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honour stamp their money with a trident。
Theseus displaying not only great strength of body； but equal
bravery； and a quickness alike and force of understanding； his
mother Aethra conducting him to the stone； and informing him who was
his true father； commanded him to take from thence the tokens that
Aegeus had left； and sail to Athens。 He without any difficulty set
himself to the stone and lifted it up； but refused to take his journey
by sea； though it was much the safer way； and though his mother and
grandfather begged him to do so。 For it was at that time very
dangerous to go by land on the road to Athens； no part of it being
free from robbers and murderers。 That age produced a sort of men； in
force of hand； and swiftness of foot； and strength of body；
excelling the ordinary rate and wholly incapable of fatigue； making
use； however； of these gifts of nature to no good or profitable
purpose for mankind； but rejoicing and priding themselves in
insolence； and taking the benefit of their superior strength in the
exercise of inhumanity and cruelty； and in seizing； forcing； and
committing all manner of outrages upon everything that fell into their
hands； all respect for others； all justice； they thought； all equity
and humanity； though naturally lauded by common people； either out
of want of courage to commit injuries or fear to receive them； yet
no way concerned those who were strong enough to win for themselves。
Some of these； Hercules destroyed and cut off in his passage through
these countries； but some escaping his notice while he was passing by；
fled and hid themselves； or else were spared by him in contempt of
their abject submission： and after that Hercules fell into misfortune；
and； having slain Iphitus； retired to Lydia； and for a long time was
there slave to Omphale； a punishment which he had imposed upon himself
for the murder： then； indeed； Lydia enjoyed high peace and security；
but in Greece and the countries about it the like villainies again
revived and broke out； there being none to repress or chastise them。
It was therefore a very hazardous journey to travel by land from
Athens to Peloponnesus； and Pittheus giving him an exact account of
each of the robbers and villains； their strength； and the cruelty they
used to all strangers； tried to persuade Theseus to go by sea。 But he；
it seems； had long since been secretly fired by the glory of Hercules；
held him in the highest estimation； and was never more satisfied
than in listening to any that gave an account of him； especially those
that had seen him or had been present at any action or saying of
his。 So that he was altogether in the same state of feeling as； in
after ages； Themistocles was； when he said that he could not sleep for
the trophy of Miltiades； entertaining such admiration for the virtue
of Hercules； that in the night his dreams were all of that hero's
actions； and in the day a continual emulation stirred him up to
perform the like。 Besides； they were related； being born of
cousins…german。 For Aethra was daughter of Pittheus； and Alcmena of
Lysidice； and Lysidice and Pittheus were brother and sister；
children of Hippodamia and Pelops。 He thought it therefore a
dishonourable thing； and not to be endured； that Hercules should go
out everywhere； and purge both land and sea from wicked men； and he
himself should fly from the like adventures that actually came in
his way； disgracing his reputed father by a mean flight by sea； and
not showing his true one as good evidence of the greatness of his
birth by noble and worthy actions； as by the token that he brought
with him the shoes and the sword。
With this mind and these thoughts； he set forward with a design to
do injury to nobody； but to repel and revenge himself of all those
that should offer any。 And first of all； in a set combat； he slew
Periphetes； in the neighbourhood of Epidaurus； who used a club for his
arms； and from thence had the name of Corynetes； or the club…bearer；
who seized upon him； and forbade him to go forward in his journey。
Being pleased with the club； he took it； and made it his weapon；
continuing to use it as Hercules did the lion's skin； on whose
shoulders that served to prove how huge a beast he had killed； and
to the same end Theseus carried about him this club； overcome indeed
by him； but now in his hands； invincible。
Passing on further towards the Isthmus of Peloponnesus； he slew
Sinnis； often surnamed the Bender of Pines； after the same manner in
which he himself had destroyed many others before。 And this he did
without having either practised or ever learnt the art of bending
these trees； to show that natural strength is above all art。 This
Sinnis had a daughter of remarkable beauty and stature； called
Perigune； who； when her father was killed； fled； and was sought
after everywhere by Theseus； and coming into a place overgrown with
brushwood； shrubs； and asparagus…thorn； there； in a childlike innocent
manner； prayed and begged them； as if they understood her； to give her
shelter； with vows that if she escaped she would never cut them down
nor burn them。 But Theseus calling upon her； and giving her his
promise that he would use her with respect； and offer her no injury；
she came forth； and in due time bore him a son； named Melanippus；
but afterwards was married to Deioneus； the son of Eurytus； the
Oechalian； Theseus himself giving her to him。 Ioxus； the son of this
Melanippus； who was born to Theseus； accompanied Ornytus in the colony
that he carried with him into Caria； whence it is a family usage
amongst the people called Ioxids； both male and female； never to
burn either shrubs or asparagus…thorn； but to respect and honour them。
The Crommyonian sow； which they called Phaea； was a savage and
formidable wild beast； by no means an enemy to be despised。 Theseus
killed her； going out of his way on purpose to meet and engage her； so
that he might not seem to perform all his great exploits out of mere
necessity； being also of opinion that it was the part of a brave man
to chastise villainous and wicked men when attacked by them； but to
seek out and overcome the more noble wild beasts。 Others relate that
Phaea was a woman； a robber full of cruelty and lust； that lived in
Crommyon； and had the name of Sow given her from the foulness of her
life and manners； and afterwards was killed by Theseus。 He slew also
Sciron； upon the borders of Megara； casting him down from the rocks；
being； as most report； a notorious robber of all passengers； and； as
others add； accustomed； out of insolence and wantonness； to stretch
forth his feet to strangers commanding them to wash them； and then
while they did it； with a kick to send them down the rock into the
sea。 The writers of Megara； however； in contradiction to the
received report； and； as Simonides expresses it； 〃fighting with all
antiquity；〃 contend that Sciron was neither a robber nor doer of
violence； but a punisher of all such； and the relative and friend of
good and just men； for Aeacus； they say； was ever esteemed a man of
the greatest sanctity of all the Greeks； and Cychreus； the Salaminian；
was honoured at Athens with divine worship；