desirous of: bicause we having an earnest
inclination towards our prosperity and advauncement, it goeth on still,
seeking it in every thing which it taketh to be goodly, or good in this
world. But forasmuch as it findeth not wherewith to content it selfe under
the cope of heaven, it is soone weary of the things that it had earnestly
desired affore, and so goeth on wandring in the unskiffulnes of her likings
wherof she never ceasseth to make a continue chaunging until she have fully
satisfied her desires, by attaining to the last end, which is to be knit
to her chief felicity, where is the full perfection of goodlines and goodnes.
This liking of varietie can not be better releeved; than by that which
is the finder out and the preserver of time, the father of all novelties
and messenger of antiquitie. For if we finde a certaine singular pleasure,
in hearkening to such as he returned from some long voyage, and doe report
things which they have seene in straunge contries, as the maners of people,
the natures of places, and the fashions of lives, differing from ours:
and if we be sometime so ravished with delight and pleasure at the hearing
of the talke of some wise, discreete, and well spoken old man, from whose
mouth there floweth a streame of speech sweeter than honnie, in rehearsing
the adventures which he hath had in his greene an youthful yeares, the
paines that he hath endured, and the perils he hath overpassed, so as we
perceive not how the time goeth away: how much more ought we be ravished
with delight and wondring, to behold the state of mankind, and the true
<Plut1-xxii>
TO THE READERS successe of things, which antiquitie hath and doth bring
forth from the beginning of the world, as the setting up of Empires, the
oerthrow of Monarchies, the rising and falling of Kingdoms, and all things
else worthie admiration, and the same lively, set forth in the faire, rich,
and true table of eloquence? And that so lively, as in the very reading
of them we feele our mindes to be so touched by them, not as though the
thinges were alreadie done and past, but as though they were even then
presently in doing, and we finde our selves caried away with gladnesse
and griefe through feare or hope, well neere as though we were then at
the doing of them: whereas notwithstanding we be not in any paine or daunger,
but only conceive in our mindes the adversities that other folkes have
endured, our selves sitting safe with our contentation & ease, according
to these verses of the Poet Lucretius: It is a pleasure for to sit at ease
Upon the land, and safely thence to see How other folkes are tossed on
the seaes, That with the blustring windes turmoyled be. Not that the sight
of others miseries Doth any way the honest hart delight, But for bicause
it liketh well our eyes, To see harmes free that on our selves might light.
Also it is seene that the reading of histories doth so holde and allure
good wits, that divers times it not only maketh them to forget all other
pleasures, but also serveth very fittely to turne away their griefes, and
somtimes also to remedie their diseases. As for example, we find it written
of Alphonsus King of Naples, that Prince so greatly renowmed in Chronicles
for his wisedom and goodnesse, that being sore sicke in the citie of Capua
when his Phisitions had spent all the cunning that they had to recover
him his health, and he saw that nothing prevailed: he determined with him
selfe to take no mo medicines, hbt for his recreacion caused the storie
of Quintus Curtius, concerning the deedes of <Plut1-xxiii>
TO THE READERS Alexander the great, to be red before bim: at the hearing
whereof he tooke so wonderfull pleasure, that nature gathered strongth
by it, and overcame the waywardnes of his disease. Whereupon having soone
recovered his helth, he discharged his Phisitions with such word as these:
Feast me no more with your Hippocrates and Galene, sith they can no skill
to helpe me to recover my helth: but well fare Quintus Curtius that could
so good skill to helpe me to recover my helth. Now if the reading and knowledge
of histories be delightfull and profitible to all other kind of folke:
I say it is much more for great Princes and Kings, bicause they have to
do with charges, of greatest weight and difficultie, to best stored with
giftes and knowledge for the discharge of their dueties: seeing the ground
of stories is, to treate of all maner of high matters of state, as warres,
battells, cities, contries, treaties of peace and alliances, and therefore
it seemeth more fit for them, than for any other kinde of degrees of men:
bicause they being bred and brought up tenderly, and at their ease, by
reason of the great regard and care that is had of their persons, (as is
meete for so great states to have) they take not so great paines in their
youth for the learning of things as behoveth those to take which will learne
the noble auncient languages, and the painfull doctrine comprehended in
Philosophie. Againe, when thy come to mans state, their charge calleth
them to deale in great affaires, so as there remaineth no exercise of wit
more convenient for them, than the reading of histories in their owne tunge,
which without paine is able to teache them even with great pleasure and
ease, whatsoever the painfull workes of the Philosophers concerning the
government of common weales can shewe them, to make them skilful in the
well ruling and governing of the people and contries that God hath put
under their subjection. But the worst is, that they ever (or for the most
part) have such maner of persons about them as seeke nothing els but to
please them by all the wayes they can, and there are very few that dare
tell them the truth freely in all things: whereas on the contrary part,
an history flattereth+ <Plut1-xxiv>
TO THE READERS them not, but layeth open before their eyes the faults
and vices of such as were like them in greatnesse of degree. and therefore
Demetrius Phalereus (a man renowned aswell for his skill in good government
of a common weale as for his excellent knowledge otherwise) counselled
Ptolomy after the death of Alexander the great that he should often and
diligently reade the bookes that treated of the government of kingdomes,
bicause (sayd he) thou shalt find many things there which thy servaunts
and familiar friendes dare not tell thee. Moreover, this is another thinge,
that suche great personages can not easily travell out of the bounds of
their dominions, to goe view straunge contries as private persons doe:
bicause the jelousie of their state, and the regarde of their dignitie,
requires that they should never he in place where another man might commaund
them. And often times for want of having seene the contries, and knowen
the people and Princes that are their neighhours, they have adventured
uppon attempts without good ground. to avoyde the which, the instruction
they may have by the reading of histories, is one of the easiest and fittest
remedies that can be found. And though there were none other cause then
onely this last, surely it ought to induce Princes to the reading of histories,
wherein are written the heroical deeds of wise and valiant men, specially
of kings that have bene before them, the considering whereof may cause
them to be desirous to become like them, specially which were of stately
& noble courage: because the seedes of Princely vertues that are bred
with them selves, doe then quicken them up with an emulacion towards those
that have bene or are equall in degree with them, aswell in respect of
noblenes of bloud, as of greatnes of state, so as they be loth to give
place to any person, and much lesse can find in their in their harts to
be outgone in glory of vertuous doings. Whereof innumerable examples might
be alleaged if the thing were not so well knowen of it self, that it were
much more against reason to doubt of it, than needefull to prove it. Therefor
a man may <Plut1-xxv>
TO THE READERS truely conclude, that an historie is the scholemistresse
to Princes, at whose hand they may without payne, and with singular pleasure,
learn the most part of the things that belonge to their office. Now, according
to the diversitie of the matter that it treateth of, or the order and manner
of writing that it useth, it hath sondry names given unto it: But yet among
the rest there are two chiefe kinds. The one which setteth downe mens doings
and adventures at length, is called by the common name of an historie:
the other which declareth their natures, sayings, and maners, a properly
named their lives. And although the ground of them both doe cloze very
neare in one, yet doth the one respect more the things, and the other the
Persons: the one more common, and the other more private: the one concerneth
more the things that are without the man, and the other the things that
proceede from within: the one the events, the other the consultacions:
betwene the which there is oftentymes great oddes, according to this aunswer
to the Persian Siramnes, to such as marvelled how it came to passe, that
his devices being so politike had so unhappy successe: It is (quod he)
bicause my devices are wholly from my own invention, but the effects of
them are in the disposition of fortune+ and the king. And surely among
all those that ever have taken uppon them to write the lives of famous
men, the chiefe prerogative, by the judgement of such as are clearest sighted
is justly given to the Greeke Philosopher Plutarke, borne in the city of
Chaeronea in the contry of Boetia, a noble man, perfect in all rare knowledge,
as his workes may well put men out of doubt, if they lyst to read them
through, who all his life long even to his old age, had to deale in affayres
of the common weale, as he him selfe witnesseth in divers places, specially
in the treatise which he intitled, Whether an olde man ought to meddle
with the government of a common weale or not: and who had the hap &
honor to be schoolemaster to the Emperour Trajan, as is commonly beleeved,
and as it expressely pretended by a certaine Epistle set before the Latin
<Plut1-xxvi>
TO THE READERS translation of his matters of state, which (to say the
truth) seemeth in my judgement to be somewhat suspicious, bicause I find
it not among his workes in Greeke, besides that it speaketh as though the
booke were dedicated to Trajan, which thinge is manifestly disporved by
the beginning of the booke, and by divers other reasons. Yet notwithstanding,
bicause me thinkes it is sagely and gravely written, and well beseeming
him: I have set it downe here in this place. "Plutarke unto Trajan sendeth
greeting. I know well that the modestie of your nature was not desirous
of Sovereintie, though you have always indevored to deserve it by your
honorable conversation: by reason whereof you have bene thought so much
the worthier of it, as you have bene founde the further of from all ambition.
And therefore do I now rejoice in your vertue & my fortune, if it be
so great as to cause you to administer that thing with justice, which you
have obtained by desert. For otherwise I am sure you put your selfe in
hazard of great daungers, and me in perill of slaunderous tongues, bicause
Rome can not away with a wicked Emperour, and the common voyce of the people
is alwaies wont to cast the faultes of the faultes of the schollers in
the teeth of their schoolemaisters: as for example: Seneca is railed upon
by slaunderous tonges, for the faultes of his scholler Nero: the scapes
of Quintillians young schollers are imputed to Ouintilian him selfe: and
Socrates is blamed for being too myld to his hearers. But as for you, there
is hope you shall doe all things well enough, so you keepe you as you are.
If you first set your selfe in order, and then dispose all other things
according to vertue, all things shall fall out according to your desire.
I have set you downe the meanes in writing, which you must observe for
the well governing of your common weale, and have shewed you of how great
force your behaviour may be in that behalfe. If you thinke good to follow
those thinges, you have Plutarke for the directer and guider of your life:
If not, I protest unto you by this Epistle, that your falling into daunger
to the overthrow of the Empire, is not by the doctrine of Plutarke" This
Epistle witnesseth plainly <Plut1-xxvii>
TO THE READERS that be was the schoolemaister of Trajan, which thing
seemeth to be avowed by this writing of Suidas: Plutarke being borne in
the citie of Charonea in Boeotia, was in the time of the Emperour Trajan,
and somehwat affore. But Trajan honored him with the dignitie of Coonsulship,
and commanded the officers & Magistrates that were throughout the contrie
of Illyria, that they should not do any thing without his counsell and
authoritie. So doth Suidas write of him. And I am of opinion, that Trajan
being so wise an Emperour, would never have done him so great honor, if
he had not thought him selfe greatly beholding to him for some speciall
cause. But the thing that maketh me most to beleve it true, is, that the
same goodnesse and justice appeared to be naturally imprinted in most of
Trajans sayings and doings, whereof the pattern and mowld (as a man might
terme it) is cast and set down in Plutarkes Moralls, so as men may perceive
expressely, that the one could well skill to performer rightly, that which
the other had taught wisely. For Dion mriteth, that among other honors
which the Senate of Rome gave by decree unto Trajan, they gave him the
title of the Good Emperour. And Eutropius reporteth that even unto his
time, when a new Emperour came to he received of the Senate, among the
cries of good hansell, and the wishes of good lucke that were made unto
him, one was: happier be thou than Augustus and better than Trajan. Howsoever
the case stoode, it is very certaine that Plutarke dedicated the collection
of his Apothegmes unto him. But when he had lived a long time at Rome,
and was come home agaiane to his owne house, he fell to writing this excellent
worke of Lives, which he calleth the Parallelon, as much as to say, as
a cupling or matching, bicause he matcheth a Grecian with a Romane, setting
down their lives ech after other, and comparing them together, as he found
likeness of nature, conditions, or adventures betwext them, and examining
what the one of them had better or worser, greater of lesser than the other:
which things he doth with so goodly and grave discourse every where, taken
out of the <Plut1-xxviii>
TO THE READERS hidden secrets of morall and naturall Philosophie, with
so sage precepts and frutefull instructions, with so effectuall commendation
of vertue, and detestation of vice, with so many goodly allegacions of
other authors, with so many fit comparisons, and with so many high inventions:
that the booke may better be called by the name of the Treasorie+ of all
rare and Perfect learning, than by any other name. Also it is sayd, that
Theodorus Gaza, a Grecian of singular learning, and a worthie of the auncient
Greece, being asked on a time by his familiar frendes (which saw him so
earnestly given to his studie, that he forgate all other things) what author
he bad leverest to choose, if he were at that poynt that he must needes
choose some one to holde him to alone, did aunswere that be would choose
Plutarke: bicause that if they were all put together, there was no one
both so profitable, and so pleasaunt to read, as he. Sosius Senecio to
whom he dedicateth his worke, was a Senator of Rome, as witnesseth Dion,
who writeth that the three persons whom Trajan most loved and honored,
were Sosius, Parma, and Celsus, insomuch that he caused images of them
to be set up. True it is that he wrote the lives of many other men, which
the spitefulnes of time hath bereft us of, among which he himselfe maketh
mention of the lives of Scipio Africanuss, and Metellus Numidicus. And
I have red a litle Epistle of a sonne of his, whose name is not expressed,
copied out of an olde copie in the Librarie of S. Marke in Venice, wherein
he writeth to a frende of his, a register of all the bookes that his father
made: and there among the cupples of lives, he setteth downe the lives
of Scipio and Epaminondas, and lastly the lives of Augustus Caesar, of
Tiberius, of Caligula, ,, of Claudieus, of Nero, of Galba, of Vitellius,
and of Otho. .ut having used all the diligence that I could in serching
the chiefe Libraries of Venice and Rome, I could never find them out. Onely
I drew out certain diversities of readinges, and many corrections by conferring
the old written copies with the Printed bookes: which have stoode me in
great stead to the under- <Plut1-xxix>
TO THE READERS standing of many hard places: and there are a great
number of them which I have restored by conjecture by the judgement and
helpe of such men of this age, as are of greatest knowledge in humane learning.
Yet for all this, there remaine some places unamended, howbeit very fewe,
bicause some lines were wanting in the originall copies, whereof (to my
seeming) it was better for me to witnesse the want by marking it with some
starre: than to gesse at it with all adventure, or to adde any thing to
it. Now finally, if I have overshot my selfe in any thing, as it is verie
easie to do in such a hard and long work, specially to a man of so small
abilitie as I am: I beseeche the Readers to vouchsafe for my discharge,
to admit the excuse which the Poet Horace giveth me, where he sayth: A
man may well be overseene In workes that long and tedious bene. Specially
sith that of so many good men, and men of skill as have heretofore set
hand to the translating of it, there was never yet any one found that went
through with it in any Ianguage, at leastwise that I have seene or heard
of: and that such as have enterprised to translate it, specially into Latin,
have evidently witnessed the hardnesse thereof, as they may easely perceive
which list to conferre their translations with mine. Neverthelesse if it
so fortune that men find not the speech of this translation so flowing,
as they have found some other of mine, that are abroad in mens hands: I
beseech the readers to consider, that the offlce of a fit transfer, consisteth
not onely in the faitffull expressing of his authors meaning but also in
a certaine resembling and shadowing out of the forme of his style and the
maner of his speaking: unlesse he will commit the errour of some painters,
who having taken upon them to draw a man lively, do paint him long where
he should be short, and grosse where he should be slender, and yet set
out the resemblance of his countenance naturally. For @ow harsh or rude
soever my speech be, yet am I sure <Plut1-xxx>
TO THE READERS that my translation will he much easier to my contriemen,
than the Greeke copie is, even to such as are best practised in the Greeke
tonge, by reason of Plutarkes peculiar maner of inditing which is rather
shpe, learned, and short, than plaine, polished, and easie. At the hardest,
although I have not compassed my matters so happily as ye coulde have wished
and desired: yet do I hope that your Lordships in reading it will hold
the parties good will excused, which hath taken such paines in doing of
it to profit you. And if my labor be so happie, as to content you: God
be praised for it, which hath given me the grace to finish it. <Plut1-xxxi>
The Life of Theseus+ LIKE AS historiographers describing the world
(frende Sossius Senecio) doe of purpose referre to the uttermost partes
of their mappes the farre distant regions whereof they be ignoraunt, with
this note: these contries are by meanes of sandes and drowthes unnavigable,
rude, full of venimous beastes, SCYTHIAN ise, and frosen seas. Even so
may I (which in comparinge noble mens lives have already gone so farre
into antiquities as the true and certaine historie could lead me) of the
rest, being thinges past all proofe or chalenge, Very well say: that beyonde
this time all is full of suspicion and dout, being delivered us by Poets
and Tragedy makers, sometimes without trueth and likelihoode, and alwayes
without certainty. Howbeit, having heretofore set foorth the lives of Lycurgus
(which established the lawes of the LACEDAEMONIANS) and of king Numa Pompilius:
me thought I might go a litle further to the life of <Plut1-1>
<Plut1-2> THESEVS Romulus, sence I was come so nere him. But considering
my selfe as the Poet Eschilus did: What champion may with such a man compare?
or who (thinke I) shalbe against him set? Who is so bold? or who is be
that dare defend his force, in such encounter met? In the end I resolved
to match him which did set up the noble and famous city of ATHENS, with
him which founded the glorious & invincible city of ROME. Wherein I
would wishe that the inventions of Poets, and the traditions of fabulous
antiquitie, would suffer them selves to be purged and reduced to the forme
of a true and historicall reporte: but when they square too much from likelyhode,
and can not be made credible, the readers will of curtesie take in good
parte that, which I could with most probability wryte of such antiquities.
Now surely me thinkes, that Theseus in many thinges was much like unto
Romulus. For being both begotten by stealth, and out of lawful matrimony:
both were reputed to be borne of the seede of the goddes. {Edmund+} Both
valiant were, as all the world doth know. Both joyned valiancy with government.
The one of them built ROME, and the other, by gathering into one dispersed
people, erected the citie of ATHENS: two of the most noble cities of the
worlde. The one and the other were ravishers of women: and neither thone
nor thother coulde avoyde the mischiefe of quarrell and contention with
their frendes, nor the reproch of staining them selves with the blood of
their nearest kinsemen. Moreover, they say that both the one and the other
in the end did get the hate and ill will of their citizens: at the least
if we will beleve that reporte of Theseus, which carieth greatest show
of trueth. Theseus of his fathers side,
THESEVS <Plut1-3> was descended of the right linage of Erictheus
the great, and of the first inhabitants which occupied the contrie of ATTICA,
the which since were called Autocthones, as much to say, as borne of them
selves. For there is no memories or other mention made, that they came
out of any other contry then that. And of his mothers side he came of Pelops,
who was in his time the mightiest king of all the contrie of PELOPONNESVS,
not so much for his goodes and richesse, as for the number of children
which he had. For his daughters which were many in number, he bestowed
on the greatest Lordes of all the contrie: his sonnes also, which likewise
were many, he dispersed into diverse cities and free townes, findinge meanes
to make them governors and heades of the same. Pitheus, grandfather to
Theseus on the mothers side, was one of his sonnes, and founded the litle
city of TROEZEN, and was reputed to be one of the wisest men of his time.
But the knowledge and wisedom, which onely caried estimacion at that time,
consisted altogether in grave sentences, and moral sayinges. As those are
which wanne the Poet Hesiodus such fame for his booke intituled, The workes
and dayes: in the which is read even at this present, this goodly sentence,
which they father upon Pitheus. Thou shalt performe, thy promise+ and thy
pay: to hyred men, and that without delay. And this doth Arislotle the
Philosopher himselfe testifie: and the Poet Euripides also, calling Hippolytus
the scholler of the holy Pitheus, doth sufficiently declare of what estimacion
he was. But Aegeus desiring (as they say) to know how he might have children,
went unto the city of DELPHES to the oracle of Apollo: where by Apolloes
Nunne that notable prophecy was geven him for an aunswer. The which did
forbid him to touch or know any woman, untill he was returned againe to
ATHENS. And
<Plut1-4> THESEVS bicause the words of this prophecy were somewhat
darke, & hard: he tooke his way by the city of TROFZEN, to tell it
unto Pitheus. The wordes of the prophecy were these. O thou which art agemme
of perfect grace, plucke not the tappe, out of thy trusty toonne: Before
thou do, return unto thy place, in Athens towne, from whence thy race doth
roonne. Pitheus understanding the meaning, perswaded him, or rather cunningly
by some devise deceived him in such sorte, that he made him to lye with
his daughter called AEthra. AEgeus after he had accompanied with her, knowing
that she was Pitheus daughter with whom he had lyen, and douting that he
had gotten her with child: left her a sword and a payer of shoes, the which
he hidde under a great hollow stone, the hollownes whereof served just
to receive those things which he layed under it, and made no living creature
privy to it but her alone, straightly charging her, that if she happened
to have a sonne, when he were come to mans state, and of strength to remove
the stone, and to take those things from under it which he left there:
{Excalibur+} that she should then sende him unto him by those tokens, as
secretly as she could, that no body els might knowe of it. For he did greatly
feare the children of one called Pallas, the which laye in wayte and spyast
by all the meanes they could to kill him, only of despight bicause he had
no children, they being fiftie brethren, and all begotten of one father.
This done, he departed from her. And AEthra within fewe moneths after was
delivered of a goodly sonne, the which from that time was called Theseus:
and as some say, so called, bicause of the tokens of knowledge his father
had layed under the stone. Yet some others write, that it was afterwardes
at ATHENS when his father knewe him, and avowed him for his sonne. But
in the meane time, during his infancie and childehood, he was brought up
in the
THESEVS <Plut1-5> house of his grandfather Pitheus, under the government
and teaching of one called Connidas, his schoolemaster: in honour of whom
the ATHENIANS to this daye doe sacrifice a weather, the daye before the
great feaste of Theseus having more reason to honour the memorye of this
governour, then of a Silanion and of a Parrbasius, to whom they doe honour
also, bicause they paynted and caste mowldes of the images of Theseus.
Now there was a custome at that time in GRECE, that the yong men after
their infancie and growth to mans state, went unto the cittie of DELPHES,
to offer parte of their heares in the temple of Apollo. Theseus also went
thither as other did: and some saye that the place where the ceremonie
of this offering was made, hath ever sence kept the olde name, (and yet
continueth) Theseia. Howbeit he dyd not shave his head but before only,
as Homer sayeth, like he facion of the ABANTES in olde time: and this manner
of shaving of heares, was called for his sake, Theseida. And as concerning
the ABANTES, in trothe they were the very first that shaved them selves
after this facion: nevertheles they learned it not of the ARABIANS as it
was thought of some, neither dyd they it after the imitation of the MISSIANS.
But bicause they were warlike and valliant men, which did joyne neere unto
their enemie in battell, and above all men of the worlde were skilfullest
in fight hande to hande, and woulde keepe their grounde: as the Poet Archilochus
witnesseth in these verses. They use no slynges in foughten fields to have,
nor bended bowes: but swords and trenchant blades. For when fierce Mars
beginneth for to rave, in bloody field: then every man invades His fiercest
foe, and fighteth hand to hand. then doe they deeds, right cruell to recompt.
For in this wise, the brave and warlike bande Doe shew their force which
come from Negrepont.
<Plut1-6> THESEVS The cause why they were thus shaven before was,
for that their enemies should not have the vauntage to take them by the
heares of the head while they were fighting. And for this selfe same consideration,
Alexander the great commaunded his captaines to cause all the MACEDONIANS
to shave their beards: bicause it is the easiest holde (and readiest for
the hande) a man can have of his enemie in fighting, to holde him fast
by the same. But to returne to Theseus. AEthra his mother had ever unto
that time kept it secret from him, who was his true father. And Pitheus
also had geven it out abroade, that he was begotten of Neptune, bicause
the TROEZENIANS have this god in great veneration, and doe worshippe him
as patron and protector of their cittie, making offerings to him of their
first fruites: and they have for the marke and stampe of their money, the
three picked mace, which is the signe of Neptune, called his Trident. But
after he was comen to the prime and lustines of his youth, and that with
the strength of his bodie be shewed a great courage, joyned with a naturall
wisedome, and stayednes of wit: then his mother brought him to the place
where this great hollowe stone laye, and telling him truely the order of
his birth, and by whom he was begotten, made him to take his fathers tokens
of knowledge, which he had hidden there, and gave him counsell to goe by
sea to ATHENS unto him. Theseus easilye lyft up the stone, and tooke his
fathers tokens from under it: Howbeit he answered playnely, that he would
not goe by sea, notwithstanding that it was a great deale the safer waye,
and that his mother and grandfather both had instantly entreated him, bicause
the waye by lande from TROEZEN to ATHENS was very daungerous, all the wayes
being besett by robbers & murderers. For the worlde at that time brought
forth men, which for strongnesse in their armes, for swyftnes of feete,
and for a generall strength of the whole bodye,
THESEVS <Plut1-7> dyd farre passe the common force of others, and
were never wearie for any labour or travell they tooke in hande. But for
all this, they never employed these giftes of nature to any honest or profitable
thing, but rather delighted villanously to hurte and wronge others: as
if all the fruite and profit of their extraordinary strength had consisted
in crueltye, and violence only, and to be able to keepe others under &
in subjection, and to force, destroye, & spoyle all that came to their
handes. Thincking that the more parte of those which thincke it a shame
to doe ill, and commend justice+, equitie, and humanitie, doe it of fainte
cowardly heartes, bicause they dare not wronge others, for feare they should
receyve wronge them selves: and therefore, that they which by might+ could
have vauntage over others, had nothing to doe with suche quiet qualities.
Nowe Hercules, travailling abroade in the worlde, drave awaye many of those
wicked thevishe murderers, and some of them he slewe and put to death,
other as he passed through those places where they kept, dyd bide them
selves for feare of him, and gave place: in so much as Hercules, perceyving
they were well tamed and brought lowe, made no further reckoning to pursue
them any more. But after that by fortune he had slayne Iphitus with his
owne handes, and that he was passed over the seas into the countrye of
LYDIA, 'where he served Queene Omphale a long time, condemning him selfe
unto that voluntarie payne for the murder he had committed. All the Realme
of LYDIA during his abode there, remained in great peace and securitie
from such kynde of people. Howbeit in GRECE, and all thereabouts, these
olde mischiefes beganne againe to renue, growing hotter and violenter then
before: bicause there was no man that punished them, nor that durst take
upon him to destroye them. By which occasion, the waye to goe from PELOPONNESVS
to ATHENS by lande was
<Plut1-8> THESEVS very perillous. And therefore Pitheus declaring
unto Theseus, what manner of theeves there were that laye in the waye,
and the outrages and villanies they dyd to all travellers and wayefaring
men, sought the rather to perswade him thereby to take his voyage alonge
the seas. Howbeit in mine opinion, the fame and glorie+ of Hercules noble
dedes, had long before secretly sett his hearte on fire, so that he made
reckoning of none other but of him, and lovingly hearkened unto those which
woulde seeme to describe him what manner of man he was, but chiefly unto
those which had seene him, and bene in his companye, when he had sayed
or done any thing worthy of memorye. For then he dyd manifestly open him
selfe, that he felt the like passion in his hearte, which Themistocles
long time afterwardes endured, when he sayed: that the victorie and triumphe
of Miltiades would not lett him sleepe. For even so, the wonderful admiration
which Theseus had of Hercules corage, made him in the night that he never
dreamed but of his noble actes & doings, and in the daye time, pricked
forwardes with emulation & envie of his glorie, he determined with
him selfe one daye to doe the like, and the rather, bicause they were neere
kynsemen, being cosins removed by the mothers side. For AEthra was the
daughter of Pitheus, and Alcmena (the mother of Hercules) was the daughter
of Lysidices, the which was halfe sister to Pitheus, bothe children of
Pelops and of his wife Hippodamia. So he thought he should be utterly shamed
and disgraced, that Hercules travelling through the worlde in that sorte,
dyd seeke out those wicked theeves to rydde both sea & lande of them:
& that he, farre otherwise, should flye occasion that might be offered
him, to fight with them that he should meete on his waye. Moreover, he
was of opinion he should greately shame & dishonour him, whom fame
and common bruite of people reported to be his father:
THESEVS <Plut1-9> if in shonning occasion to fight, he should convey
him selfe by sea, and should carie to his true father also a paire of shooes,
(to make him knowen of him) and a sworde not yet bathed in bloude. Where
he should rather seeke cause, by manifest token of his worthie deedes,
to make knowen to the worlde, of what noble bloude he came, and from whence
he was descended. With this determination, {Hal+} Theseus holdeth on his
purposed jorney, with intent to hurte no man, yet to defende him selfe,
and to be revenged of those which woulde take upon them to assault him.
The first therefore whom he slewe within the territories of the cittie
of EPIDAVRVM, was a robber called Periphetes. This robber used for his
ordinarie weapon to carie a clubbe, and for that cause he was commonly
surnamed Cognetes, that is to saye, a clubbe caryer. So he first strake
at Theseus to make him stande: but Theseus fought so lustely with him,
that he killed him. Whereof he was so glad, and chiefly for that he had
wonne his clubbe, that ever after he caryed it him selfe about with him,
as Hercules dyd the lyons skynne. And like as this spoyle of the lyon dyd
witnesse the greatnes of the beast which Hercules had slayne: even so Theseus
went all about, shewing that this clubbe which he had gotten out of anothers
hands, was in his owne handes invincible. And so going on further, in the
streightes of PELOPONNESVS he killed another, called Sinnis surnamed Pityocamtes,
that is to saye, a wreather, or bower of pyne apple trees: whom he put
to death in that selfe cruell manner that Sinnis had slayne many other
travellers before. Not that he had experience thereof, by any former practise
or exercise: but only to shewe, that cleane strength coulde doe more, then
either arte or exercise. This Sinnis had a goodly fayer daughter called
Perigouna, which fled awaye, when she sawe her father slayne: whom he followed
and sought all about. But she had hydden her selfe in a grove
<Plut1-10> THESEVS full of certen kyndes of wilde pricking rushes
called Stabe, and wilde sparage, which she simplye like a childe intreated
to hyde her, as if they bad heard and had sense to understand her: promising
them with an othe, that if they saved her from being founde, she would
never cutt them downe, nor burne them. But Theseus fynding her, called
her, and sware by his faith he would use her gently, and doe her no hurte,
nor displeasure at all. {grace+} Upon which promise she came out of the
bushe, and laye with him, by whom she was conceyved of a goodly boye, which
was called Menalippus. Aftetwardes Theseus maried her unto one Deioneus,
the sonne of Euritus the Oechalian. of this Menalippus, the sonne of Theseus,
came Ioxus: the which with Ornytus brought men into the countrye of CARIA,
where he buylt the cittie of IOXIDES. And hereof cometh that olde auncient
ceremonie, observed yet unto this daye by those of IOXIDES, never to burne
the bryars of wilde sparage, nor the stabe, but they have them in some
honour & reverence. Touching the wilde savage sowe of Crommyon, otherwise
surnamed Phaa, that is to saye, overgrowen with age: she was not a beast
to be made light account of, but was very fierce, and terrible to kyll.
Theseus notwithstanding taryed for her, and kylled her in his jorney, to
the ende it shoulde not appeare to the worlde, that all the valliant deedes
he dyd, were done by compulsion, & of necessitie: adding thereto his
opinion also, that a valliant man should not onely fight with men, to defend
him selfe from the wicked: but that he should be the first, to assaulte
and slaye wilde hurtefull beastes. Nevertheles others have written, that
this Phaa was a woman robber, a murderer, and naught of her bodye, which
spoyled those that passed by the place called CROMMYONIA, where she dwelt:
and that she was surnamed a sowe, for her beastly brutishe behaviour, and
wicked life, for the which in the ende she
THESEVS <Plut1-11> was also slayne by Theseus. After her he kylled
Sciron, into the territories of MEGARA, bicause he robbed all travelers
by the waye, as the common reporte goeth: or as others saye, for that of
a cruell, wicked, and savage pleasure, he put forth his feete to those
that passed by the sea side, and compelled them to washe them. And thenwhen
they thought to stowpe to doe it, he still spurned them with his feete,
till he thrust them hedlong into the sea: so Theseus threw him hedlong
downe the rockes. Howbeit the writers of MEGARA impugning this common reporte,
and desirous (as Simonides sayeth) to overthrowe it that had continued
by prescription of time: dyd mainteine that this Sciron was never any robber,
nor wicked persone, but rather a pursuer and punisher of the wicked, and
a friend and a kynseman of the most honest, and justest men of GRECE. For
there is no man but will confesses that AEacus was the most vertuous man
among the GRECIANS in his time, and that Cychreus the SALAMINIAN is honoured
and reverenced as a god at ATHENS: and there is no man also but knoweth,
that Peleus and Telamon were men of singular vertue. Nowe it is cetteine,
that this Sciron was the sonne in lawe of Cychreus, father in lawe of AEacus,
& grandfather of Peleus and of Telamon, the which two were the children
of Endeida, the daughter of the sayed Sciron, and of his wife Chariclo.
Also it is not very likely, that so many good men would have had affinitie
with so naughty and wicked a man: in taking of him, and geving him that,
which men love best of all things in the worlde. And therefore the Historiographers
saye, that it was not the first time, when Theseus went unto ATHENS, that
he killed Sciron: but that it was many dayes after, when he tooke the cittie
of ELEVSIN, which the MEGARIANS helde at that time, where he deceyved the
governour of the cittie called Diocles, and there he slewe Sciron. And
these be the
<Plut1-12> THESEVS objections the MEGARIANS alledged touching this
matter. He slewe also Cercyon the ARCADIAN, in the cittie of ELEVSIN, wrestling
with him. And going a litle further, he slewe Damastes, otherwise surnamed
Procrustes, in the cittie of HERMIONIA: and that by Stretching on him out,
to make him even with the length and measure of his beddes, as he was wont
to doe unto straungers that passed by. Theseus dyd that after the imitation
of Hercules, who punished tyrannes with the selfe same payne and torment,
which they had made others suffer. For even so dyd Hercules sacrifice Busiris.
So he stifled Antheus in wrestling. So he put Cycnus to death, fighting
with him man to man. So he brake Termerus heade, from whom this proverbe
of Termerus evill came, which continueth yet unto this daye: for this Termerus
dyd use to put them to death in this sorte whom he met: to jo jolle his
head against theirs. Thus proceeded Theseus after this selfe manner, punishing
the wicked in like sorte, justly compelling them tabyde the same payne
and torments, which they before had unjustly made others abyde. And so
he helde on his jorney untill he came to the river of CEPHISVS, where certaine
persones of the house of the Phytalides were the first which went to meete
him, to honour him, and at his request they purified him according to the
ceremonies used at that time: and afterwardes having made a sacrifice of
propitiation unto their goddes, they made him great chere in their houses:
and this was the first notable entertainment he founde in all his jorney.
It is supposed he arrived in the cittie of ATHENS, eight daye of the moneth
of June, which then they called Cronius. He founde the comon wealth turmoyled
with seditions, factions, and divisions, and perticularly the house of
AEgeus, in very ill termes also, bicause that Medea (being banished out
of the cittie of CORINTHE) was come to dwell in ATHENS, and remained with
AEge-
THESEVS <Plut1-13> ius, whom she had promised by vertue of certaine
medicines to make him to get children. But when she heard tell that Theseus
was comen, before that the good king AEgeus (who was nowe becomen olde,
suspitious, and affrayed of sedition, by reason of the great factions with
in the cittie at that time) knewe what he was, she perswaded him to poyson
him at a feaste which they woulde make him as a straunger that passed by.
Theseus failed not to goe to this prepared feaste whereunto he was bydden,
but yet thought it not good to disclose him selfe. And the rather to give
AEgeus occasion and meane to knowe him: when they brought the meate to
the borde, he drewe out his sworde, as though he woulde have cut with all,
and shewed it unto him. AEgeus seeing it, knewe it straight, & forthwith
overthrewe the cuppe with poyson which was prepared for him: and after
he had inquired of him, and asked thinges, he embraced him as his sonne.
Afterwardes in the common assembly of the inhabitants of the cittie, he
declared, howe he avowed him for his sonne. Then all the people receyved
him with exceeding joye, for the renowne of his valiantnes and manhoode.
And some saye, that when AEgeus overthrewe the cuppe, the poyson which
was in it, fell in that place, where there is at this present a certen
compasse inclosed all about within the temple, which is called Delphinium.
For even there in that place, in the olde time, stoode the house of AEgeus:
in witnes whereof, they call yet at this present time the image of Mercurye
(which is on the side of the temple looking towardes the rising of the
sunne) the Mercurye gate of AEgeus. But the PALLANTIDES, which before stoode
allwayes in hope to recover the realme of ATHENS, at the least after AEgeus
death, bicause he had no children: when the sawe that Theseus was knowen,
and openly declared for his sonne and heire, and suceessour to the Realme,
they were not able any
<Plut1-14> THESEVS lenger to beare it, seeing that not onely AEgeus
(who was but the adopted sonne of Pandion, and nothing at all of the bloude
royall of the Erictheides) had usurped the Kingdome over them, but that
Theseus also should enjoye it after his death. Whereupon they determined
to make warre with them both, and dividing them selves into two partes,
the one came openly in armes with their father, marching directly towardes
the citte: the other laye close in ambushe in the village GARGETTVS, meaning
to geve charge upon them in two places at one instant. Nowe they brought
with them an Heraulde borne in the towne of AGNVS, called Leos, who bewrayed
unto Theseus the secret and devise of all their enterprise. Theseus upon
this intelligence went forth, and dyd set on those that laye in ambushe,
and put them all to the sworde. The other which were in Pallas companie
understanding thereof, dyd breake and disparse them selves incontinendy.
And this is the cause (as some saye) why those of Pallena doe never make
affinitie nor mariadge with those of AGNVS at this daye. And that in their
towne when any proclamation is made, they never speake these wordes which
are cryed every where els through out the whole countrye of ATTICA, Acouete
Leos, (which is as muche to saye, as Hearken, O people) they doe so extreamely
hate this worde Leos, for that it was the Herauldes name which wrought
them that treason. This done, Theseus who woulde not live idelly at home
and doe nothing, but desirous there withall to gratifie the people, went
his waye to fight with the bull of Marathon, the which dyd great mischieves
to the inhabitants of the countrye of TETRAPOLIS. And having taken him
ahve, brought him through the citie of ATHENS to be scene of all the inhabitants.
Afterwardes he dyd sacrifice him unto Apollo Delphias. Nowe concerning
Hecale, who was reported to have lodged him, and to have geven him good
enter-
THESEVS <Plut1-15> teinment, it is not altogether untrue. For in
the olde time, those townes and villages thereaboutes dyd assemble together,
and made a common sacrifice which they called Hecalesion, in the honour
ofjupiter Hecalian, where they honoured this olde woman, calling her by
a diminutive name, Hecalena: bicause that when she receyved Theseus into
her house, being then but very younge, she made muche of him, and called
him by many prety made names as olde folkes are wont to call younge children.
And forasmuche as she had made a vowe to Jupiter to make him a solemne
sacrifice, if Theseus returned safe from the enterprise he went about,
and that she dyed before his returne: in recompence of the good chere she
had made him, she had that honour done unto her by Theseus commaundement,
as Philochorus hathe written of it. Shortely after this exployte, there
came certaine of King Minos ambassadours out of CRETA, to aske tribute,
being nowe the thirde time it was demaunded, which the ATHENIANS payed
for this cause. Androgeus, the eldest sonne of king Minos, was slayne by
treason within the countrye of ATTICA: for which cause Minos pursuing the
revenge of his death, made very whotte and Sharpe warres upon the ATHENIANS,
and dyd them greate hurte. But besides all this, the goddes dyd sharpely
punishe and scourge all the countrye, as well with barrennes and famine,
as also with plague+ and other mischieves, even to the drying up of their
rivers. The ATHENIANS perceyving these sore troubles and plagues, ranne
to the oracle of Apollo, who aunswered them that they shoulde appease Minos:
and when they had made their peace with him, that then the wrathe of the
goddes woulde cease against them, and their troubles should have an ende.
Whereupon the ATHENIANS sent immediately unto him, and entreated him for
peace: which he graunted them, with condition that they should be bounde
to
<Plut1-16> THESEVS sende him yerely into CRETA, seven younge boyes,
and as many younge gyrles. Nowe thus farre, all the historiographers doe
very well agree: but in the reste not. And they which seeme furdest of
from the trothe, doe declare, that when these yonge boyes were delivered
in CRETA, they caused them to be devowred by the Minotaure within the Laberinthe:
or els that they were shut within this Laberinthe, wandring up & downe,
& coulde finde no place to gett out, until suche time as they dyed,
even famished for hunger. And this Minotaure, as Euripides the Poet sayeth,
was A corps combynd, which monstrous might be deemd: A Boye, a Bull, both
man and beast it seemd. But Philochorus writeth, that the CRETANS doe not
confesse that, but saye that this Laberinthe was a stayle or prisone, in
the which they had no other hurte saving that they which were kept there
under locke and keye, coulde not flye nor starte awaye: and that Minos
had, in the memorye of his sonne Androgeus, instituted games and playes
of prise, where he gave unto them that wanne the victorie, those younge
children of ATHENS, the which in the meane time notwithstanding were carefully
kept and looked unto in the prisone of the Laberinthe: and that at the
first games that were kept, one of the Kings captaines called Taurus, who
was in best creditt with his master, wanne the prise. This Taurus was a
churlishe, and naughtie natured man of condition, and very harde and cruell
to these children of ATHENS. And to verifie the same, the philosopher Aristotle
him selfe, speaking of the common wealth of the BOTTIEIANS, declareth very
well, that he never thought that Minos dyd at any time cause the children
of ATHENS to be put to death: but sayeth, that they poorely toyled in CRETA
even to crooked age, earning their living by true and painefull service.
THESEVS <Plut1-17> For it is written, that the CRETANS (to satisfie
an olde vowe of theirs which they had made of auncient time) sent somtimes
the first borne of their children, unto Apollo in the cittie of DELPHES:
and that amongest them they also mingled those, which were descended of
the auncient prisoners of ATHENS & they went with them. But bicause
they coulde not live there, they directed their jorney first into ITALIE,
where for a time they remained in the realme of PVGLIA, and afterwardes
from thence went into the confines of THRACIA, where they had this name
of BOTTIEIANS. In memory whereof, the daughters of the BOTTIEIANS in a
solemne sacrifice they make, doe use to singe the foote of this songe:
Lett us to ATHENS goe. But thereby we maye see howe perilous a thing it
is, to fall in displeasure and enmitie with a cittie, which can speake
well, and where learning and eloquence dothe florishe. {posterity+} For
ever sence that time, Minos was all- wayes blased and disgraced through
out all the Theaters of ATHENS. The testimonie of Hesiodus, who calleth
him the most worthie King, dothe nothing helpe him at all, nor the prayse
of Homer, who nameth him Jupiters famillier friende: bicause the tragical
Poets gott the upper hande in disgracing him, notwithstanding all these.
And upon their stages where all the tragedies were played, they still gave
forth many ill favored wordes, and fowle speaches of him: as against a
man that had bene most cruell and unnaturall. Yet most men thincke, that
Minos was the King which established the lawes: and Radamanthus the judge
and preserver of them, who caused the same also to be kept and observed.
The time nowe ben comen about for payment of the thirde tribute, when they
came to compell the fathers which had children not yet maried, to geve
them to be put forth to take their chaunce and lotte: {lottery+} the citizens
of ATHENS beganne to murmure against AEgeus, alledging for their grieves,
that
<Plut1-18> THESEVS he who onely was the cause of all this evill,
was onely alone exempted from this griefe. And that to bring the Government
of the Realme, to fall into the handes of a straunger his bastard: he cared
not though they were bereft of all their naturall children, and were unnaturally
compelled to leave and forsake them. These just sorrowes and complaintes
of the fathers whose children were taken from them, dyd pearce the harte
of Theseus, who willing to yelde to reason, and to ronne the selfe same
fortune as the cittizens dyd: willingly offered him selfe to be sent thither,
without regarde taking to his happe or adventure. {grace+} For which, the
cittizens greatly esteemed of his corage and honorable disposition, and
dearely loved him for the good affection, he seemed to beare unto the comunaltye.
But AEgeus having used many reasons and perswasions, to cause him to turne,
& staye from his purpose, and perceyving in the ende there was no remedye
but he woulde goe: he then drue lottes for the children which should goe
with him. Hellanicus notwithstanding dothe write, that they were not those
of the cittie which drewe lottes for the children they should sende, but
that Minos him selfe went thither in persone and dyd chuse them, as he
chose Theseus the first, upon conditions agreed betwene them: that is to
wit, that the ATHENIANS shoulde furnishe them with a shippe, and that the
children should shippe and imbarke with him, carying no weapons of warre:
and that after the death of the Minotaure, this tribute should cease. Nowe
before that time, there was never any hope of returne, nor of safetie of
their children: therefore the ATHENIANS allwayes sent a shippe to convey
their children with a blacke sayle, in token of assured losse. Nevertheles
Theseus putting his father in good hope of him, being of a good corage,
and promising boldly that he woulde sett upon this Minotaure: AEgeus gave
unto the master of the shippe
THESEVS <Plut1-19> a white sayle, {Tristram+} commaunding him that
at his returne he should put out the white sayle if his sonne had escaped,
if not, that then he should sett up the blacke sayle, to shewe him a farre
of his unlucky & unfortunate chaunce. Simonides notwithaanding doeth
saye, that this sayle which AEgeus gave to the master, was not white, but
redde, dyed in graine, and of the culler of scarlett: and that he gave
it him to signifie a farre of, their deliverie and safety. This master
was called Phereclus Amarsiadas, as Simonides sayeth. But Philochorus writeth,
that Scirus the SALAMINIAN gave to Theseus a master called Nausitheus,
and another marriner to tackle the sayles, who was called Phaas: bicause
the ATHENIANS at that time were not greatly practised to the sea. And this
did Scirus, for that one of the children on whom the lott fell was his
nephewe: & thus muche the chappells doe testifie, which Theseus buylt
afterwardes in honour of Nausitheus, and of Phaas, in the village of Phalerus,
joyning to the temple of Scirus. And it is sayed moreover, that the feaste
which they call Cybernesia, that is to saye, the feaste of Patrons of the
shippes, is celebrated in honour of them. Nowe after the lotts were drawen,
Theseus taking with him the children allotted for the tribute, went from
the pallace to the temple called Delphinion, to offer up to Apollo for
him and for them, an offering of supplication which they call Hiceteria:
which was an olyve boughe hallowed, wreathed about with white wolle. After
he had made his prayer, he went downe to the sea side to imbarke, the sixt
daye of the moneth of Marche: on which daye at this present time they doe
sende their younge girles to the same temple of Delphinion, there to make
their prayers and petitions to the goddes. But some saye, that the oracle
of Apollo in the cittie of DELPHES had aunswered him, that he should take
Venus for his guyde, and that he should call upon her to conduct him in
his voyage: for
<Plut1-20> THESEVS which cause he dyd sacrifice a stoate unto her
upon the sea side, which was founde sodainly turned into a ramme, and that
herefore they surnamed this goddesse Epitragia, as one would saye, the
goddesse of the ramme. Furthermore, after he was arrived in CRETA, he slewe
there the Minotaure (as the most parte of auncient authors doe write) by
the meanes and helpe of Ariadne: who being fallen in fansie with him, dyd
geve him a clue of threede, by the helpe whereof she taught him how he
might easely winde out of the turnings and cranckes of the Labyrinthe.
And they saye, that having killed this Minotaure, he returned backe againe
the same waye he went, bringing with him those other younge children of
ATHENS, whom with Ariadne also he caried afterwardes awaye. Pherecides
sayeth moreover, that he brake the keeles or bottomes of all the shippes
of CRETA, because they should not sodainely sett out after them. And Demon
writeth, that Taurus (the captaine of Minos) was killed in a fight by Theseus,
even in the very haven mowthe as they were readye to shippe awaye, and
hoyse up sayle. Yet Philochorus reporteth, that king Minos having sett
up the games, as he was wont to doe yerely in the honour and memorye of
his sonne, every one beganne to envye captaine Taurus, bicause they ever
looked that he should carye awaye the game and victorie, as he had done
other yeres before: over and that, his authoritye got him much ill will
and envye, bicause he was proude and stately, and had in suspition that
he was great with queene Pasiphae. {favorite+} Wherefore when Theseus required
he might encounter with Taurus, Minos easely graunted it. And being a Solemne
custome in CRETA that the women shoulde be present, to see these open sportes
and fights, Ariadne being at these games amongest the rest, fell further
in love with Theseus, seeing him so goodly a persone, so stronge, and invincible
in wrestling, that he farre exceeded all
THESEVS <Plut1-21> that wrestled there that daye. King Minos was
so glad that he had taken awaye the honour from captaine Taurus, that he
sent him home francke & free into his countrye, rendring to him all
the other prisoners of ATHENS: and for his sake, clearely released and
forgave the cittie of ATHENS the tribute, which they should have payed
him yerely. Howbeit Clidemus searching out the beginning of these things
to thutmost, reciteth them very particularly, and after another sorte.
For he sayeth, about that time there was a generall restraint through out
all GRECE, restrayning all manner of people to beare sayle in any vessell
or bottome, wherein there were above five persones except only Jason, who
was chosen captaine of the great shippe Argus, and had commission to sayle
every where, to chase and drive awaye rovers and pyrates, and to scoure
the seas through out. About this time, Daedalus being fled from CRETA to
ATHFNS in a litle barke: Minos contrarie to this restraint, woulde needes
followe him with a fleete of divers vessels with owers who being by force
of weather driven to the coaste of SICILE, fortuned to dye there. Afterwardes
his sonne Deucalion, being marveilously offended with the ATHENIANS, sent
to summone them to deliver Daedalus unto him, or els he woulde put the
children to death, which were delivered to his father for hostages. But
Theseus excused him selfe, and sayed he coulde not forsake Daedalus, considering
he was his neere kynseman, being germaine, for he was the sonne of Merope,
the daughter of Erichtheus. Howbeit by and by he caused nany vessels secretly
to be made, parte of them within ATTICA selfe in the village of Thymetades,
farre from any highe wayes: and parte of them in the cittie of TROEZEN,
by the sufferance of Pitheus his grandfather, to the ende his Purpose shoulde
be kept the secretlyer. Afterwardes when all his shippes were readye, and
rygged out, he
<Plut1-22> THESEVS tooke sea before the CRETANS had any knowledge
of it: in so much as when they sawe them a farre of, they dyd take them
for the barkes of their friends. Theseus landed without resistaunce, and
tooke the haven. Then having Daedalus, and other banished CRETANS for guydes,
he entred the cittie selfe of GNOSVS, where he slewe Deucalion in a fight
before the gates of the Labyrinthe, with all his garde and officers about
him. By this meanes the kingdome of CRETA fell by inheritance into the
handes of his sister Ariadne. Theseus made league with her, and caryed
away the yong children of ATHENS, which were kept as hostages, and concluded
peace and amytie betweene the ATHENIANS and the CRETANS: who promised,
and sware, they would never make warres against them. They reporte many
other things also touching this matter, & specially of Ariadne: but
there is no trothe nor certeintie in it. For some saye, that Ariadne honge
her selfe for sorowe, when she sawe that Theseus had caste her of. Other
write, that she was transported by mariners into the Ile of NAXOS, where
she was maryed unto OEnarus, the priest of Bacchus: and they thincke that
Theseus lefte her, bicause he was in love with another, as by these verses
shoulde appeare. AEgles the Nymphe, was loved of Theseus, which was the
daughter of Panopeus. Hereas the Megarian sayeth, that these two verses
in olde time were among the verses of the Poet Hesiodus, howbeit Pisistratus
tooke them awaye: as he dyd in like manner adde these other here in the
description of the helles in Homer, to gratifie the ATHENIANS. Bolde Theseus,
and Pirithous flowte, descended both, from godds immortall race, Triumphing
still, this wearie worlde aboute in fears of armes, and many a comly grace.
THESEVS <Plut1-23> Other holde opinion, that Ariadne had two children
by Theseus: the one of them was named Oenopion, and the other Staphylus.
Thus amongest others the Poet Ion writeth it, who was borne in the Ile
of CHIO, and speaking of his cittie, he sayeth thus: OEnopion which was
the sonne, of worthy Theseus did cause men buylde, this stately towne which
nowe triumpheth thus. Nowe what things are founde seemely in Poets fables,
there is none but dothe in manner synge them. But one Paenon borne in the
cittie of AMATHVNTA, reciteth this cleane after another sorte, and contrarie
to all other: saying, that Theseus by tempest was driven with the Ile of
CYPRVS, having with him Ariadne, which was great with childe, and so sore
sea sycke, that she was not able to abide it. In so muche as he was forced
to put her a lande, and him selfe afterwards returning abourde hoping to
save his shippe against the storme, was forthwith compelled to loose into
the sea. The women of the countrye dyd curteously receyve & intreate
Ariadne: and to comforte her again, (for she was marveilously oute of harte,
to see she was thus forsaken) they counterfeated letters, as if Theseus
had wrytten them to her. And when her groninge time was come, and she to
be layed, they did their best by all possible meanes to save her: but she
dyed notwithstanding in labour, and could never be delivered. So she was
honorably buried by the Ladies of CYPRVS. Theseus not long after returned
thither againe, who tooke her death marvelous heavily, and left money with
the inhabitantes of the countrie, to sacrifice unto her yearely: and for
memorie of her, he caused two litle images to be molten, the one of copper,
and the other of silver, which he dedicated unto her. This sacrifice is
done
<Plut1-24> THESEVS the seconde day of September, on which they doe
yet observe this ceremonie: they doe lay a young childe upon a bed, which
pitiefully cryeth and lamenteth, as women travellinge with childe. They
saye also, that the AMATHVSIANS doe yet call the grove where her tombe
is sette up, the wodde of Venus Adriadne. And yet there are of the NAXIANS,
that reporte this otherwise: saying, there were two Minoes, and two Adriadnees,
whereof the one was maried to Bacchus in the Ile of NAXOS, of whome Staphylus
was borne: and the other the youngest, was ravished and caried away by
Theseus, who afterwardes forsooke her, and she came into the Ile of NAXOS
with her nurce, called Corcyna, whose grave they doe shewe yet to this
day. This seconde Adriadne dyed there also, but she had no such honour
done to her after her death, as to the first was geven. For they celebrate
the feaste of the first with all joye & mirthe: where the sacrifices
done in memorie of the seconde, be mingled with mourninge and sorowe. Theseus
then departing from the Ile of CRETA, arrived in the Ile of DELOS, where
he did sacrifice in the temple of Apollo, and gave there a litle image
of Venus, the which he had gotten of Adriadne. Then with the other young
boyes that he had delivered, he daunced a kinde of daunce, which the DELIANS
keepe to this day, as they say: in which there are many turnes and returnes,
much after the turninges of the Labyrinthe. And the DELIANS call this manner
of daunce, the crane, as Dicaearcus sayeth. And Theseus daunced it first
about the altar, which is called Ceraton, that is to saye, hornestaffe:
bicause it is made and builded of hornes onely, all on the left hande well
& curiously sette together without any other bindinge. It is sayed
also that he made a game in this Ile of DELOS, in which at the first was
geven to him that overcame, a braunche of palme for reward of victorie.
But when they drewe neere the coast of ATTICA, they were
THESEVS <Plut1-25> so joyfull, he and his mafter, that they forgate
to set up their white sayle, by which they shoulde have geven knowledge
of their healthe and safetie unto AEgeus. Who seeinge the blacke sayle
a farre of, being out of all hope evermore to see his sonne againe, tooke
such a griefe at his harte, that he threw him selfe headlong from the top
of a clyffe, and killed him selfe. So soone as Theseus was arrived at the
Porte named Phalerus, he performed the sacrifices which he had vowed to
the goddes at his departure: and sent an Herauld of his before unto the
city, to carie newes of his safe arrivall. The Heraulde founde many of
the citie mourning the death of king AEgeus. Many other received him with
great joy, as may be supposed. They would have crowned him also with a
garlande of flowers, for that he had brought so good tidinges, that the
children of the citie were returned in safetie. The Heraulde was content
to take the garlande, yet would he not in any wise put it on his head,
but did winde it about fLs Hehislds rodde he bare in his hande, and so
returneth foorthwith to the sea, where Theseus made his sacrifices. Who
perceivinge they were not yet done, did refuse to enter into the temple,
and stayed without for troubling of the sacrifices. Afterwardes all ceremonies
finished, he went in and tolde him the newes of his fathers death. Then
he and his company mourning for sorowe, hasted with speede towardes the
citie. And this is the cause, why to this day, at the feast called Oscophoria
(as who woulde say at the feast of boughes) the Herauld hath not his heade
but his rod onely crowned with flowers, and why the assistantes also after
the sacrifice done, doe make suche cryes and exclamations: Ele, leuf, iou,
iou: whereof the first is the crye and voyce they commonly use one to an
other to make haste, or else it is the foote of some songe of triumphe:
and the other is the crye and voyce of men as it were in feare and trouble.
After he
<Plut1-26> THESEVS had ended the obsequies and funeralls for his
father, he performed also his sacrifices unto Apollo, which he had vowed
the seventh day of the moneth of October, on which they arrived at their
returne into the citie of ATHENS. Even so the custome which they use at
this day, to seeth all manner of pulse, commeth of this: that those which
then returned with Theseus, did seeth in a great brasse potte all the remaine
of their provision, and therewith made good chere together. Even in such
sorte as this, came up the custome to carie a braunch of olyve, wreathed
about with wolle, which they call Iresione: bicause at that time they caried
boughes of supplication, as we have told ye before. About which they hang
all sortes of fruites: for then barrennesse did cease, as the verses they
sang afterwards did witnesse. Bring him good bread, that is of savry tast,
with pleasaunt figges, and droppes of dulcet mell, Then sowple oyle, his
body for to bast, and pure good wine, to make him sleepe full well. Howbeit
there are some which will say, that these verses were made for the Heraclides,
that is to say, those descended from Hercules: which flying for their safety
and succour unto the ATHENIANS, were entered and much made of by them for
a time. But the most parte holde opinion, they were made upon the occasion
aforesaid. The vessell in which Theseus went and was a galliot of thirtie
owers, which the ATHENIANS kept untill the time of Demetrius the Phalerian,
alwayes taking away the olde peeces of wodde that were rotten, and ever
renewing them with new in their places. So that ever since, in the disputations
of the Philosophers touching things that increase, to wit, whether they
e alwayes one, or else they be made others: this galliot was alwayes brought
in for an example of doubt.
THESEVS <Plut1-27> For some maintained, that it was still one vessell:
others to the contrarie defended it was not so. And they holde opinion
also, that the feast of boughes which is celebrated at ATHENS at this time,
was then first of all instituted by Theseus. It is sayed moreover, that
he did not carye all the wenches upon whome the lotts did fall, but chose
two fayer young boyes, whose faces were swete and delicate as maydens be,
that otherwise were hardie, and quicke sprighted. But he made them so oft
bathe them selves in whotte bathes, and kepe them in from the heate of
the sunne, and so many times to washe, anointe, and rubbe them selves with
oyles which ferve to supple and smoothe their skinnes, to keepe freshe
and fayer their colour, to make yellowe and bright their heares: and withall
did teache them so to counterfeate their speache, countenaunce and facion
of young maydes, that they seemed to be like them, rather then young boyes.
For there was no manner of difference to be perceived outwardly, and he
mingled them with the girles, without the knowledge of any man. Afterwards
when he was returned, he made a procession, in which both he and the other
young boyes, were apparelled then as they be nowe, which carie boughes
on the day of the feast in their handes. They carie them in the honor of
Bacchus and Ariadne, following the fable that is tolde of them: or rather
bicause they returned home just, at the time and season, when they gather
the fruite of those trees. There ate women which they call Deipnophores,
that is to say, caryers, which are assistantes to the sacrifice done mothers
of those, upon whom the lottes did fall, bicause they in like sorte brought
them meate and drinke. There they tell tales for so did their mothers tattle
to their children, to comforte and encorage them. All these particularities
were written by Demon the historiographer. There was moreover a place
<Plut1-28> THESEVS chosen out to build him a temple in, and he him
selfe ordained, that those houses which had payed tribute before unto the
king of CRETA, should nowe yearely thenceforth become contributories towardes
the charges of a solemne sacrifice, which shoulde be done in the honor
of him: and he did assigne the order and administration of the same, unto
the house of the Phytalides, in recompence of the curtesie which they showed
him when he arrived. Furthermore, after the death of his father AEgeus,
he undertooke a marvelous great enterprise. For he brought all the inhabitantes
of the whole province of ATTICA, to be within the citie of ATHENS, and
made them all one corporation, which were before dispersed into diverse
villages, and by reason thereof were very hard to be assembled together,
when occasion was offered to establish any order concerning the common
state. Many times also they were at variance together, and by the eares,
making warres one upon an other. But Theseus tooke the paines to goe from
village to village, and from family, to familie, to let them understand
the reasons why they should consent unto it. So he found the poore people
and private men, ready to obey and followe his will but the riche, and
such as had authoritye in every village, all against it. Nevertheles he
wanne them, promising that it should be a common wealth, and not subject
to the power of any sole prince, but rather a populer state. {democracy+}
In which he woulde only reserve to him selfe the charge of the warres,
and the preservation of the lawes: for the rest, he was content that every
citizen in all and for all should beare a like swaye and authoritye. So
there were some that willingly graunted thereto. Other who had no likin
thereof, yielded notwithstanding for feare of his displeasureand power
which then was very great. So they thought it better to consent with good
will, unto that he required: then to tary his forcible compulsion.
THESEVS <Plut1-29> Then he caused all the places where justice was
ministred, and all their halles of assembly to be overthrowen and pulled
downe. He removed straight all judges and officers, and built a towne house,
and a counsaill hall, in the place where the cittie now standeth, which
the ATHENIANS CALL ASTY, but he called the whole corporation of them ATHENS.
Afterwardes he instituted the greate feast and common sacrifice for all
of the countrye of ATTICA, which they call Panathenaea. Then he ordeined
another feaste also upon the sixtenth daye of the moneth of June, for all
strangers which should come to dwell in ATHENS, which was called Metaecia,
and is kept even to this daye. That done, he gave over his regall power
according to his promise, and beganne to sett up an estate or policye of
a common wealth, beginning first with the service of the goddes. To knowe
the good successe of his enterptise, he sent at the very beginning to the
oracle of Apollo in DELPHES, to enquire of the fortune of this cittye:
from whence this aunswer was brought unto him. O thou which arte, the sonne
of
AEgeus, begott by him, on Pitheus daughter deare. The mightie Jove, my
father glorious, by his decree, hath sayed there shall appeare, a fatall
ende, of every cittie here. Which ende he will, shall also come adowne,
Within the walles, of this thy stately towne. Therefore shewe thou, a valliant
constant+ minde, and let no care, nor carke thy harte displease. For like
unto a bladder blowen with winde thou shalt be tost, upon the surging seas.
Yet lett no dynte, of dolours thee disease. For why? thou shalt, nor perishe
nor decaye, nor be orecome, nor yet be cast awaye. {posterity+}
<Plut1-30> THESEVS It is founde written also that Sibylla afterwardes
gave out suche a like oracle over the cittye of ATTHENS. The bladder blowen
maye flete upon the fludde, but cannot synke, nor sticke in filthie mudde.
Moreover, bicause he woulde further yet augment his people, and enlarge
his cittie, he entised many to come and dwell there, by offering them the
selfe same freedome and andf priviledges which the naturall borne citizens
had. So that many judge, that these w@ordes which are in use at this daye
in ATHENS, when any open proclamation is made, All people, Come ye hither:
be the selfe same which Theseus then caused to be proclaymed, when he in
that sorte dyd gather a people together of all nations. Yet for all that
he suffered not the great multitude that came thither tagge and ragge,
to be without distinction of degrees & orders. {democracy+} For he
first divided the noble men, from hushandman and artificers, appointing
the noblemen as judges and magistrates to judge upon matters of Religion,
& touching the service of the godds: and of them also he dyd chuse
rulers, to beare civill office in the common weale, to determine the lawe,
and to tell all holy and divine things. By this meanes he made the noble
men & the two other estates equall in voyce. {3_estates+} And as the
noblemen dyd passe the other in honour: even so the artificers exceeded
them in number, & the hushandmen them in profit. Nowe that Theseus
was the first who of all others yelded to have a common weale or popuier
estate (as Aristotle sayeth) and dyd geve over his regaull power: Homer
self semeth to testifie it, in numbring the shippes which were in the Grecians
armie before the cittie of TROIA. For amongest all the GRECIANS, he only
calleth the ATHIFNIANS people. Moreover Theseus coyned money, which he
marked with the stampe of an oxe, in memorye of the bulle of Marathon,
or of Taurus the
THESEVS <Plut1-31> captaine of Minos, or els to provoke his citizens
to geve them selves to labour. They saye also that of this money they were
since called Hecatombaeon, and Docabaeon, which signifieth worth a hundred
oxen, and worth tenne oxen. Furthermore having joyned all the territorie
of the cittie of MEGARA, unto the countrie of ATTICA, he caused that notable
foure square piret to be sett up for their confines within the straight
of PELOPONNESVS, and engraved thereuppon this superscription, that declareth
the separation of both the countries which confine there together. The
superscription is this. Where Titan doth beginne, bis beames for to displaye
even that waye stands Ionia, in fertile wise allwaye And where againe he
goeth, a downe to take his rest, there stands Peloponnesus lande, for there
I compt it west. It was he also which made the games called Isthmia, after
the imitation of Hercules, to the ende that as the GRECIANS dyd celebrate
the feast of games called Olympia, in the honour of Jupiter, by Hercules
ordinance: so, that they should also celebrate the games called Isthmia,
by his order and institution, in the honout of Neptune. For those that
were done in the straights in the honour of Melicerus, were done in the
night, and had rather forme of sacrifice or of a mysterie, then of games
and open feast. Yet some will saye, that these games of Isthmia were instituted
in the honout and memorie of Sciron, and that Theseus ordained them in
satisfaction of his death: bicause he was his cosin germaine, being the
sonne of Canethus, and of Heniocha the daughter of Pitheus. Other saye
that it was Sinnis and not Sciron, and that for him Theseus made these
games, and not for the memorie of the other. Howsoever it was, he specially
willed the CORINTHIANS, that they should geve unto those that came from
ATHENS to see their games of Isthmia, so much place to sit downe
<Plut1-32> THESEVS before them (in the most honorable parte of the
feast place) as the saile of their shippe should cover, in the which they
came from ATHENS: thus doe Hellanicus and Andron Halicarnasseus write herof.
Touching the voyage he made by the sea Major, Philochorus, and some other
holde opinion, that he went thither with Hercules against the AMAZONES:
and that to honour his valiantnes, Hercules gave him ANTIOPA the AMAZONE.
But the more parte of the other Historiographers, namely Hellanicus, Pherecides,
and Herodotus, doe write, that Theseus went thither alone, after Hercules
voyage, and that he tooke this AMAZONE prisoner, which is likeliest to
be true. For we doe not finde that any other who went this jorney with
him, had taken any AMAZONE prisoner besides him selfe. Bion also the Historiographer,
this notwithstanding sayeth, that he brought her away by deceit and stealth.
For the AMAZONES (sayeth he) naturally loving men, dyd not flie at all
when they sawe them lande in their countrye, but sent them presents, and
that Theseus entised her to come into his shippe, who brought him a present:
and so sone as she was aborde, he hoysed his sayle, and so carried her
away. Another Historiographer Menecrates, who wrote the storie of thc cittie
of NICEA, in the countrye of BYTHINIA, sayeth: that Theseus having this
AMAZONE ANTIOPA with him, remained a certaine time upon those coasts,&
that amongest other he had in his companie three younger brethern of ATHENS,
Euneus, Thoas, and Solois. This last, Solois, was marveilously in love
with ANTIOPA, and never bewrayed it to any of his other companions, saving
unto one with whom he was most familiar, & whom he trusted best: so
that he reported this matter unto ANTIOPA. But she utterly rejected his
sute, though otherwise she handled it wisely and curteously, and dyd not
complaine to Theseus of him. Howbeit the younge man despairing to enjoye
his love, tooke it so inwardly,
THESEVS <Plut1-33> that desperately he lept into the river, and
drowned him selfe. Which when Theseus understoode, and the cause also that
brought him to this desperation and ende: he was very sorye, and angrie
also. Whereupon he remembred a certeine oracle of Pythia, by whom he was
commaunded to buyld a cittie in that place in a straunge countrye, where
he should be most sorye, and that he should leave some that were about
him at that time, to governe the same. For this cause therefore he built
a cittie in that place, which he named PYTHOPOLIS, bicause he bad built
it only by the commaundement of the Nunne Pythia. He called the river in
the which the younge man was drowned, Solois, in memorye of him: and left
his two brethern for his deputies and as governours of this newe cittie,
with another gentlemanof ATHENS, called Hermus. Here of it commeth, that
at this daye the PYTHOPOLITANS call, a certen place of their cittie, Hermus
house. But they fayle in the accent, by putting it upon the last syllable:
for in pronouncing it so, Hermu signffieth Mercurie. By this meanes they
doe transferre the honour due to the memorie of Hermus, unto the god Mercurie.
{posterity+} Now heare what was the occasion of the warres of the AMAZONES,
which me thinckes was not a matter of small moment, nor an enterprise of
a woman. For they had not placed their campe within the very cittie of
ATHENS, nor had not fought in the very place it selfe (called Pnyce) adjoyning
to the temple of the Muses, if they had not first conquered or subdued
all the countrye thereabouts: neither had they all comen at the first,
so valiantly to assalle the cittie of ATHIENS. Now, whether they came by
lande from so farre a countrye, or that they passed over an arme of the
sea, which is called Bosphorus Cimmericus, being frosen as Hellanicus sayeth:
it is hardely to be credited. But that they camped, within the precinct
of the very cittie it selfe, the names of the places which continewe
<Plut1-34> THESEVS yet to this present daye doe witnesse it, and
the graves also of the women which dyed there. But so it is, that hoth
armies laye a great time one in the face of the other, ere they came to
battell. Howbeit at the length Theseus having first made sacrifice unto
Feare the goddesse, according to the counsaill of a prophecie he had receyved,
he gave them battell in the moneth of August, on the same daye in the which
the ATHENIANS doe even at this present solemnise the feast, which they
call Boedromia. But Clidemus the Historiographer, desirous particularly
to write all the circumstances of this encownter, sayeth that the left
poynte of their battell bent towards the place which they call AMAZONION:
and that the right poynte marched by the side of CHRYSA, even to the place
which is called PNYCE, upon which, the ATHENIANS comming towards the temple
of the Muses, dyd first geve their charge. And for proofe that this is
true, the graves of the women which dyed in this first encounter, are founde
yet in the great streete, which goeth towards the gate Piraica, neere unto
the chappell of the litle god Chalcodus. And the ATHENIANS (Sayeth he)
were in this place repulsed by the AMAZONES even to the place where the
images of Eumenides are, that is to saye, of the furies. But on thother
side also, the ATHENIANS comming towards the quarters of Palladium, Ardettus,
and Lucium, drave backe their right poynte even to within their campe,
and slewe a great number of them. Afterwards, at the ende of foure moneths,
peace was taken betwene them by meanes of one of the women called Hyppolita.
For this Historiographer calleth the AMAZONE which Theseus maried, Hyppolita,
and not Antiopa. Nevertheles, some saye that she was slayne (fighting on
Theseus side) with a darte, by another called Molpadia. In memorie whereof,
the piller which is joyning to the temple of the Olympian ground, was set
up in her honour. We are not to
THESEVS <Plut1-35> marvell, if the historie of things so auncient,
be found so diversely written. For there are also that write, that Queene
Antiopa sent those secretly which were hurt then into the cittie of CALCIDE,
where some of them recovered, and were healed: and others also dyed, which
were buried neere to the place called AMAZONION. Howsoever it was, it is
most certain that this warre was ended by agreement. For a place adjoyning
to the temple of Theseus, dothe beare recorde of it, being called Orcomosium:
bicause the peace was there by solemne othe concluded. And the sacrifice
also dothe truely verifie it, which they have made to the AMAZONES, before
the feast o Theseus, long time out of minde. They of MEGARA also doe shewe
a tumbe of the AMAZONES in their cittie, which is as they goe from the
market place, to the place they call Rhus: where they finde an auncient
tumbe, cut in facion and forme of a losenge. They saye that there died
other of the AMAZONES also, neere unto the cittie of CHAERONEA, which were
buried all alongest the litle broke passing by the same, which in the olde
time (in mine opinion) was called Thermodon, and is nowe name Haemon, as
we have in other places written in the life Demosthenes. And it semeth
also, that they dyd not pass through THESSALIE, without fighting: for there
are seen yet of their tumbes all about the cittie of SCORVSA, hard by the
rocks, which be called the doggs head. And this is that which is worthy
memorie (in mine opinion) touching the warres of these AMAZONES. Howe the
Poet telleth that the AMAZONES made warres with Theseus to revenge the
injurie he dyd to their Queene Antiopa, refusing her, to marye with Phaedra:
and as for the murder which he telleth that Heracles dyd, that me thinckes
is altogether but devise of Poets. It is very true, that after the death
of Antiopa, Theseus maried Phaedra, having had before of Antiopa a sonne
called Hippolytus, or as the
<Plut1-36> THESEVS Poet Pindarus writeth, Demothon. And for that
the Historiographers doe not in any thing speake against the tragicall
Poets, in that which concerneth the ill happe persones of this his wife
and of his sonne: we must needs take it to be so, as we finde it written
in the tragedies. And yet we finde many other reportes touching the mariages
of Theseus, whose beginnings had no great good honest ground, neither fell
out their endes very fortunate: and yet for all that they have made no
tragedies of them, neither have they bene played in the Theaters. For we
reade that he tooke away Anaxo the TROEZENIAN, and that after he had killed
Sinnis and Cercyon, he tooke their daughters perforce: and that he dyd
also marye Peribaea, the mother of Ajax, & afterwards Pherebaea, and
Joppa the daughter of Iphicles. And they blame him much also, for that
he so lightly forsooke his wife Ariadne, for the love of AEgles the daughter
of Panopaeus, as we have recited before. Lastely, he tooke awaye Hellen:
which ravishement filled all the Realme of ATTICA with warres, and finally
was the very occasion that forced him to forsake his countrye, & brought
him at the length to his ende, as we will tell you hereafter. Albeit in
his time other princes of GRECE had done many goodly and notable exploits
in the warres, yet Herodotus is of opinion, that Theseus was never in any
one of them: saving that he was at the battell of the Lapithae, against
the Centauri. Others saye to the contrarie that he was at the jorney of
Cholchide with Jason, and that he dyd helpe Meleager to kill the wilde
bore of Calydonia: from whence (as they saye) this proverbe came: Not Without
Theseus. Meaning that suche a thing was not done without great helpe of
another. Howbeit it is certaine that Theseus self dyd many famous actes,
without ayde of any man, and that for his valiantnes this proverbe came
in use, which is spoken: This is another Theseus. Also he dyd helpe Adras-
THESEVS <Plut1-37> tus king of the ARGIVES, to recover the bodyes
of those that were slayne in the battel, before the cittie of THEBES. Howbeit
it was not, as the poet Euripides sayeth, by force of armes, after he had
overcome the THEBANS in battel: but it was by composition. And thus the
greatest number of the most auncient writers doe declare it. Furthermore,
Philochorus writeth, that this was the first treatie that ever was made
to recover the dead bodyes slayne in battel: nevertheles we doe reade in
the histories and gestes of Hercules, that he was the first that ever suffered
his enemies to carye awaye their dead bodyes, after they had bene put to
the sword. But whosoever he was, at this daye in the village of ELEVTHERES,
they doe showe the place where the people were buried, & where princes
tumbes are seene about the cittie of ELEVSIN, which he made at the request
of Adrastus. And for testimonie hereof, thetragedie, AEschilus made of
the ELEVSINIANS, where he causeth it to be spoken even thus to Theseus
him self, dothe clerely overthrowe the petitioners in Euripides. Touching
the friendshippe+ betwixt Pirithous and him, it is sayed it beganne thus.
The renowne of his valliancy was marvelously blowen abroade through all
GRECE, & Pirithous desirous to knowe it by experience, went even of
purpose to invade his countrye, and brought awaye a certaine bootie of
oxen of his taken out of the countrye of MARATHON. Theseus being advertised
therof, armed straight, and went to the rescue. Pirithous heearing of his
comming, fled not at all, but returned backe sodainbly to mete him. And
so sone as they came to see one another, they both wondred at eche others
beawtie and corage, and so had they no desire to fight. But Pirithous reaching
out his hande first to Theseus, sayed unto him. I make your selfe judge
of the damage you have susteined by my invasion, and with all my harte
I will make such satisfaction, as it shall please you to assesse it at.
Theseus then
<Plut1-38> THESEVS dyd not only release him, of all the damages
he had done, but also requested him he would become his friend, and brother
in armes. Hereupon they were presently sworne brethren in the fielde: after
which othe betwixt them, Pirithous maried Deidamia, and sent to praye Theseus
to come to his mariage, to visite his countrye, and to make merye with
the Lapiths. He had bidden also the Centauri to the feast: who being druncke,
committed many lewde partes, even to the forcing of women. Howbeit the
Lapithae chasticed them so well, that they slewe some of them presently
in the place, and drave the rest afterwards out of all the countrye by
the helpe of Theseus, who armed him selfe, and fought on their side. Yet
Herodotus writeth the matter somewhat contrarie, saying that Theseus went
not at all untill the warre was well begonne: and that it was the first
time that he sawe Hercules, and spake with him neere unto the cittie of
TRACHINA, when he was then quiet, having ended all his farre voyages, and
greatest troubles. They reporte that this meeting together was full of
great cheere, much kindness and honorable entertainement betwene them,
and howe great curtesie+ was offred to eache other. Nevertheles me thincke
we should geve better credit to those writers that saye they mett many
times together, and that Hercules was accepted and receyved into the brotherhed
of the mysteries of ELEVSIN, by the meanes of the countenaunce & favour
which Theseus showed unto him: and that his purification also was thereby
allowed of, who was to be purged of necessitie of all his ill deedes &
cruelties, before he could enter into the companie of those holy mysteries.
Furthermore, Theseus was fiftie yeres olde when he tooke awaye Hellen and
ravished her, which was very younge, and not of age to be maried, as Hellanicus
sayeth. By reason whereof, some seeking to hyde the ravishement of her
as a haynous facte, doe reporte it was not he, but one Idas
THESEVS <Plut1-39> and Lynceus that caryed her awaye, who left her
in his custodie and keeping: and that Theseus would have kept her from
them, and would not have delivered her to her brethern Castor and Pollux,
which afterwardes dyd demaunde her againe of him. Others againe saye it
was her owne father Tyndarus, who gave her him to keepe, for that he was
affraye of Enarsphorus the sonne of Hippocoon, who would have had her away
by force. But that which commeth nearest to the trothe in this case, and
which in deede by many authors is testified, was in this sorte. Theseus
and Pirithous went together to the cittie of LACEDAEMON, where they tooke
awaye Hellen (being yet very younge) even as she was dauncing in the temple
of Diana surnamed Orthia: and they fled for life. They of LACEDAEMON sent
after her, but those that followed went no further then the cittie of TEGEA.
Now when they were escaped out of the countrye of PELOPONNESVS, they agreed
to drawe lots together, which of them two should have her, with condition
that whose lot it were to have her, he should take her to his wife, and
should be bound also to helpe his companion to get him another. It was
Theseus happe to light upon her, who caryed her to the cittie of APHIDNES,
bicause she was yet to younge to be maried. Whether he caused his mother
to come to bring her up, and gave his friend called Aphidnus the charge
of them both, recommending her to his good care, and to kepe it so secretly,
that no bodye should know what was become of her. Bicause he would doe
the like for Pirithous (according to th'agrement made betwext them) he
went into EPIRVS with him to steale the daughter of Aidoneus, king of the
MOLOSSIANS, who had surnamed his wife Proserpina, his daughter Proserpina,
and his dogg Cerberus: with whom he made them fight, which came to aske
his daughter in maruiage, promising to geve her to him that should overcome
his Cer-
<Plut1-40> THESEVS berm. But the King understanding that Pirithous
was come, not to request his daughter in mariage, but to steale her away,
he tooke him prisoner with Theseus: & as for Pirithous, he caused him
presently to be torne in peces with his dogge, and shut Theseus up in close
prison. In this meane time there was one at ATHENS called Menestheus, the
sonne of Peteus: which Peteus was the sonne of Orneus, and Orneus was the
sonne of Erictheus. This Menectheus was the first that beganne to flatter+
the people, and did seeke to winne the favour of the communalde, by sweete
entising words: by which devise he stirred up the chiefest of the cittie
against Theseus (who in deede long before beganne to be wearie of him)
by declaring unto them howe Theseus had taken from them their royalties
and signiories, and had shut them up in suche sorte within the wastes of
a cittie, that he might the better keepe them in subjection and obedience
in all things, after his will. The poore inferiour sorte of people, he
did stirre up also to rebellion, persuading them that it was no other then
a dreame of libertie which was promised them: and howe contrariwise they
were clearely dispossest and throwen out of their own houses, of their
temples, and from their naturall places where they were borne, to thend
only, that in liewe of many good and loving lordes which they were wont
to have before, they should now be compelled to serve one onely hedde,
and a straunge lorde. Even as Menestheus was very hotte about this practise,
the warre of the Tyndarides fell out at that instant, which greatly furthered
his pretence. For these Tyndarides (to wit children of Tyndarus) {genl_reader+}
Castor & Pollux, came downe with a great armie, against the cittie
of ATHENS: and some suspect sore that Menestheus was cause of their comming
thither. Howbeit at the first entrie they dyd no hurte at all in the countrye,
but only demaunded restitution of their sister. To whom the citizens made
aunswer, that
THESEVS <Plut1-41> they knewe not where she was left: and then the
brethern beganne to make spoyle, and offer warre in deede. Howbeit there
was one called Academus, who having knowledge (I can not tell by what meane)
that she was secretly hidden in the cittie of ATHENS, revealed it unto
them. By reason whereof the Tyndarides did alwayes honour him very much,
so long as he lived, and afterwards the LACEDAEMONIANS, having ofte burnt
& destroyed the whole countrye of ATTICA throughout, they would yet
never touch the Academy of ATHENS for Academus sake. Yet Dicearchus sayeth,
that in the armie of the Tyndarides there were two Arcadians, Echedemus,
and Marathon, and howe of the name of one of them, it was then called the
place of Echedemie, which sithence hath bene called Academia: and after
the name of the other, there was a village called MARATHON, bicause he
willingly offered him self to be sacrificed before the battell, as obeying
the order and commandement of a prophecies. So they went and pitched their
campe before the cittie of APHIDNES, and having wonne the battel, and taken
the cittie by assault, they raced the place. They saye that Alycus, the
sonne of Sciron was slaine at this field, who was in the hoaste of the
Tyndarides, and that after his name, a certaine quarter of the territorie
of MEGARA was called Alycus, in the which his bodye was huried. Howbeit
Hereas writeth that Theseus self dyd kill him before Aphidnes: In witness
whereof he alledgeth certain verses which speake of Alycus. While as he
sought with alibis might and mayne (in thy defence, fayer Hellen for to
fight) In Aphidnes, upon the pleasaunt playne, bold Theseus to cruell deathe
him dight. Howbeit it is not likely to be true, that Theseus being there,
the cittie of Aphidnes, and his mother also were
<Plut1-42> THESEVS taken. But when it was wonne, they of ATHENS
beganne to quake for feare, and Menistheus counselled them to receyve the
Tyndarides into the cittie, and to make them good chere, so they would
make no warres but upon Theseus, which was the first that had done them
the wrong and injurie: and that to all other els they should showe favour
and good will. And so it fell out. For when the Tyndarides had all in their
power to doe as they listed, they demaunded nothing els but that they might
be received into their corporation, and not to be reckoned for straungers,
no more then Hercules was: the which was graunted the Tyndarides, &
Aphidnus dyd adopt them for his children as Pylius had adopted Hercules.
Moreover they dyd honour them as if they had bene godds, calling them Anaces.
Either bicause they ceased the warres, or for thatb they oredered themselves
so well, that their whole armie being lodged in the cittie, there was not
any hurt done to any persone: but as it became those th at have the charge
of any thing, they did carefully watche to preserve the good quiet thereof.
All which this Greke word Anacos doth signifie, wherof perchaunce it comes
that they call the Kings Anactes. There are others also who holde opinion
that they were called Anaces, bicause of their starres which appeared in
the ayer. For the Attican tongue sayeth, Anacas, & Anecathen: where
the comon people saye Ano, and Anothen, that is to saye, above. Nevertheles
AEthra, Theseus mother, was caried prisoner to LACEDAEMON, and from thence
to TROIA with Hellen, as some saye: and as Homer him self doth witnesse
in his verses, where he speaketh of the women that followed Hellen. AEthra
the daughter deare of Pitheus aged Syre, and with her fayer Clymene she,
whose eyes most men desire. Yet there are other who as-well reject these
two verses,
THESEVS <Plut1-43> and mainteine the are not Homers: as also they
reprove all that is reported of Munychus. To wit, that Laodice being prively
conceived of him by Demophon, he was brought up secretly by AEthra within
TROIA. But Hifter the historien in his thirtenth of his histories of ATTICA,
maketh a recitall farre contrary to other, saying: that some hold opinion,
that Paris Alexander was slayne in battel by Achilles, and Patroclus in
the countrye of THESSALIE, neere to the river of Sperchius, and that his
brother Hector tooke the cittie of TROEZEN, from whence he brought away
Aethra: in which there is no manner of apparance or likelihodde. But Adoneus
king of the MOLOSSIANS, feasting Hercules one daye as he passed through
his realme, descended by chaunce into talke of Theseus and of Pirithous,
howe they came to steale away his daughter secretly: and after told how
they were also punished. Hercules was marvellous sorye to underaand that
one of them was now dead, and the other in daunger to dye, and thought
with him self that to make his mone to Adoneus, it would not helpe the
matter: he besought him only that he would deliver Theseus for his sake.
And he graunted him. Thus Theseus being delivered of this captivitie, returned
to ATHENS where his friends were not altogether kept under by his enemies:
& at his returne he dyd dedicate to Hercules all the temples, which
the cittie had before caused to be built in his owne honour. And where
first of all they were called Thesea, he did now surname them all Herculea,
excepting foure, as Philochorus writeth. Nowe when he was arrived at ATHFNS,
he would immediately have commaunded and ordered things as he was wont
to doe: but he found him self troubled much with sedition, bicause those
who had hated him of long time, had added also to their old canckered hate,
a disdain and contempt to feare him any more. And the comon people now
were become so stubborn, that where before they
<Plut1-44> THESEVS would have done all that they were commanded,
& have spoken nothing to the contrarie: now they looked to be borne
with, and flattered. Whereupon Theseus thought at the first to have used
force, but he was forced by the faction and contention of his enemies to
let all alone, and in the end, despairing he should ever bring his matters
to passe to his desire, he secretly sent away his children into the Ile
of EVBOEA, to Elphenor the sonne of Chalcoctus. And him self, after he
had made many wishes and curses against the Athenians, in the village of
Gargettus, in a place which for that cause to this daye is called Araterion:
(that is to saye, the place of cursings) he did take the seas, and went
into the Ile of SCIROS, where he had goods, and thought also to have founde
friends. Lycomedes raigned at that time, and was king of the Ile, unto
whom Theseus made request for some lande, as intending to dwell there:
albeit some saye that he required him to give him ayde against the Athenians.
Lycomedes, were it that he douted to entertaine so great a personage, or
that he dyd it to gratifie Menestheus: caried him up to the high rocks,
faining as though he would from thence have shewed him all his countrye
round about. But when he had him there, he threw him downe hedlong from
the toppe of the rocks to the bottome, and put him thus unfortunately to
death. Yet other write, that he fell down of him self by an unfortunate
chaunce, walking one daye after supper as he was wont to doe. There was
no man that time that dyd followe or pursue his death, but Menestheus quietly
remained king of ATHENS: and the children of Theseus, as private souldiers
followed Elphenor in the warres of TROIA. But after the death of Menesdtheus,
who died in the jomey to TROIA, Theseus sonnes returned unto ATHENS, where
they recovered their state. Sithence there were many occasions which moved
the Athenians to reverence and honour him as a demy god.
THESEVS <Plut1-45> For in the battel of Marathon, many thought they
saw his shadow and image in armes, fighting against the barbarous people.
And after the warres of the Medes (the yere wherein Phaadon was governour
of ATHENS) the nunne Pithia answered the Athenians, who had sent to the
oracle of Apollo: that they should bring backe the bones of Theseus, and
putting them in some honorable place, they should preserve and honour them
devoutely. But it was a harde matter to finde his grave: and if they had
founde it, yet had it bene a harder thing to have brought his bones awaye,
for the malice of those barbarous people which inhabited that Ile: which
were so wild and fierce, that none could trade or live with them. Not-withstanding
Cimon having taken the Iland (as we have written in his life) and seeking
his grave: perceived by good happe an ea e pecking with her beake, and
scragging with her clawes in a place of some prety height. Straight it
came into his minde (as by divine inspiration) to searche and digge the
place: where was founde the tumbe of a great bodye, with the head of a
speare which was of brasse, and a sword with st. All which things were
brought to ATHENS by Cimon in the admirall gallie. The Athenians received
the |
