按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
down by the clue of thread； till he came to the mouth of that doleful
place and saw waiting for him； whom but Ariadne！
And he whispered 'It is done！' and showed her the sword； and she
laid her finger on her lips； and led him to the prison； and opened the
doors； and set all the prisoners free； while the guards lay sleeping
heavily； for she had silenced them with wine。
Then they fled to their ship together； and leapt on board； and hoisted
up the sail； and the night lay dark around them； so that they passed
through Minos' ships； and escaped all safe to Naxos； and there Ariadne
became Theseus' wife。
PART IV … HOW THESEUS FELL BY HIS PRIDE
BUT that fair Ariadne never came to Athens with her husband。
120
… Page 121…
The Heroes
Some say that Theseus left her sleeping on Naxos among the Cyclades；
and that Dionusos the wine…king found her； and took her up into the sky；
as you shall see some day in a painting of old Titian's … one of the most
glorious pictures upon earth。 And some say that Dionusos drove away
Theseus； and took Ariadne from him by force： but however that may
be； in his haste or in his grief； Theseus forgot to put up the white sail。
Now AEgeus his father sat and watched on Sunium day after day； and
strained his old eyes across the sea to see the ship afar。 And when he
saw the black sail； and not the white one； he gave up Theseus for dead；
and in his grief he fell into the sea； and died； so it is called the AEgean to
this day。
And now Theseus was king of Athens； and he guarded it and ruled it
well。
For he killed the bull of Marathon； which had killed Androgeos；
Minos' son； and he drove back the famous Amazons； the warlike women
of the East； when they came from Asia； and conquered all Hellas； and
broke into Athens itself。 But Theseus stopped them there； and
conquered them； and took Hippolute their queen to be his wife。 Then
he went out to fight against the Lapithai； and Peirithoos their famous
king： but when the two heroes came face to face they loved each
other； and embraced； and became noble friends； so that the friendship of
Theseus and Peirithoos is a proverb even now。 And he gathered （so the
Athenians say） all the boroughs of the land together； and knit them into
one strong people； while before they were all parted and weak： and
many another wise thing he did； so that his people honoured him after he
was dead； for many a hundred years； as the father of their freedom and
their laws。 And six hundred years after his death； in the famous fight at
Marathon； men said that they saw the ghost of Theseus； with his mighty
brazen club； fighting in the van of battle against the invading Persians；
for the country which he loved。 And twenty years after Marathon his
bones （they say） were found in Scuros； an isle beyond the sea； and they
were bigger than the bones of mortal man。 So the Athenians brought
them home in triumph； and all the people came out to welcome them；
and they built over them a noble temple； and adorned it with sculptures
121
… Page 122…
The Heroes
and paintings in which we are told all the noble deeds of Theseus； and
the Centaurs； and the Lapithai； and the Amazons； and the ruins of it are
standing still。
But why did they find his bones in Scuros？ Why did he not die in
peace at Athens； and sleep by his father's side？ Because after his
triumph he grew proud； and broke the laws of God and man。 And one
thing worst of all he did； which brought him to his grave with sorrow。
For he went down （they say beneath the earth） with that bold Peirithoos
his friend to help him to carry off Persephone； the queen of the world
below。 But Peirithoos was killed miserably； in the dark fire…kingdoms
under ground； and Theseus was chained to a rock in everlasting pain。
And there he sat for years； till Heracles the mighty came down to bring
up the three…headed dog who sits at Pluto's gate。 So Heracles loosed
him from his chain； and brought him up to the light once more。
But when he came back his people had forgotten him； and Castor
and Polydeuces； the sons of the wondrous Swan； had invaded his land；
and carried off his mother Aithra for a slave； in revenge for a grievous
wrong。
So the fair land of Athens was wasted； and another king ruled it； who
drove out Theseus shamefully； and he fled across the sea to Scuros。
And there he lived in sadness； in the house of Lucomedes the king； till
Lucomedes killed him by treachery； and there was an end of all his
labours。
So it is still； my children； and so it will be to the end。 In those old
Greeks； and in us also； all strength and virtue come from God。 But if
men grow proud and self…willed； and misuse God's fair gifts； He lets
them go their own ways； and fall pitifully； that the glory may be His
alone。 God help us all； and give us wisdom； and courage to do noble
deeds！ but God keep pride from us when we have done them； lest we fall；
and come to shame！
Footnotes：
（1） In the Elgin Marbles。 （2） The Danube。 （3） Between the Crimaea
and Circassia。 （4） The Sea of Azov。 （5） The Ural Mountains？ （6） The
122
… Page 123…
The Heroes
Baltic？ （7） Britain？ （8） The Azores？
123