ABSTRACT
Compm·ison of Theseus with Romulus 389 onely one for him selfe that was called Hersilia, as they saye, and delivered the reste to his best and most honest cittizens. Mterwardes by the honour, love, and good entertainment that he caused them to have and receyve of their husbands, he chaunged this violent force of ravishement, into a most perfect bonde and league of amitie: which dyd so knyt and joyne in one these two nations, that it was the beginning of the great mutuall love which grewe afterwards betwext those two people, and consequently ofthejoyning of their powers together. Furthermore, time hath geven a good testimonie of the love, reverence, constancie, kyndenes, and all matrimoniall offices that he established by that meanes, betwext man and wife. For in two hundred and thirtie yeres afterwards, there was never man that durst forsake or put awaye his wife, nor the wife her husband.1 And as among the Grecians, the best learned men, and most curious observers of antiquities doe knowe his name, that was the first murderer of his father or mother: even so all the Romaines knewe what he was, which first durst put away his wife. Lt was one called Spurius Carvilius, bicause his wife was barren and had no children. The effects also doe agree with the testimonie of the time. For the Realme was common unto Kings of both nations, and through the alliance of these mariages that beganne first of ravishements, both nations lived peaciblie, and in equalitie, under one civill policie, and well governed common weale. The Athenians contrariewise, by Theseus mariages, dyd get neither love nor kynred of any one persone, but rather they procured warres, enmities, and the' slaughter of their cittizens, with the losse in the ende of the cittie of Aphidnes.
