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their pursuit。 Demon writes that Taurus; the chief captain of Minos;
was slain by Theseus at the mouth of the port; in a naval combat as he
was sailing out for Athens。 But Philochorus gives us the story thus:
That at the setting forth of the yearly games by King Minos; Taurus
was expected to carry away the prize; as he had done before; and was
much grudged the honour。 His character and manners made his power
hateful; and he was accused moreover of too near familiarity with
Pasiphae; for which reason; when Theseus desired the combat; Minos
readily complied。 And as it was a custom in Crete that the women
also should be admitted to the sight of these games; Ariadne; being
present; was struck with admiration of the manly beauty of Theseus;
and the vigour and address which he showed in the combat; overcoming
all that encountered with him。 Minos; too; being extremely pleased
with him; especially because he had overthrown and disgraced Taurus;
voluntarily gave up the young captives to Theseus; and remitted the
tribute to the Athenians。 Clidemus gives an account peculiar to
himself; very ambitiously; and beginning a great way back: That it was
a decree consented to by all Greece; that no vessel from any place;
containing above five persons; should be permitted to sail; Jason only
excepted; who was made captain of the great ship Argo; to sail about
and scour the sea of pirates。 But Daedalus having escaped from
Crete; and flying by sea to Athens; Minos; contrary to this decree;
pursued him with his ships of war; was forced by a storm upon
Sicily; and there ended his life。 After his decease; Deucalion; his
son; desiring a quarrel with the Athenians; sent to them; demanding
that they should deliver up Daedalus to him; threatening upon their
refusal; to put to death all the young Athenians whom his father had
received as hostages from the city。 To this angry message Theseus
returned a very gentle answer excusing himself that he could not
deliver up Daedalus; who was nearly related to him; being his
cousin…german; his mother being Merope; the daughter of Erechtheus。 In
the meanwhile he secretly prepared a navy; part of it at home near the
village of the Thymoetadae; a place of no resort; and far from any
common roads; the other part by his grandfather Pittheus's means at
Troezen; that so his design might be carried on with the greatest
secrecy。 As soon as ever his fleet was in readiness; he set sail;
having with him Daedalus and other exiles from Crete for his guides;
and none of the Cretans having any knowledge of his coming; but
imagining when they saw his fleet that they were friends and vessels
of their own; he soon made himself master of the port; and immediately
making a descent; reached Gnossus before any notice of his coming;
and; in a battle before the gates of the labyrinth; put Deucalion
and all his guards to the sword。 The government by this means
falling to Ariadne; he made a league with her; and received the
captives of her; and ratified a perpetual friendship between the
Athenians and the Cretans; whom he engaged under an oath never again
to commence any war with Athens。
  There are yet many other traditions about these things; and as
many concerning Ariadne; all inconsistent with each other。 Some relate
that she hung herself; being deserted by Theseus。 Others that she
was carried away by his sailors to the isle of Naxos; and married to
Oenarus; priest of Bacchus; and that Theseus left her because he
fell in love with another…

        〃For Aegle's love was burning in his breast;

a verse which Hereas; the Megarian; says was formerly in the poet
Hesiod's works; but put out by Pisistratus; in like manner as he added
in Homer's Raising of the Dead; to gratify the Athenians; the line…

        〃Theseus; Pirithous; mighty son of gods。〃

Others say Ariadne had sons also by Theseus; Oenopion and Staphylus;
and among these is the poet Ion of Chios; who writes of his own native
city…

        〃Which once Oenopion; son of Theseus built。〃

But the more famous of the legendary stories everybody (as I may
say) has in his mouth。 In Paeon; however; the Amathusian; there is a
story given; differing from the rest。 For he writes that Theseus;
being driven by a storm upon the isle of Cyprus; and having aboard
with him Ariadne; big with child; and extremely discomposed with the
rolling of the sea; set her on shore; and left her there alone; to
return himself and help the ship; when; on a sudden; a violent wind
carried him again out to sea。 That the women of the island received
Ariadne very kindly; and did all they could to console and alleviate
her distress at being left behind。 That they counterfeited kind
letters; and delivered them to her; as sent from Theseus; and; when
she fell in labour; were diligent in performing to her every needful
service; but that she died before she could be delivered; and was
honourably interred。 That soon after Theseus returned; and was greatly
afflicted for her loss; and at his departure left a sum of money among
the people of the island; ordering them to do sacrifice to Ariadne;
and caused two little images to be made and dedicated to her; one of
silver and the other of brass。 Moreover; that on the second day of
Gorpiaeus; which is sacred to Ariadne; they have this ceremony among
their sacrifices; to have a youth lie down and with his voice and
gesture represent the pains of a woman in travail; and that the
Amathusians call the grove in which they show her tomb; the grove of
Venus Ariadne。
  Differing yet from this account; some of the Naxians write that
there were two Minoses and two Ariadnes; one of whom; they say; was
married to Bacchus; in the isle of Naxos; and bore the children
Staphylus and his brother; but that the other; of a later age; was
carried off by Theseus; and; being afterwards deserted by him; retired
to Naxos; with her nurse Corcyna; whose grave they yet show。 That this
Ariadne also died there; and was worshipped by the island; but in a
different manner from the former; for her day is celebrated with
general joy and revelling; but all the sacrifices performed to the
latter are attended with mourning and gloom。
  Now Theseus; in his return from Crete; put in at Delos; and having
sacrificed to the god of the island; dedicated to the temple the image
of Venus which Ariadne had given him; and danced with the young
Athenians a dance that; in memory of him; they say is still
preserved among the inhabitants of Delos; consisting in certain
measured turnings and returnings; imitative of the windings and
twistings of the labyrinth。 And this dance; as Dicaearchus writes;
is called among the Delians the Crane。 This he danced around the
Ceratonian Altar; so called from its consisting of horns taken from
the left side of the head。 They say also that he instituted games in
Delos; where he was the first that began the custom of giving a palm
to the victors。
  When they were come near the coast of Attica; so great was the joy
for the happy success of their voyage; that neither Theseus himself
nor the pilot remembered to hang out the sail which should have been
the token of their safety to Aegeus; who; in despair at the sight;
threw himself headlong from a rock; and perished in the sea。 But
Theseus being arrived at the port of Phalerum; paid there the
sacrifices which he had vowed to the gods at his setting out to sea;
and sent a herald to the city to carry the news of his safe return。 At
his entrance; the herald found the people for the most part full of
grief for the loss of their king; others; as may well be believed;
as full of joy for the tidings that he brought; and eager to welcome
him and crown him with garlands for his good news; which he indeed
accepted of; but hung them upon his herald's staff; and thus returning
to the seaside before Theseus had finished his libation to the gods;
he stayed apart for fear of disturbing the holy rites; but; as soon as
the libation was ended; went up and related the king's death; upon the
hearing of which; with great lamentations and a confused tumult of
grief; they ran with all haste to the city。 And from hence; they
say; it comes that at this day; in the feast of Oschophoria; the
herald is not crowned; but his staff; and all who are present at the
libation cry out eleleu; iou; iou; the first of which confused
sounds is commonly used by men in haste; or at a triumph; the other is
proper to people in consternation or disorder of mind。
  Theseus; after the funeral of his father; paid his vows to Apollo
the seventh day of Pyanepsion; for on that day the youth that returned
with him safe from Crete made their entry into the city。 They say;
also; that the custom of boiling pulse at this feast is derived from
hence; because the young men that escaped put all that was left of
their provision together; and; boiling it in one common pot; feasted
themselves with it; and ate it all up together。 Hence; also; they
carry in procession an olive branch bound about with wool (such as
they then made use of in their supplications); which they call
Eiresione; crowned with all sorts of fruits; to signify that
scarcity and barrenness was ceased; singing in 

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