had engaged by her drugs to enable Aegeus to have children.  She was the first to discover who Theseus was, while Aegeus, who was an old man, and feared every one because of the disturbed state of society, did not recognise him.  Consequently she advised Aegeus to invite him to a feast, that she might poison him.  Theseus accordingly came to Aegeus’s table.  He did not wish to be the first to tell his name, but, to give his father an opportunity of recognising him, he drew his sword, as if he meant to cut some of the meat with it, and showed it to Aegeus.  Aegeus at once recognised it, overset the cup of poison, looked closely at his son and embraced him.  He then called a public meeting and made Theseus known as his son to the citizens, with whom he was already very popular because of his bravery.  It is said that when the cup was overset the poison was spilt in the place where now there is the enclosure in the Delphinium, for there Aegeus dwelt; and the Hermes to the east of the temple there they call the one who is “at the door of Aegeus.”

XIII.  But the sons of Pallas, who had previously to this expected that they would inherit the kingdom on the death of Aegeus without issue, now that Theseus was declared the heir, were much enraged, first that Aegeus should be king, a man who was merely an adopted child of Pandion, and had no blood relationship to Erechtheus, and next that Theseus, a stranger and a foreigner, should inherit the kingdom.  They consequently declared war.  Dividing themselves into two bodies, the one proceeded to march openly upon the city from Sphettus, under the command of Pallas their father, while the other lay in ambush at Gargettus, in order that they might fall upon their opponents on two sides at once.  But there was a herald among them named Leos, of the township of Agnus, who betrayed the plans of the sons of Pallas to Theseus.  He suddenly attacked those who were in ambush, and killed them all, hearing which the other body under Pallas dispersed.  From this time forth they say that the township of Pallene has never intermarried with that of Agnus, and that it is not customary amongst them for heralds to begin a proclamation with the words “Acouete Leo,” (Oyez) for they hate the name of Leo[A] because of the treachery of that man.

[Footnote A:  The Greek word leos signifies people.]

XIV.  Now Theseus, who wished for employment and also to make himself popular with the people, went to attack the bull of Marathon, who had caused no little trouble to the inhabitants of Tetrapolis.  He overcame the beast, and drove it alive through the city for all men to see, and then sacrificed it to Apollo of Delphi.  Hekale, too, and the legend of her having entertained Theseus, does not seem altogether without foundation in fact; for the people of the neighbouring townships used to assemble and perform what was called the Hekalesian sacrifice to Zeus Hekalus, and they also used to honour Hekale, calling her by