Theseus (Down)

Theseus' friendship with Pirithous，king of the Lapithae，grew from a dramatic beginning．Pirithous was invading Attica and The seus was marching his men out to meet him． In the first personal encounter between the two heroes each was so filled with admiration for the other that they both laid down their weapons and became faithful friends．At the wedding of Pirithous，to which Theseus and Heracleswere invited，a number of horsemen present were angry with the shining beauty of the bride，so that they attempted to take herby force．Both The seus and Heracles were enraged at their wildbehaviour ．In what was known as the coldblooded fight between the horsemen and the Lapithae they beat the horsemen and saved the bride．But she did not have long to live．Both The seus and Pirithous were full of the ambition of marrying a lady of holy birth．At one time they got Helen by force，she was the beautiful daughter of Zeus，but as she was not yet of marriageable age，The seus left her with his mother．Later she was rescued by her brothers，Castor and Pollux．Soproud were the two friends that they were now planning to invade the lower world and carry Persephone up by force，for Pirithous was eager for her beauty．They went，but they found it impossible to get out again． One of them，Pirithous，was bound toa turning wheel while The seus himself was chained to a rock．If it had not been for Heracles，who came in for Cerberus，Theseus would never have been able to return to the upper air again．When he returned to Athens he was quite old and unhappy with life．As king he acted like a tyrant  and went successfully away from his people． He was sent away to the island of Scyros，where he fell into sea from a cliff． Nothing more was heard ofhim until the battle of Marathon centuries later．When the Athenians saw a mighty soldier leading them in their ruthless attackagainst the invading Persians，they recognized him as The seus and after the war they devoted a grand temple to his memory and offered sacrifice at his altar．

52 特修斯（下集）

特修斯与拉皮塞国王皮瑞塞斯的友谊有着戏剧般的开端。皮瑞塞斯入侵安提卡。特修斯带兵出城迎战。在两人正面交锋的第一个回合中，两人相互之间钦佩不已，以致最后都放下武器成了忠实的朋友。皮瑞塞斯结婚时，特修斯和海格拉斯都受到了邀请。在场的许多骑兵被新娘那闪光夺目的美丽所激怒。他们决定用武力把她抢过来。特修斯和海格拉斯对他们的野蛮行径怒不可遏。在这场众所周知的冷血战争中，他们痛击了骑兵并夺回了新娘。可惜她很快就离开人世了。特修斯和皮瑞塞斯都雄心勃勃想娶一位出身圣洁的淑女。他们一度夺来了海伦。她是宙斯美丽的女儿，但她未到婚嫁年龄，于是特修斯让母亲照看她。后来，海伦的兄弟卡斯特和波鲁克斯救出了她。两位朋友如此骄傲便决定去进攻人间，把珀耳塞福涅抢来。因为皮瑞塞斯喜爱她的美貌。他们出发了，但他们却发现自己已无法逃脱，皮瑞塞斯被绑到了一个旋转的车轮上了，而特修斯则被拴在了石头上。要不是海格立斯，特修斯肯定就不能再回到天上了。当特修斯回到雅典时，他老态龙钟，生活也不如意。作为一个国王他独断专横，结果被人民赶下了台。他被流放到塞库鲁斯岛。在那儿，他失足从悬崖上栽到了海里。从那以后，他杳无音信。几百年后特洛伊战争爆发。雅典人看到一个身材高大的士兵带领他们勇敢无情地攻击着入侵的波斯人，他们认出他就是特修斯。战争结束后，雅典人为纪念他建造了一座大寺庙，并给他的祭坛贡奉祭品。