Pirithous

But the most probable account, and that which has the most witnesses in its favour, is as follows.

Theseus and Perithous went to Sparta in company, seized the girl as she was dancing in the temple of Artemis Orthia, and fled away with her.

Their pursuers followed them no farther than Tegea, and so the two friends, when they had passed through Peloponnesus and were out of danger, made a compact with one another that the one on whom the lot fell should have Helen to wife, but should assist the other in getting another wife.

With this mutual understanding they cast lots, and Theseus won, and taking the maiden, who was not yet ripe for marriage, conveyed her to Aphidnae.

Here he made his mother a companion of the girl, and committed both to Aphidnus, a friend of his, with strict orders to guard them in complete secrecy.

Then he himself, to return the service of Perithous, journeyed with him to Epirus, in quest of the daughter of Aeodinus, the king of the Molossians.

This man called his wife Persephone, his daughter Cora, and his dog Cerberus, with which beast he ordered that all suitors of his daughter should fight, promising her to him that should overcome it.

However, when he learned that Perithous and his friend were come not to woo but to steal away his daughter, he seized them both.

But him, his well-beloved and only son, he sent forth that amid bold heroes he might shine conspicuous.

But Theseus, who surpassed all the sons of Erytheus, an unseen bond kept beneath the land of Teneras, for he had followed that path with Pirithous, assuredly both would have lightened for all the fulfillment of their toil.

Typhus, son of Hagneus, left the Scythian people of the Thespians, well skilled to foretell the rising wave on the broad sea, and well skilled to infer from sun and star the stormy winds and the time for sailing.

Tritonian Athena herself urged him to join the band of chiefs, and he came among them a welcome comrade.

Paid for by Better Nevada PAC.

The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher Characters First Queen and Nell Second Queen and Waiting-woman Third Queen, and Taborer, Thesius, Hippolyta, Amelia, Perithous,

Palamon, Archite, Valerius,

Bavian, and First Friend.

Scene I. Athens.

Before a Temple.

enter hymen with a torch burning a boy in a white robe before singing and strewing flowers after hymen a nymph encompassed in her tresses bearing a wheaten garland then theseus between two other nymphs with wheaten chaplets on their heads Then Hippolyta, the bride, led by Perithous, and another holding a garland over her head, her tresses likewise hanging.

After her, Amelia, holding up her train.

He stood there with head bowed, the man who might not put upon his brows the wreath of victory that had been brought to him.

There had come into the city a youth of great valor whose name was Perithous.

From a far country he had come, filled with the desire of meeting Theseus, whose fame had come to him.

The youth was in Athens at the time Theseus returned.

He looked upon him and the thought of high deeds came into his mind again.

He wanted this young man to be his comrade in dangers and upon quests.

And Perithous looked upon Theseus, and he felt that he was greater and nobler than he had thought.

They became friends and sworn brothers, and together they went into far countries.

To him Clytius and Iphitus joined themselves, the warders of Ecalia.

Sons of Eurytus the ruthless Eurytus to whom the far-shooting god gave his bow but he had no joy of the gift for of his own choice he strove even with the giver after them came the sons of Aeacus not both together nor from the same spot for they settled far from Aegina in exile when in their folly they had slain their brother Phpheus Telamon dwelt in the Attic island but Peleus departed and made his home in Phthia after them from Cecropia came warlike Butes son of brave Tileon and Phalerus of the ashen spear Alcon his father sent him forth yet no other sons had he to care for his old age and livelihood but him his well-beloved and only son he sent forth that amid bold heroes he might shine conspicuous but Theseus who surpassed all the sons of Erichthius an unseen bond kept beneath the land of Taenarus for he had followed that path with Pirithous assuredly both would have lightened for all the fulfilment of their toil Tiphys son of Hegneus left the Siphean people of the Thespians well skilled to foretell the rising wave on the broad sea and well skilled to infer from sun and star the stormy winds and the time for sailing Tritonian Athena herself urged him to join the band of chiefs and he came among them a welcome comrade she herself too fashioned the swift ship and with her Argus son of Arista wrought it by her counsels wherefore it proved the most excellent of all ships that have made trial of the sea with oars after them came Phlegyas from Erythrae where he dwelt in affluence by the favour of his father Dionysus in his home by the springs of Asopus from Argos came Talaus and Areius sons of Bias and mighty Leodocus all of whom Pero daughter of Neleus bare on her account the Aeolid Melampus endured sore affliction in the steading of Iphiclus nor do we learn that Heracles of the mighty heart disregarded the eager summons of Iason's son but when he heard a report of the heroes gathering and had reached Lercaean Argos from Arcadia by the road along which he carried the boar alive that fed in the thickets of Lympia near the vast Erymanthian swamp the boar bound with chains he put down from his huge shoulders at the entrance to the marketplace of Mycenae and himself of his own will set out against the purpose of Eurystheus and with him went Hylas a brave comrade in the flower of youth to bear his arrows and to guard his bow next to him came a scion of the race of divine Danaus Nauplius he was the son of Clytoneus son of Nobilus Nobilus was son of Lernus Lernus we know was the son of Prytus son of Nauplius and once Amymone daughter of Danaus wedded to Poseidon bare Nauplius who surpassed all men in naval skill Idmon came last of all them that dwelt at Argos for though he had learned his own fate by augury he came that the people might not grudge him fair renown he was not in truth the son of Abas but Leto's son himself begat him to be numbered among the illustrious Aeolids and himself taught him the art of prophecy to pay heed to birds and to observe the signs of the burning sacrifice moreover Aetolian Leda sent from Sparta strong Polydeuces and Castor skilled to guide swift-footed steeds these her dearly loved sons she bare at one birth in the house of Tyndareus nor did she forbid their departure for she had thoughts worthy of the bride of Zeus the son of Aphareus Lynceus and proud Idas came from Oeni both exulting in their great strength and Lynceus too excelled in keenest sight if the report is true that that hero could easily direct his sight even beneath the earth and with them Pylean Periclymenus set out to come eldest of all the sons of godlike Neleus who were born at Pylos Poseidon had given him boundless strength and granted him that whatever shape he should crave during the fight that he should take in the stress of battle moreover from Arcadia came Amphidamas and Cepheus who inhabited Tegea and the allotment of Ophietus two sons of Aldus and Enceus followed them as the third whom his father Lycurgus sent the brother older than both but he was left in the city to care for Alectryone now growing old while he gave his son to join his brothers Antaeus went clad in the skin of a Maenalian bear and wielding in his right hand a huge two-edged battle-axe for his armour his grandsire had hidden in the house's innermost recess to see if he might by some means still stay his departure There came also Ogyges, whom fame declared to be the son of Helios.

He reigned over the Eleans, glorying in his wealth, and greatly he desired to behold the Colchian land and Aeetes himself, the ruler of the Colchians.

Asterius and Amphion, sons of Hyperasius, came from Achaean Pylae, which once Peleus, their grandsire, founded on the brows of Aegialus.

Moreover, I have been the familiar friend of men even greater than you are, and they did not disregard my counsels.

Never again can I behold such men as Pirithous and Dryas, shepherd of his people, or as Caeneus, Axadius, godlike Polyphemus, and Theseus, son of Aegeus, peer of the immortals.

These were the mightiest men ever born upon this earth.

Mightiest were they, and when they fought the fiercest tribes of mountain savages, they utterly overthrew them.

The men, moreover, of Ormenius, and by the fountain of Hyperia, with those that held Asterius and the white crests of Tytanus, these were led by Eurypylus, the son of Euaemon, and with them there came 40 ships.

Those that held Aegrissa and Gyrtone, Orchialone, the well-city of Oulixon, of those brave Pelopidas was the leader.

He was the son of Pirithous, who was the son of Jove himself, for Hippodamia bore him to Pirithous on the day when he took his revenge on the shaggy mountain savages and drove them from Mount Pelion to the Aeanthes.

But Pelopidas was not sole in command, for with him was Leonteus of the race of Mars, who was son of Coroanus, the son of Caeneus, and with these there came 40 ships.