Chapter L: E. L (5)

This hero, one of the most celebrated of antiquity, was the son of Aegeus, by Aethra, daughter of Pittheus, though not publicly acknowledged to be the King of Athens, being educated at Traezene, in the house of Pittheus. When he came to maturity, he was sent by his mother to Aegeus, and a sword which had been hidden beneath a stone until he became of age, and by which he was to {198} make himself known to his parent, was shown to him, and ordered to be taken. The usual journey for travellers to his father's court, at Athens, was by sea, but Theseus determined to signalise himself by encountering the dangers which attended the journey on land, and which consisted in robbers and wild beasts, rendering the road almost impassable: however, these obstacles were all met, and destroyed by his courage. He arrived at Athens in safety, where his reception was not so cordial as he hoped, for Medea, who resided with Aegeus, felt that her influence with this monarch would be destroyed, if once Theseus gained his proper footing in his father's house, and she tried to poison him before his return was known to the Athenians. With a refinement of cruelty, she endeavoured to make Aegeus give a cup of poison to him, as an unknown stranger at a feast; but the sword at his side saved Theseus, for his father recognised it, and introduced him to the people of Athens as his son, all of whom gladly hailed the illustrious man, who had cleansed them of robbers and pirates, as the offspring of their monarch.

The Pallantides, however, who expected to succeed their uncle on his throne, were enraged at the reception of Theseus, and attempted to assassinate him; their barbarous intent recoiled upon themselves, for they were all slain by young Theseus.

The bull of Marathon which ravaged the neighbouring country, next engaged his attention, and taking the animal alive, he led it through the streets of Athens, previously to sacrificing it on the altar of Minerva.

At this time, the Minotaur was receiving the annual tribute of seven of the noblest youth of Athens, and Theseus could not fail of being ranked among them, to be devoured by the monster.

------------"The Minotaur was fed,
With human victims for Androgeos dead.
The flower of Athens were compelled to bleed,
For thus the cruel oracle decreed,
Till Theseus; to preserve his country's blood,
Himself devoted for the public good."

OVID.

The wish to deliver his native land from this danger, induced him voluntarily to undertake the expedition; and before his departure, he promised his father, if he should be successful, to hoist a white sail on his return.

Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, became enamoured of him and by {199} assisting him in the enterprise, he was successful and killed the Minotaur.

On his return from his victory there, he was driven by contrary winds on the Isle of Naxos, where he had the meanness to desert Ariadne, whose conduct had been the means of his glorious triumph, and to whom he was even indebted for his life.

When he came in sight of Athens, he forgot, in the height of his success, to hoist the white sail he had promised his father, who, seeing a black sail upon his son's ship, despairingly threw himself into the sea.

"On a high rock that beetles o'er the flood,
With daily care the pensive father stood;
And when he saw impatient from afar?
The fatal signal floating in the air,
Thinking his Theseus was untimely slain,
He rashly plunged himself beneath the main!"

His ascension to his father's throne was received with much pleasure, the country was governed with mildness, new reputation acquired and new laws enacted.

The renown he gained by his victory and policy, made his alliance courted in general; but Pirithous king of the Lapithae, sought the more singular mode of gaining it by meeting him in fight.

He invaded the territories of Theseus, and when the latter assembled his forces to meet him, the two foes as they gazed on each other, were seized with a sudden and mutual friendship, and rushed into each others arms: from that time, their affection became proverbial.

Theseus was present at the nuptials of his friend, and when the brutal Centaurs attempted to insult the bride, was one of the most forward to defend: and when Pirithous, after this, had lost Hippodamia, he agreed with Theseus to carry away one of the daughters of the gods.

They first attempted their scheme upon Helen, the beautiful daughter of Leda, and when they had obtained their victim, cast lots for her: Theseus was successful, and she became his prize. Shortly after, he assisted his friend in his attempt to descend into the infernal regions and carry away Proserpine, but Cerberus was too watchful, and Pluto apprised of their intentions, stopped them: Pirithous was placed on Ixion's wheel, and Theseus secured to a large stone on which he had seated himself to rest. {200}

By the assistance of Hercules, however, in his descent into hell, the two heroes were released from their captivity, and when Theseus returned to Athens, he found that Mnestheus had usurped the crown which should have fallen upon his children. In vain did Theseus attempt to eject the usurper, the Athenians remained faithful to their new choice, and Theseus retired in disgust to the court of Lycomedes, King of Scyros.

Here he met with apparent sympathy, but Lycomedes soon showed his true character, for enticing his guest to the top of a high mountain, he took an opportunity of throwing Theseus over a deep precipice.

The children of this hero at the death of the usurper, regained the throne of Athens: and that the memory of their father might not be without honour, sent for his remains from Scyros, and gave them a magnificent burial.

They also raised to him statues and a temple; festivals and games were also instituted in his honour, to commemorate the actions of a hero who had rendered such signal services to the Athenian people.

_Leonarde._ "'Tis one of those bright fictions that have made
The name of Greece only another word,
For love and poetry: with a green earth,
Groves of the graceful myrtle, summer skies,
Whose stars are mirrored in ten thousand streams,
With winds that move in perfume and in music,
And more than all, the gift of woman's beauty.
What marvel that the earth, the sky, the sea,
Were filled with all those fine imaginings
That love creates, and that the lyre preserves!

_Alvine._ But for the history of that pale girl
Who stands so desolate on the sea-shore?

_Leonarde._ She was the daughter of a Cretan king--
A Tyrant. Hidden in the dark recess
Of a wide labyrinth, a monster dwelt,
And every year was human tribute paid
By the Athenians. They had bowed in war;
And every spring the flowers of all the city,
Young maids in their first beauty, stately youths,
Were sacrificed to the fierce king! They died
In the unfathomable den of want,
Or served the Minotaur for food. At length
There came a royal youth, who vowed to slay
The monster or to perish! Look, Alvine,
That statue is young Theseus!

_Alvine._ Glorious!
How like a god he stands, one haughty hand
Raised in defiance! I have often looked
{201}
Upon the marble, wondering it could give
Such truth to life and majesty.

_Leonarde._ You will not marvel Ariadne loved.
She gave the secret clue that led him safe
Throughout the labyrinth, and she fled with him.

_Alvine._ Ah! now I know your tale: he proved untrue--
This ever has been woman's fate, to love,
To know one summer day of happiness,
And then to be most wretched!

_Leonarde._ She was left
By her so heartless lover while she slept.
She woke from pleasant dreams--she dreamt of him--
Love's power is left in slumber--woke and found
Herself deserted on the lonely shore.
The bark of the false Theseus was a speck
Scarce seen upon the waters, less and less,
Like hope diminishing, till wholly past.
I will not say, for you can fancy well,
Her desolate feelings as she roamed the beach,
Hurled from the highest heaven of happy love!
But evening crimsoned the blue sea, a sound
Of music and of mirth, came on the wind,
And radiant shapes and laughing nymphs danced by,
And he the Theban god, looked on the maid,
And looked and loved, and was beloved again.
He has just flung her starry crown on high,
And bade it there, a long memorial shine,
How a god loved a mortal--He is springing
From out his golden car, another bound,
Bacchus is by his Ariadne's side."