Page:History of Greece Vol IV.djvu/190

 172 HISTOKY OF GREECK ivere both sisters, daughters of Asopus : let us send to crave assistance from the JEginetans." If hij subtle interpretation (founded upon their descent from the sam 3 legendary progenitors) did not at once convince all who heard it, at least no one had any better to suggest; and envoys were at once sent to the JEgine- tans, who, in reply to a petition founded on legendary claims, sent to the help of the Thebans a reinforcement of legendary, but venerated, auxiliaries, the ^Eakid heroes. "VYe are left to sup- pose that their effigies are here meant. It was in vain, however, that the glory and the supposed presence of the JEakids Teln- mon and Peleus were introduced into the Theban camp. Vic- tory still continued on the side of Athens; and the discouraged Thebans again sent to JEgina, restoring the heroes, 1 and praying for aid of a character more human and positive. Their request was granted, and the JEginetans commenced war against Athens without even the decent preliminary of a herald and declaration. 13 This remarkable embassy first brings us into acquaintance with the Dorians of ^Egina, oligarchical, wealthy, commercial, and powerful at sea, even in the earliest days; more analogous to Corinth than to any of the other cities called Dorian. The hos- 1 In the expression of Herodotus, the JEakid heroes are really sent from ^Egina, and really sent back by the Thebans (v. 80-81) Ol Je afyi. alriovji l-iKOVpirjv rot)f AlaidSag ai<fnrt/j.ireiv ityaaav, avrte ol Qqtfaloi Trt/uipavTee, rotif fj.ev AiaKiSag a(pi uiredidocav, reDv 6e uvdpuv tdeovro. Compare again v, 75; viii, 64; and Polyb.vii, 9, 2. Qeuv TUV avaTparevonivuv. Justin gives a narrative of an analogous application from the Epizephyrian Lokrians to Sparta (xx, 3) : " Territi Locrenses ad Spartanos decurrunt : auxilium supplices deprecantur: illi longinqua militia gravati, auxilium a Castore et Polluce petere cos jubent. Neque legati responsum sociae urbis epreverunt; profectique in proximum templum, facto sacrificio, auxilium deorum implorant. Litatis hostiis, obtentoque, ut rebantur, quod petebant baud seats Iceti qiiam si deos ipsos secum avecturi essent pulvinaria iis in navi componunt, faustisque profecti ominibus. solatia snis pro auxiUis deportant." In comparing the expressions of Herodotus with those of Justin, we see that the former believes the direct literal presence and action of the .ZEakid heroes (" the Thebans sent back the heroes, and asked for men"), while the lutter explains away the divine intervention into a mere fancy and feeling on the part of those to whom it is supposed to be accorded. This was the tone of those later authors whom Justin followed: coiipare also Pausan. fii, 19, 2. 1 Hcrodot. v, 81-X2