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scarcity and barrenness was ceased; singing in their procession this
song:…

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

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

        〃Son of the Pitthean maid;
        To your town the terms and fates;
        My father gives of many states。
        Be not anxious nor afraid;
        The bladder will not fail to swim
        On the waves that compass him。〃

Which oracle; they say; one of the sibyls long after did in a manner
repeat to the Athenians; in this verse:…

        〃The bladder may be dipt; but not be drowned。〃

Farther yet designing to enlarge his city; he invited all strangers to
come and enjoy equal privileges with the natives; and it is said
that the common form; Come hither; all ye people; was the words that
Theseus proclaimed when he thus set up a commonwealth; in a manner;
for all nations。 Yet he did not suffer his state; by the promiscuous
multitude that flowed in; to be turned into confusion and he left
without any order or degree; but was the first that divided the
Commonwealth into three distinct ranks; the noblemen; the
husbandmen; and artificers。 To the nobility he committed the care of
religion; the choice of magistrates; the teaching and dispensing of
the laws; and interpretation and direction in all sacred matters;
the whole city being; as it were; reduced to an exact equality; the
nobles excelling the rest in honour; the husbandmen in profit; and the
artificers in number。 And that Theseus was the first; who; as
Aristotle says; out of an inclination to popular government; parted
with the regal power; Homer also seems to testify; in his catalogue of
the ships; where he gives the name of People to the Athenians only。
  He also coined money; and stamped it with the image of an ox; either
in memory of the Marathonian bull; or of Taurus; whom he vanquished;
or else to put his people in mind to follow husbandry; and from this
coin came the expression so frequent among the Greeks; of a thing
being worth ten or a hundred oxen。 After this he joined Megara to
Attica; and erected that famous pillar on the Isthmus; which bears
an inscription of two lines; showing the bounds of the two countries
that meet there。 On the east side the inscription is;…

        〃Peloponnesus there; Ionia here〃

and on the west side;…

        〃Peloponnesus here; Ionia there。〃

He also instituted the games; in emulation of Hercules; being
ambitious that as the Greeks; by that hero's appointment; celebrated
the Olympian games to the honour of Jupiter; so by his institution;
they should celebrate the Isthmian to the honour of Neptune。 For those
that were there before observed; dedicated to Melicerta; were
performed privately in the night; and had the form rather of a
religious rite than of an open spectacle or public feast。 There are
some who say that the Isthmian games were first instituted in memory
of Sciron; Theseus thus making expiation for his death; upon account
of the nearness of kindred between them; Sciron being the son of
Canethus and Heniocha; the daughter of Pittheus; though others write
that Sinnis; not Sciron; was their son; and that to his honour; and
not to the other's; these games were ordained by Theseus。 At the
same time he made an agreement with the Corinthians; that they
should allow those that came from Athens to the celebration of the
Isthmian games as much space of honour before the rest to behold the
spectacle in; as the sail of the ship that brought them thither
stretched to its full extent; could cover; so Hellanicus and Andro
of Halicarnassus have established。
  Concerning his voyage into the Euxine Sea; Philochorus and some
others write that he made it with Hercules; offering him his service
in the war against the Amazons; and had Antiope given him for the
reward of his valour; but the greater number; of whom are
Pherecydes; Hellanicus; and Herodorus; write that he made this
voyage many years after Hercules; with a navy under his own command;
and took the Amazon prisoner… the more probable story; for we do not
read that any other; of all those that accompanied him in this action;
took any Amazon prisoner。 Bion adds; that; to take her; he had to
use deceit and fly away; for the Amazons; he says; being naturally
lovers of men; were so far from avoiding Theseus when he touched
upon their coasts; that they sent him presents to his ship; but he;
having invited Antiope; who brought them; to come a

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