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Μίκκα καὶ Μεγιστώ

Ἀριστότιμος Ἠλείοις ἐπαναστὰς τύραννος ἴσχυε μὲν διʼ Ἀντιγόνου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἐχρῆτο δὲ τῇ 251a δυνάμει πρὸς οὐδὲν ἐπιεικὲς οὐδὲ μέτριον καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἦν φύσει θηριώδης, καὶ τοῖς φυλάττουσι τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ τὸ σῶμα βαρβάροις μιγάσι δουλεύων ὑπὸ φόβου, πολλὰ μὲν ὑβριστικὰ πολλὰ δʼ ὠμὰ τοὺς πολίτας ὑπʼ αὐτῶν περιεώρα πάσχοντας· οἷον ἦν καὶ τὸ Φιλοδήμου πάθος. ἔχοντος γὰρ αὐτοῦ θυγατέρα καλὴν ὄνομα Μίκκαν ἐπεχείρησέ τις τῶν περὶ τὸν τύραννον ξεναγῶν ὄνομα Λεύκιος ὕβρει μᾶλλον ἢ ἔρωτι συγγενέσθαι· καὶ πέμψας ἐκάλει τὴν παρθένον. οἱ μὲν οὖν γονεῖς τὴν ἀνάγκην 251b ὁρῶντες ἐκέλευον βαδίζειν· ἡ δὲ παῖς οὖσα γενναία καὶ μεγαλόφρων ἐδεῖτο τοῦ πατρὸς περιπλεκομένη καὶ καθικετεύουσα μᾶλλον αὐτὴν περιιδεῖν ἀποθανοῦσαν ἢ τὴν παρθενίαν αἰσχρῶς καὶ παρανόμως ἀφαιρεθεῖσαν. καὶ διατριβῆς γενομένης, σπαργῶν καὶ μεθύων ὁ Λεύκιος αὐτὸς ἐξανέστη μεταξὺ πίνων πρὸς ὀργήν καὶ τὴν Μίκκαν εὑρὼν ἐν τοῖς γόνασι τοῦ πατρὸς τὴν κεφαλὴν ἔχουσαν ἐκέλευσεν αὐτῷ συνακολουθεῖν οὐ βουλομένης δὲ τὸ χιτώνιον περιρρήξας ἐμαστίγου γυμνήν, αὐτὴν μὲν ἐγκαρτεροῦσαν σιωπῇ ταῖς ἀλγηδόσιν· ὁ δὲ πατὴρ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ. ὡς οὐδὲν ἀντιβολοῦντες καὶ δακρύοντες 251c ἐπέραινον, ἐτράποντο πρὸς θεῶν καὶ ἀνθρώπων ἀνάκλησιν ὡς δεινὰ καὶ παράνομα πάσχοντες. ὁ δὲ βάρβαρος ἐκμανεὶς παντάπασιν ὑπὸ τοῦ θυμοῦ καὶ μέθης ἀποσφάττει τὴν παρθένον, ὡς ἔτυχεν ἐν τοῖς κόλποις τοῦ πατρὸς ἔχουσα τὸ πρόσωπον.

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ τούτοις ὁ τύραννος ἐκάμπτετο, πολλοὺς δʼ ἀνῄρει καὶ πλείονας ἐφυγάδευεν ὀκτακόσιοι γοῦν λέγονται καταφυγεῖν εἰς¹ Αἰτωλοὺς δεόμενοι τὰς γυναῖκας αὑτοῖς καὶ τὰ νήπια τῶν τέκνων κομίσασθαι παρὰ τοῦ τυράννου. ὀλίγῳ δʼ ὕστερον αὐτὸς ἐκήρυξε τὰς βουλομένας γυναῖκας ἀπιέναι πρὸς τοὺς ἄνδρας, ὅσον βούλονται τῶν γυναικείων χρημάτων ἐπιφερομένας. ἐπεὶ δὲ πάσας ᾔσθετο 251d μεθʼ ἡδονῆς τὸ κήρυγμα δεδεγμένας ἐγένοντο γὰρ ὑπὲρ ἑξακοσίας² τὸ πλῆθος, ἐκέλευσεν ἀθρόας ἡμέρᾳ ῥητῇ βαδίζειν, ὡς τὴν ἀσφάλειαν αὐτὸς παρέξων. ἐνστάσης δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας, αἱ μὲν ἐπὶ τὰς πύλας ἠθροίζοντο τὰ χρήματα συσκευασάμεναι, καὶ τῶν τέκνων τὰ μὲν ἐν ταῖς ἀγκάλαις φέρουσαι τὰ δʼ ἐπὶ τῶν ἁμαξῶν ἔχουσαι, καὶ περιέμενον ἀλλήλας· ἄφνω δὲ πολλοὶ τῶν τοῦ τυράννου ἐπεφέροντο,³ μένειν βοῶντες ἔτι πόρρωθεν. ὡς δʼ ἐγγὺς ἐγένοντο, τὰς μὲν γυναῖκας ἐκέλευον ἀναχωρεῖν ὀπίσω, τὰ δὲ ζεύγη καὶ τὰς ἁμάξας ὑποστρέψαντες ἔωσαν εἰς αὐτὰς καὶ διὰ μέσων ἀφειδῶς 251e διήλαυνον, οὔτʼ ἀκολουθεῖν οὔτε μένειν ἐῶντες οὔτε τοῖς νηπίοις βοηθεῖν ἀπολλυμένοις τὰ μὲν γὰρ ἐκπίπτοντα τῶν ἁμαξῶν τὰ δʼ ὑποπίπτοντα διεφθείροντο,⁴ βοῇ καὶ μάστιξιν ὥσπερ πρόβατα τῶν μισθοφόρων ἐπειγόντων ἀνατρεπομένας ὑπʼ ἀλλήλων, ἕως εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον ἐνέβαλον ἁπάσας, τὰ δὲ χρήματα πρὸς τὸν Ἀριστότιμον ἀπεκομίσθη.

χαλεπῶς δὲ τῶν Ἠλείων ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐχόντων, αἱ περὶ τὸν Διόνυσον ἱεραὶ γυναῖκες, ἃς ἑκκαίδεκα καλοῦσιν, ἱκετηρίας καὶ στέμματα τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ λαβοῦσαι περὶ τὴν ἀγορὰν ἀπήντησαν τῷ 251f Ἀριστοτίμῳ, καὶ τῶν δορυφόρων ὑπʼ αἰδοῦς διαστάντων, ἔστησαν τὸ πρῶτον σιωπῇ ὁσίως⁵ προϊσχόμεναι τὰς ἱκετηρίας. ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐγένοντο φανεραὶ δεόμεναι καὶ παραιτούμεναι τὴν ὀργὴν ὑπὲρ τῶν γυναικῶν, παροξυνθεὶς πρὸς τοὺς δορυφόρους καὶ κεκραγὼς ὅτι προσελθεῖν εἴασαν αὐτὰς ἐποίησε τὰς μὲν ὠθοῦντας τὰς δὲ τύπτοντας ἐξελάσαι ἐκ τῆς ἀγορᾶς, ἑκάστην δὲ δυσὶ ταλάντοις ἐζημίωσε.

γενομένων δὲ τούτων, ἐν μὲν τῇ πόλει συνέστησε πρᾶξιν ἐπὶ τὸν τύραννον Ἑλλάνικος, ἀνὴρ διὰ γῆρας ἤδη καὶ δύο τέκνων θάνατον ὡς οὐδὲν ἂν 252a πράξας ὑπὸ τοῦ τυράννου περιορώμενος. ἐκ δʼ Αἰτωλίας διαπεράσαντες οἱ φυγάδες καταλαμβάνουσι τῆς χώρας ἐπιτήδειον ἐμπολεμεῖν ἔρυμα τὴν Ἀμυμώνην, καὶ συχνοὺς προσεδέχοντο τῶν πολιτῶν ἐκ τῆς Ἤλιδος ἀποδιδράσκοντας. ταῦτα δὲ δείσας ὁ Ἀριστότιμος εἰσῆλθε πρὸς τὰς γυναῖκας, καὶ νομίζων φόβῳ μᾶλλον ἢ χάριτι διαπράξεσθαι προσέταττε πέμπειν καὶ γράφειν αὐτὰς τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ὅπως ἀπίωσιν ἐκ τῆς χώρας· εἰ δὲ μή, κατασφάξειν ἠπείλει πάσας αἰκισάμενος καὶ προανελὼν 252b τοὺς παῖδας. αἱ μὲν οὖν ἄλλαι, πολὺν χρόνον ἐφεστῶτος καὶ κελεύοντος εἰπεῖν εἴ τι πράξουσι τούτων, οὐδὲν ἀπεκρίναντο πρὸς ἐκεῖνον, ἀλλὰ προσέβλεψαν ἀλλήλαις σιωπῇ καὶ διένευσαν,⁶ ἀνθομολογούμεναι τὸ μὴ δεδιέναι μηδʼ ἐκπεπλῆχθαι τὴν ἀπειλήν. Μεγιστὼ δʼ ἡ Τιμολέοντος γυνὴ καὶ διὰ τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ τὴν ἀρετὴν ἡγεμονικὴν ἔχουσα τάξιν, διαναστῆναι μὲν οὐκ ἠξίωσεν οὐδʼ εἴασε τὰς ἄλλας· καθεζομένη δʼ ἀπεκρίνατο πρὸς αὐτόν, εἰ μὲν ἦς ἀνὴρ φρόνιμος, οὐκ ἂν διελέγου γυναιξὶ περὶ ἀνδρῶν, ἀλλὰ πρὸς ἐκείνους ἂν ὡς κυρίους ἡμῶν ἔπεμπες, ἀμείνονας λόγους εὑρὼν 252c ἢ διʼ ὧν ἡμᾶς ἐξηπάτησας· εἰ δʼ αὐτὸς ἐκείνους πεῖσαι ἀπεγνωκὼς διʼ ἡμῶν ἐπιχειρεῖς παραλογίζεσθαι, μήθʼ ἡμᾶς ἔλπιζε πάλιν ἐξαπατήσειν μήτʼ ἐκεῖνοι κακῶς οὕτω φρονήσειαν, ὥστε φειδόμενοι παιδαρίων καὶ γυναικῶν⁷ ἐγκαταλιπεῖν τὴν τῆς πατρίδος ἐλευθερίαν· οὐ γὰρ τοσοῦτο κακὸν αὐτοῖς ἡμᾶς ἀπολέσαι μηδὲ νῦν ἔχοντας, ὅσον ἀγαθὸν ἐξελέσθαι τῆς σῆς ὠμότητος καὶ ὕβρεως τοὺς πολίτας.

ταῦτα τῆς Μεγιστοῦς λεγούσης, οὐκ ἀνασχόμενος ὁ Ἀριστότιμος ἐκέλευσε τὸ παιδίον αὐτῆς ὡς ἀποκτενῶν ἐν ὄψει κομισθῆναι. ζητούντων δὲ τῶν ὑπηρετῶν ἀναμεμιγμένον ἐν τοῖς ἄλλοις παίζουσι καὶ διαπαλαίουσιν, ἡ μήτηρ ὀνομαστὶ 252d προσκαλεσαμένη, δεῦρο, ἔφη, τέκνον, πρὶν αἰσθέσθαι καὶ φρονεῖν ἀπαλλάγηθι τῆς πικρᾶς τυραννίδος· ὡς ἐμοὶ βαρύτερόν ἐστι δουλεύοντὰ σε παρʼ ἀξίαν ἐφορᾶν ἢ ἀποθνήσκοντα.

τοῦ δʼ Ἀριστοτίμου σπασαμένου τὴν μάχαιραν ἐπʼ αὐτὴν ἐκείνην καὶ μετʼ ὀργῆς ἐπιφερομένου, τῶν συνήθων τις αὐτῷ Κύλων⁸ ὄνομα πιστὸς δοκῶν εἶναι, μισῶν δὲ καὶ μετέχων τῆς συνωμοσίας τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἑλλάνικον, ἀντέστη καὶ ἀπέστρεψε δεόμενος καὶ λέγων ἀγεννὲς εἶναι καὶ γυναικῶδες 252e οὐκ ἀνδρὸς ἡγεμονικοῦ καὶ πράγμασι χρῆσθαι μεμαθηκότος τὸ ἔργον ὥστε μόλις ἔννουν γενόμενον τὸν Ἀριστότιμον ἀπελθεῖν.

γίγνεται δὲ σημεῖον αὐτῷ μέγα· μεσημβρία μὲν γὰρ ἦν καὶ μετὰ τῆς γυναικὸς ἀνεπαύετο παρασκευαζομένων δὲ τῶν περὶ τὸ δεῖπνον, ἀετὸς μετέωρος ὤφθη δινούμενος ὑπὲρ τῆς οἰκίας, εἶθʼ ὥσπερ ἐκ προνοίας καὶ στοχασμοῦ λίθον ἀφῆκεν εὐμεγέθη κατʼ ἐκεῖνο τῆς στέγης τὸ μέρος, οὗ τὸ δωμάτιον ἦν, ἐν ᾧ κατακείμενος ἐτύγχανεν ὁ Ἀριστότιμος. ἅμα δʼ ἄνωθεν ψόφου μεγάλου καὶ κραυγῆς ἔξωθεν ὑπὸ τῶν ἰδόντων τὸν ὄρνιν 252f γενομένης, ἐκπλαγεὶς καὶ πυθόμενος τὸ γεγονὸς μετεπέμψατο μάντιν, ᾧ χρώμενος διετέλει κατʼ ἀγοράν, καὶ διηρώτα περὶ τοῦ σημείου συντεταραγμένος. ὁ δʼ ἐκεῖνον μὲν παρεκάλει ὡς τοῦ Διὸς αὐτὸν ἐξεγείροντος καὶ βοηθοῦντος, οἷς δʼ ἐπίστευε τῶν πολιτῶν ἔφρασεν ὅσον οὔπω τὴν δίκην αἰωρουμένην ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς ἐμπεσεῖσθαι τῷ τυράννῳ. διὸ καὶ τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἑλλάνικον ἔδοξε μὴ μέλλειν, ἀλλʼ ἐπιτίθεσθαι τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ.

τῆς δὲ νυκτὸς Ἑλλάνικος ἐδόκει κατὰ τοὺς ὕπνους τῶν τεθνηκότων υἱῶν τὸν ἕτερον λέγειν αὐτῷ παραστάντα, τί πέπονθας, ὦ πάτερ, 253a καθεύδων⁹; αὔριον δέ σε δεῖ τῆς πόλεως στρατηγεῖν. οὗτός τε δὴ διὰ τὴν ὄψιν εὐθαρσὴς γεγενημένος παρεκάλει τοὺς ἑταίρους,¹⁰ ὃ τ’ Ἀριστότιμος πυθόμενος Κρατερὸν αὐτῷ βοηθοῦντα μετὰ πολλῆς δυνάμεως ἐν Ὀλυμπίᾳ καταστρατοπεδεύειν, οὕτως ἐξεθάρσησεν, ὥστʼ ἄνευ δορυφόρων εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν προελθεῖν μετὰ τοῦ Κύλωνος. ὡς οὖν συνεῖδε τὸν καιρὸν Ἑλλάνικος, ὃ μὲν ἦν σημεῖον αὐτῷ πρὸς τοὺς μέλλοντας ἐπιχειρεῖν συγκείμενον οὐκ ἔδωκε, λαμπρᾷ δὲ τῇ φωνῇ καὶ ἅμα τὰς χεῖρας προτείνων 253b ἀμφοτέρας, τί μέλλετε,¹¹ ἄνδρες ἀγαθοί; καλὸν τὸ θέατρον ἐν μέσῳ τῆς πατρίδος ἐναγωνίσασθαι. πρῶτος μὲν οὖν ὁ Κύλων σπασάμενος τὸ ξίφος παίει τινὰ τῶν ἑπομένων τῷ Ἀριστοτίμῳ Θρασυβούλου δὲ καὶ Λάμπιδος ἐξ ἐναντίας ἐπιφερομένων, ἔφθη μὲν ὁ Ἀριστότιμος εἰς τὸ τοῦ Διὸς ἱερὸν καταφυγών ἐκεῖ δʼ ἀποκτείναντες αὐτὸν καὶ τὸ σῶμα προβαλόντες εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐκάλουν τοὺς πολίτας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν. οὐ μὴν ἔφθησάν γε πολὺ¹² τὰς γυναῖκας· εὐθὺς γὰρ ἐξέδραμον μετὰ χαρᾶς καὶ ὀλολυγμοῦ, καὶ περιστᾶσαι τοὺς ἄνδρας ἀνέδουν καὶ κατέστεφον. εἶτα τοῦ πλήθους ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ τυράννου ῥυέντος, ἡ μὲν γυνὴ συγκλείσασα 253c τὸν θάλαμον αὑτὴν ἀνήρτησε. δύο δʼ ἦσαν αὐτῷ¹³ θυγατέρες, παρθένοι μὲν ἔτι, κάλλισται δὲ τὴν ὄψιν, ἤδη γάμων ὥραν ἔχουσαι ταύτας συλλαβόντες εἷλκον ἔξω πάντως μὲν ἀνελεῖν, αἰκίσασθαι δὲ καὶ καθυβρίσαι πρότερον ἐγνωκότες. ἀπαντήσασα δʼ ἡ Μεγιστὼ μετὰ τῶν ἄλλων ἐβόα δεινὰ ποιεῖν αὐτούς, εἰ δῆμος ἀξιοῦντες εἶναι ταῦτα¹⁴ τολμῶσι καὶ ἀσελγαίνουσι τοῖς τυράννοις ὅμοια. ἐντρεπομένων δὲ πολλῶν τὸ ἀξίωμα τῆς γυναικὸς παρρησιαζομένης καὶ δακρυούσης, ἔδοξεν ἀφελεῖν 253d τὴν ὕβριν, αὐτὰς δʼ ἐᾶσαι διʼ αὑτῶν ἀποθανεῖν.

ὡς δʼ οὖν ἀναστρέψαντες ἔνδον ἐκέλευον εὐθὺς ἀποθνήσκειν τὰς παρθένους, ἡ πρεσβυτέρα Μυρὼ¹⁵ λύσασα τὴν ζώνην καὶ βρόχον ἐνάψασα τὴν ἀδελφὴν κατησπάζετο καὶ παρεκάλει προσέχειν καὶ ποιεῖν ἅπερ ἂν αὐτὴν θεάσηται ποιοῦσαν, ὅπως ἄν, ἔφη, μὴ ταπεινῶς μηδʼ ἀναξίως ἑαυτῶν καταστρέψωμεν. τῆς δὲ νεωτέρας δεομένης αὐτῇ παρεῖναι προτέρᾳ ἀποθανεῖν καὶ τῆς ζώνης ἀντιλαμβανομένης, οὐδὲν ἄλλο πώποτʼ, εἶπεν, οὐδὲ ἓν¹⁶ ἤρνημαί σοι δεομένῃ καὶ ταύτην 253e οὖν λαβὲ τὴν χάριν, ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπομενῶ καὶ τλήσομαι τοῦ θανάτου βαρύτερον, τὸ σέ, φιλτάτη, προτέραν ἰδεῖν ἀποθνήσκουσαν. ἐκ τούτου τὴν μὲν ἀδελφὴν αὐτὴ διδάξασα τῷ τραχήλῳ περιβαλέσθαι τὸν βρόχον, ὡς ᾔσθετο τεθνηκυῖαν, καθεῖλε καὶ κατεκάλυψεν· αὐτὴ¹⁷ δὲ τὴν Μεγιστὼ παρεκάλεσεν ἐπιμεληθῆναι, καὶ μὴ περιιδεῖν αἰσχρῶς, ἐπειδὰν ἀποθάνῃ, τεθεῖσαν ὥστε μηδένα πικρὸν μηδὲ μισοτύραννον οὕτω γενέσθαι τῶν παρόντων, ὃς οὐκ ἔκλαυσεν οὐδὲ κατηλέησε τὴν τῶν παρθένων εὐγένειαν.

τῶν μὲν οὖν κοινῇ πεπραγμένων γυναιξὶ μυρίων ὄντων ἱκανὰ ταῦτα παραδείγματα· τὰς δὲ καθʼ 253f ἑκάστην ἀρετάς, ὅπως ἂν ἐπίῃ, σποράδην ἀναγράψομεν, οὐδὲν οἰόμενοι τῆς κατὰ χρόνον τάξεως δεῖσθαι τὴν ὑποκειμένην ἱστορίαν.

Mulierum virtutes. Plutarch. ed. Frank Cole Babbitt. Cambridge, MA. 1931.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Γυναικῶν ἀρεταί (Greek) (Plutarch. Moralia, Vol. III. Babbitt, Frank Cole, editor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1931 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Γυναικῶν ἀρεταί Perseus (Plutarch. Plutarchi Chaeronensis Moralia, Vol II. Vernardakēs, Grēgorios N., editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1889.) — 15 focus

Μίκκα καὶ Μεγιστώ

Ἀριστότιμος Ἠλείοις ἐπαναστὰς τύραννος ἴσχυε μὲν διʼ Ἀντιγόνου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἐχρῆτο δὲ τῇ δυνάμει 251a πρὸς οὐδὲν ἐπιεικὲς οὐδὲ μέτριον· καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἦν φύσει θηριώδης, καὶ τοῖς φυλάττουσι τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ τὸ σῶμα βαρβάροις μιγάσι δουλεύων ὑπὸ φόβου, πολλὰ μὲν ὑβριστικὰ πολλὰ δʼ ὠμὰ τοὺς πολίτας 5 ὑπʼ αὐτῶν περιεώρα πάσχοντας· οἷον ἦν καὶ τὸ Φιλοδήμου πάθος. ἔχοντος γὰρ αὐτοῦ θυγατέρα καλὴν ὄνομα Μίκκαν ἐπεχείρησέ τις τῶν περὶ τὸν τύραννον ξεναγῶν ὄνομα Λεύκιος ὕβρει μᾶλλον ἢ ἔρωτι συγγενέσθαι· καὶ πέμψας ἐκάλει τὴν παρθένον. οἱ 10 μὲν οὖν γονεῖς τὴν ἀνάγκην ὁρῶντες ἐκέλευον βαδίζειν· 251b ἡ δὲ παῖς οὖσα γενναία καὶ μεγαλόφρων ἐδεῖτο τοῦ πατρὸς περιπλεκομένη καὶ καθικετεύουσα μᾶλλον αὐτὴν περιιδεῖν ἀποθανοῦσαν ἢ τὴν παρθενίαν αἰσχρῶς καὶ παρανόμως ἀφαιρεθεῖσαν. καὶ 15 διατριβῆς γενομένης, σπαργῶν καὶ μεθύων ὁ Λεύκιος αὐτὸς ἐξανέστη μεταξὺ πίνων πρὸς ὀργήν· καὶ τὴν Μίκκαν εὑρὼν ἐν τοῖς γόνασι τοῦ πατρὸς τὴν κεφαλὴν ἔχουσαν ἐκέλευσεν αὐτῷ συνακολουθεῖν· οὐ βουλομένης δὲ τὸ χιτώνιον περιρρήξας ἐμαστίγου 20 γυμνήν, αὐτὴν μὲν ἐγκαρτεροῦσαν σιωπῇ ταῖς ἀλγηδόσιν ὁ δὲ πατὴρ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ, ὡς οὐδὲν ἀντιβολοῦντες 251c καὶ δακρύοντες ἐπέραινον, ἐτράποντο πρὸς θεῶν καὶ ἀνθρώπων ἀνάκλησιν ὡς δεινὰ καὶ παράνομα πάσχοντες. ὁ δὲ βάρβαρος ἐκμανεὶς 25 παντάπασιν ὑπὸ τοῦ θυμοῦ καὶ μέθης ἀποσφάττει τὴν παρθένον, ὡς ἔτυχεν ἐν τοῖς κόλποις τοῦ πατρὸς ἔχουσα τὸ πρόσωπον. ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ τούτοις ὁ τύραννος ἐκάμπτετο, πολλοὺς δʼ ἀνῄρει καὶ πλείονας ἐφυγάδευεν· ὀκτακόσιοι γοῦν λέγονται καταφυγεῖν εἰς ¹ Αἰτωλοὺς δεόμενοι τὰς γυναῖκας αὑτοῖς καὶ τὰ νήπια τῶν τέκνων κομίσασθαι παρὰ τοῦ τυράννου. ὀλίγῳ δʼ ὕστερον αὐτὸς ἐκήρυξε τὰς βουλομένας γυναῖκας ἀπιέναι πρὸς τοὺς ἄνδρας, ὅσον 5 βούλονται τῶν γυναικείων χρημάτων ἐπιφερομένας 251d ἐπεὶ δὲ πάσας ᾔσθετο μεθʼ ἡδονῆς τὸ κήρυγμα δεδεγμένας ἐγένοντο γὰρ ὑπερεξακόσιαι ² τὸ πλῆθος, ἐκέλευσεν ἀθρόας ἡμέρᾳ ῥητῇ βαδίζειν, ὡς τὴν ἀσφάλειαν αὐτὸς παρέξων. ἐνστάσης δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας, αἱ 10 μὲν ἐπὶ τὰς πύλας ἠθροίζοντο τὰ χρήματα συσκευασάμεναι, καὶ τῶν τέκνων τὰ μὲν ἐν ταῖς ἀγκάλαις φέρουσαι τὰ δʼ ἐπὶ τῶν ἁμαξῶν ἔχουσαι, καὶ περιέμενον ἀλλήλας ἄφνω δὲ πολλοὶ τῶν τοῦ τυράννου ἐπεφέροντο, ³ μένειν βοῶντες ἔτι πόρρωθεν. ὡς δʼ 15 ἐγγὺς ἐγένοντο, τὰς μὲν γυναῖκας ἐκέλευον ἀναχωρεῖν ὀπίσω, τὰ δὲ ζεύγη καὶ τὰς ἁμάξας ὑποστρέψαντες ἔωσαν εἰς αὐτὰς καὶ διὰ μέσων ἀφειδῶς 251e διήλαυνον, οὔτʼ ἀκολουθεῖν οὔτε μένειν ἐῶντες οὔτε τοῖς νηπίοις βοηθεῖν ἀπολλυμένοις τὰ μὲν γὰρ ἐκπίπτοντα 20 τῶν ἁμαξῶν τὰ δʼ ὑποπίπτοντα διεφθείροντο, ⁴ βοῇ καὶ μάστιξιν ὥσπερ πρόβατα τῶν μισθοφόρων ἐπειγόντων ἀνατρεπομένας ὑπʼ ἀλλήλων, ἕως εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον ἐνέβαλον ἁπάσας, τὰ δὲ χρήματα πρὸς τὸν Ἀριστότιμον ἀπεκομίσθη. χαλεπῶς δὲ τῶν 25 Ἠλείων ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐχόντων, αἱ περὶ τὸν Διόνυσον ἱεραὶ γυναῖκες, ἃς ἑκκαίδεκα καλοῦσιν, ἱκετηρίας καὶ στέμματα τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ λαβοῦσαι περὶ τὴν 251f ἀγορὰν ἀπήντησαν τῷ Ἀριστοτίμῳ, καὶ τῶν δορυφόρων ὑπʼ αἰδοῦς διαστάντων, ἔστησαν τὸ πρῶτον σιωπῇ ὁσίως ⁵ προϊσχόμεναι τὰς ἱκετηρίας. ἐπεὶ δʼ 5 ἐγένοντο φανεραὶ δεόμεναι καὶ παραιτούμεναι τὴν ὀργὴν ὑπὲρ τῶν γυναικῶν, παροξυνθεὶς πρὸς τοὺς δορυφόρους καὶ κεκραγὼς ὅτι προσελθεῖν εἴασαν αὐτὰς ἐποίησε τὰς μὲν ὠθοῦντας τὰς δὲ τύπτοντας ἐξελάσαι τῆς ⁶ ἀγορᾶς, ἑκάστην δὲ δυσὶ ταλάντοις 10 ἐζημίωσε.

γενομένων δὲ τούτων, ἐν μὲν τῇ πόλει συνέστησε πρᾶξιν ἐπὶ τὸν τύραννον Ἑλλάνικος, ἀνὴρ διὰ γῆρας ἤδη καὶ δύο ⁷ τέκνων θάνατον ὡς οὐδὲν 252a ἂν πράξας ὑπὸ τοῦ τυράννου περιορώμενος. ἐκ δʼ Αἰτωλίας διαπεράσαντες οἱ φυγάδες καταλαμβάνουσι 15 τῆς χώρας ἐπιτήδειον ἐμπολεμεῖν ἔρυμα τὴν Ἀμυμώνην, καὶ συχνοὺς προσεδέχοντο τῶν πολιτῶν ἐκ τῆς Ἤλιδος ἀποδιδράσκοντας. ταῦτα δὲ δείσας ὁ Ἀριστότιμος εἰσῆλθε πρὸς τὰς γυναῖκας, καὶ νομίζων φόβῳ μᾶλλον ἢ χάριτι διαπράξεσθαι προσέταττε 20 πέμπειν καὶ γράφειν αὐτὰς τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ὅπως 252b ἀπίωσιν ἐκ τῆς χώρας εἰ δὲ μή, κατασφάξειν ἠπείλει πάσας αἰκισάμενος καὶ προανελὼν τοὺς παῖδας. αἱ μὲν οὖν ἄλλαι, πολὺν χρόνον ἐφεστῶτος καὶ κελεύοντος εἰπεῖν εἴ τι πράξουσι τούτων, οὐδὲν ἀπεκρίναντο 25 πρὸς ἐκεῖνον, ἀλλὰ προσέβλεψαν ἀλλήλαις σιωπῇ καὶ διένευσαν, ⁸ ἀνθομολογούμεναι τὸ μὴ δεδιέναι μηδʼ ἐκπεπλῆχθαι τὴν ἀπειλήν. Μεγιστὼ δʼ ἡ Τιμολέοντος γυνὴ καὶ διὰ τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ τὴν ἀρετὴν ἡγεμονικὴν ἔχουσα τάξιν, διαναστῆναι μὲν οὐκ ἠξίωσεν οὐδʼ εἴασε τὰς ἄλλας· καθεζομένη δʼ ἀπεκρίνατο πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰ μὲν ἦς ἀνὴρ φρόνιμος, 5 οὐκ ἂν διελέγου γυναιξὶ περὶ ἀνδρῶν, ἀλλὰ πρὸς ἐκείνους ἂν ὡς κυρίους ἡμῶν ἔπεμπες, ἀμείνονας 252c λόγους εὑρὼν ἢ διʼ ὧν ἡμᾶς ἐξηπάτησας· εἰ δʼ αὐτὸς ἐκείνους πεῖσαι ⁹ ἀπεγνωκὼς διʼ ἡμῶν ἐπιχειρεῖς παραλογίζεσθαι, μήθʼ ἡμᾶς ἔλπιζε πάλιν ἐξαπατήσειν μήτʼ 10 ἐκεῖνοι κακῶς οὕτω φρονήσειαν, ὥστε φειδόμενοι παιδαρίων καὶ γυναικῶν ἐγκαταλιπεῖν τὴν τῆς πατρίδος ἐλευθερίαν· οὐ γὰρ τοσοῦτο κακὸν αὐτοῖς ἡμᾶς ἀπολέσαι μηδὲ νῦν ἔχοντας, ὅσον ἀγαθὸν ἐξελέσθαι τῆς σῆς ὠμότητος καὶ ὕβρεως τοὺς πολίτας. 15 ταῦτα τῆς Μεγιστοῦς λεγούσης, οὐκ ἀνασχόμενος ὁ Ἀριστότιμος ἐκέλευσε τὸ παιδίον αὐτῆς ὡς ἀποκτενῶν ἐν ὄψει κομισθῆναι. ζητούντων δὲ τῶν ὑπηρετῶν ἀναμεμιγμένον ἐν τοῖς ἄλλοις παίζουσι καὶ 252d διαπαλαίουσιν, ἡ μήτηρ ὀνομαστὶ προσκαλεσαμένη 20 δεῦρο ἔφη τέκνον, πρὶν αἰσθέσθαι καὶ φρονεῖν ἀπαλλάγηθι τῆς πικρᾶς τυραννίδος ὡς ἐμοὶ βαρύτερόν ἐστι δουλεύοντά σε παρʼ ἀξίαν ἐφορᾶν ἢ ἀποθνήσκοντα τοῦ δʼ Ἀριστοτίμου σπασαμένου τὴν μάχαιραν ἐπʼ αὐτὴν ἐκείνην καὶ μετʼ ὀργῆς ἐπιφερομένου, 25 τῶν συνήθων τις αὐτῷ Κύλων ὄνομα πιστὸς δοκῶν εἶναι, μισῶν δὲ καὶ μετέχων τῆς συνωμοσίας τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἑλλάνικον, ἀντέστη καὶ ἀπέστρεψε δεόμενος καὶ λέγων ἀγεννὲς εἶναι καὶ γυναικῶδες 252e οὐκ ἀνδρὸς ἡγεμονικοῦ καὶ πράγμασι χρῆσθαι μεμαθηκότος τὸ ἔργον· ὥστε μόλις ἔννουν γενόμενον τὸν Ἀριστότιμον ἀπελθεῖν. γίγνεται δὲ σημεῖον αὐτῷ μέγα· μεσημβρία μὲν γὰρ ἦν καὶ μετὰ τῆς γυναικὸς 5 ἀνεπαύετο· παρασκευαζομένων δὲ τῶν περὶ τὸ δεῖπνον , ἀετὸς μετέωρος ὤφθη δινούμενος ὑπὲρ τῆς οἰκίας, εἶθʼ ὥσπερ ἐκ προνοίας καὶ στοχασμοῦ λίθον ἀφῆκεν εὐμεγέθη κατʼ ἐκεῖνο τῆς στέγης τὸ μέρος, οὗ τὸ δωμάτιον ἦν, ἐν ᾧ κατακείμενος ἐτύγχανεν ὁ 10 Ἀριστότιμος. ἅμα δʼ ἄνωθεν ψόφου μεγάλου καὶ κραυγῆς ἔξωθεν ὑπὸ τῶν ἰδόντων τὸν ὄρνιν γενομένης, 252f ἐκπλαγεὶς καὶ πυθόμενος τὸ γεγονὸς μετεπέμψατο μάντιν, ᾧ χρώμενος διετέλει κατʼ ἀγοράν, καὶ διηρώτα περὶ τοῦ σημείου συντεταραγμένος. ὁ 15 δʼ ἐκεῖνον μὲν παρεκάλει ὡς τοῦ Διὸς αὐτὸν ἐξεγείροντος καὶ βοηθοῦντος, οἷς δʼ ἐπίστευε τῶν πολιτῶν ἔφρασεν ὅσον οὔπω τὴν δίκην αἰωρουμένην ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς ἐμπεσεῖσθαι τῷ τυράννῳ. διὸ καὶ τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἑλλάνικον ἔδοξε μὴ μέλλειν, ἀλλʼ ἐπιτίθεσθαι 20 τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ. τῆς δὲ νυκτὸς Ἑλλάνικος ἐδόκει κατὰ τοὺς ὕπνους τῶν τεθνηκότων υἱῶν τὸν ἕτερον λέγειν αὐτῷ παραστάντα τί πέπονθας, ὦ πάτερ, καθεύδων; ¹⁰ 253a αὔριον δέ σε δεῖ τῆς πόλεως στρατηγεῖν οὗτός τε δὴ διὰ τὴν ὄψιν εὐθαρσὴς γεγενημένος παρεκάλει 25 τοὺς ἑταίρους, ¹¹ ὃ τʼ Ἀριστότιμος πυθόμενος Κρατερὸν αὐτῷ βοηθοῦντα μετὰ πολλῆς δυνάμεως ἐν Ὀλυμπίᾳ καταστρατοπεδεύειν, οὕτως ἐξεθάρσησεν, ὥστʼ ἄνευ δορυφόρων εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν προελθεῖν μετὰ τοῦ Κύλωνος. ὡς οὖν συνεῖδε τὸν καιρὸν Ἑλλάνικος, ὃ μὲν ἦν σημεῖον αὐτῷ πρὸς τοὺς μέλλοντας ἐπιχειρεῖν συγκείμενον οὐκ ἔδωκε, λαμπρᾷ δὲ τῇ φωνῇ καὶ 5 253b ἅμα τὰς χεῖρας προτείνων ἀμφοτέρας τί μέλλετε, ¹² ἄνδρες ἀγαθοί; καλὸν τὸ θέατρον ἐν μέσῳ τῆς πατρίδος ἐναγωνίσασθαι πρῶτος μὲν οὖν ὁ Κύλων σπασάμενος τὸ ξίφος παίει τινὰ τῶν ἑπομένων τῷ Ἀριστοτίμῳ· Θρασυβούλου δὲ καὶ Λάμπιδος ἐξ ἐναντίας 10 ἐπιφερομένων, ἔφθη μὲν ὁ Ἀριστότιμος εἰς τὸ τοῦ Διὸς ἱερὸν καταφυγών ἐκεῖ δʼ ἀποκτείναντες αὐτὸν καὶ τὸ σῶμα προβαλόντες εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐκάλουν τοὺς πολίτας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν. οὐ μὴν ἔφθησάν γε πολὺ ¹³ τὰς γυναῖκας· εὐθὺς γὰρ ἐξέδραμον 15 μετὰ χαρᾶς καὶ ὀλολυγμοῦ, καὶ περιστᾶσαι τοὺς ἄνδρας ἀνέδουν καὶ κατέστεφον. εἶτα τοῦ πλήθους ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ τυράννου ῥυέντος, ἡ μὲν γυνὴ 253c συγκλείσασα τὸν θάλαμον αὑτὴν ἀνήρτησε. δύο δʼ ἦσαν αὐτῷ ¹⁴ θυγατέρες, παρθένοι μὲν ἔτι, κάλλισται 20 δὲ τὴν ὄψιν, ἤδη γάμων ὥραν ἔχουσαι· ταύτας συλλαβόντες εἷλκον ἔξω πάντως μὲν ἀνελεῖν, αἰκίσασθαι δὲ καὶ καθυβρίσαι πρότερον ἐγνωκότες. ἀπαντήσασα δʼ ἡ Μεγιστὼ μετὰ τῶν ἄλλων ἐβόα δεινὰ ποιεῖν αὐτούς, εἰ δῆμος ἀξιοῦντες εἶναι ταῦτα ¹⁵ τολμῶσι 25 καὶ ἀσελγαίνουσι τοῖς τυράννοις ὅμοια. ἐντρεπομένων δὲ πολλῶν τὸ ἀξίωμα τῆς γυναικὸς παρρησιαζομένης καὶ δακρυούσης, ἔδοξεν ἀφελεῖν τὴν 253d ὕβριν, αὐτὰς δʼ ἐᾶσαι διʼ αὑτῶν ἀποθανεῖν. ὡς δʼ οὖν ἀναστρέψαντες ἔνδον ἐκέλευον εὐθὺς ἀποθνήσκειν τὰς παρθένους, ἡ πρεσβυτέρα Μυρὼ ¹⁶ λύσασα 5 τὴν ζώνην καὶ βρόχον ἐνάψασα τὴν ἀδελφὴν κατησπάζετο καὶ παρεκάλει προσέχειν καὶ ποιεῖν ἅπερ ἂν ¹⁷ αὐτὴν θεάσηται ποιοῦσαν, ὅπως ἄν ἔφη μὴ ταπεινῶς μηδʼ ἀναξίως ἑαυτῶν καταστρέψωμεν.¹⁸ τῆς δὲ νεωτέρας δεομένης αὐτῇ παρεῖναι προτέρᾳ ¹⁹ ἀποθανεῖν 10 καὶ τῆς ζώνης ἀντιλαμβανομένης, οὐδὲν ²⁰ ἄλλο πώποτʼ εἶπεν οὐδὲν ἤρνημαί σοι δεομένῃ· καὶ ταύτην 253e οὖν λαβὲ τὴν χάριν, ἐγὼ δʼ ὑπομενῶ καὶ τλήσομαι τοῦ ²¹ θανάτου βαρύτερον, τὸ σέ, φιλτάτη, προτέραν ἰδεῖν ἀποθνήσκουσαν. ἐκ τούτου τὴν μὲν 15 ἀδελφὴν αὐτὴ διδάξασα τῷ τραχήλῳ περιβαλέσθαι τὸν βρόχον, ὡς ᾔσθετο τεθνηκυῖαν, καθεῖλε καὶ κατεκάλυψεν αὐτὴν ²² δὲ τὴν Μεγιστὼ παρεκάλεσεν ἐπιμεληθῆναι, καὶ μὴ περιιδεῖν αἰσχρῶς, ἐπειδὰν ἀποθάνῃ, τεθεῖσαν· ὥστε μηδένα πικρὸν μηδὲ μισοτύραννον 20 οὕτω γενέσθαι τῶν παρόντων, ὃς οὐκ ἔκλαυσεν οὐδὲ κατηλέησε τὴν τῶν παρθένων εὐγένειαν.

τῶν μὲν οὖν κοινῇ πεπραγμένων γυναιξὶ μυρίων ὄντων ἱκανὰ ταῦτα παραδείγματα τὰς δὲ 253f καθʼ ἑκάστην ἀρετάς, ὅπως ἂν ἐπίῃ, σποράδην ἀναγράψομεν, οὐδὲν οἰόμενοι τῆς κατὰ χρόνον τάξεως δεῖσθαι τὴν ὑποκειμένην ἱστορίαν.

Translations (2)

Bravery of Women Perseus (Plutarch. Moralia, Vol. III. Babbitt, Frank Cole, translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1931 (printing).) — 15 focus

XV. MICCA AND MEGISTO¹

Aristotimus, having succeeded in becoming despot over the people of Elis, was able to prevail through the support of Antigonus² the king, but he used his power for no seemly or moderate purpose. He was himself brutal by nature, and he was led by fear to be subservient to a band of mixed barbarians who kept guard over his person and his sovereignty, and he overlooked many arrogant and cruel deeds done to the citizens by them. An example is what happened to Philodemus. This man had a beautiful daughter named Micca, and this girl one of the officers of the despot’s mercenaries named Lucius, to show his arrogance, rather than for love of her, undertook to make his paramour, and sent a summons for her. Her parents, seeing the necessity, advised her to go, but the girl, being noble and high-minded, begged her father, embracing and beseeching him, that he would rather bear to see her dead than robbed of her maidenhood in such a shameful and lawless way. There was some delay, and Lucius himself, lustful and drunk, started forth in the midst of his drinking in a passion. Finding Micca with her head on her father’s knees, he commanded her to follow with him. But, as she was not willing, he tore off her clothes and whipped her naked body, while she bravely bore the painful blows in silence. Her father and mother, effecting nothing by their intreaties and tears, resorted to calling upon gods and men to witness their frightful and lawless treatment. But the barbarian, utterly crazed by rage and drink, killed the maiden, as she lay with her face in her father’s bosom.

The despot, however, was not moved even by things like this, but he made away with many, and forced even more into exile. At any rate, it is said that eight hundred men fled for safety to the Aetolians, asking for rescue of their wives and youngest children from the despot. A little later he himself caused proclamation to be made that the women who wished might go away to their husbands, taking along as much as they wished of their feminine possessions. When he learned that they all received the proclamation with gladness (and their number was over six hundred), he issued orders that all should proceed in a company on a specified day, as if purposing himself to assure their safety. When the day arrived, the women gathered at the gates with their possessions which they had packed up, and some of their children they carried in their arms, and others they had in wagons, and they were waiting there for one another. Suddenly many of the despot’s men bore down upon them, calling out to them, while still a long way off, to wait. And when these came near, they ordered the women to move back, and then turned the teams about and rode them at the women, driving them through their midst mercilessly, and giving the women no chance either to follow or to stay or to come to the help of their little ones who were being killed, some of whom perished by being thrown from the wagons, others by falling under foot. The mercenaries urged them on like a flock of sheep, with shouts and whips, while the women tripped over one another, until the soldiers had cast them all into prison. Their possessions were carried off to Aristotimus.

The people of Elis being highly indignant over this affair, the holy women devoted to Dionysus, whom they call the Sixteen, taking suppliant branches and fillets from those sacred to the god, went to meet Aristotimus close by the market-place. His bodyguard made way out of respect, and the priestesses silently halted, first of all reverently holding out their suppliant branches. But when it became clear that they were petitioning in behalf of the women, and trying by intreaty to mollify his anger, he, greatly exasperated with his guards, screamed out that they had permitted the priestesses to come into his presence, and he made them drive these from the market-place by pushing or striking one or another, and he fined each woman four hundred pounds.

After these events, Hellanicus started a concerted activity against the despot. He was a man who, owing to his advanced years and the death of two sons, was not thought of by the despot as likely to be active in any way. The exiles crossed over from Aetolia and occupied Amymone, a stronghold in Elis, well adapted to serve as a base for warlike operations, and there they received a great addition to their numbers from the citizens who managed to escape from Elis. Aristotimus, alarmed at this, went to see the imprisoned women, and, thinking that he should accomplish his purpose better by fear than by favour, he gave orders to them to write and send letters to their husbands so that the men should leave the country; and if they would not write, he threatened to put them all to death after torturing them and making away with their children first. As he stood there a long time and urged them to say whether they would carry out any part of this programme, most of the women made no answer to him, but looked at one another in silence, and showed by nods that all their minds were made up not to be frightened or perturbed at the threat. Megisto, the wife of Timoleon, who, on account of her husband and her own virtues as well, held the position of leader, did not think it meet to rise, nor would she allow the other women to do so; but, keeping her seat, she made answer to him: If you were a sensible man, you would not be talking to women about husbands, but you would send to them, as to those having authority over us, finding better words to say to them than those by which you tricked us. But if you despair of persuading them yourself, and are attempting to use us to mislead them, do not expect to deceive us again, and I pray that they may never entertain such a base thought that, to spare their wives and little children, they should forsake the cause of their country’s freedom. In truth, it is not so bad a thing for them to lose us, whom they have not at present, as it is a good thing to rescue the citizens from your cruelty and overbearing insolence.

As Megisto spoke thus, Aristotimus could not brook her words, and ordered her young child to be brought, as if intending to kill him in her sight. As the servants sought for him mingled among the other children playing and wrestling, his mother, calling him by name, said, Come here, child, and before you can realize and think, be delivered from this bitter despotism; since for me it is more grievous to look upon your undeserved slavery than upon your death.

At this, Aristotimus drew his sword upon the mother herself, but as he was rushing at her in a rage, one of his intimate associates, Cylon³ by name, who was thought to be loyal to him, but really hated him, and was in the consipracy with Hellanicus and the rest, intervened and turned him from his purpose by intreating him and saying that such action was ignoble and womanish, not that of a manly ruler who had learned to meet any situation. The result was that Aristotimus, with difficulty regaining his senses, came away.

An ominous thing, however, happened to him. It was midday, and he was resting, and his wife was with him. While preparations for dinner were going on, an eagle was seen high in air circling over the house; then, as if with intent and design, it let fall a good-sized stone on that part of the roof under which was the room where Aristotimus happened to be lying. At the same moment there was a great crash above and shouting outside by those who saw the bird. Aristotimus was seized with consternation, and when he learned what had happened, he sent for a seer whom he constantly consulted in the marketplace, and, much perturbed, questioned him about the ominous happening. The seer encouraged him to believe that Zeus was rousing him and aiding him, but, on the other hand, told those citizens in whom he trusted that judgement was hovering over the despot’s head, and was all but ready to fall on him. Wherefore it seemed best to Hellanicus and his friends not to delay but to make their attack on the next day.

That night Hellanicus in his sleep dreamed that one of his dead sons stood beside him and said, What has happened to you, father, that you are asleep? To-morrow you must be commander of the city. So he, having gained good courage because of the vision, urged on his associates, while on the other hand, Aristotimus also having learned that Craterus was coming to his aid with a numerous force and was encamped at Olympia, became so extremely bold that without his bodyguard he went forth into the market-place in the company of Cylon. When, therefore, Hellanicus realized the opportunity, he did not give the signal which had been agreed upon between himself and those who were to make the attempt, but with clear voice, stretching out both arms at the words, he said, Why delay, brave men ? Fair is this place on the soil of your own native land to stage your contest! So then Cylon first, drawing his sword, smote one of the men following with Aristotimus, but, as Thrasybulus and Lampis rushed at him from the opposite side, Aristotimus forestalled the conspirators by taking refuge in the temple of Zeus. There they slew him, and, exposing his corpse in the market-place, they sounded for the citizens the call to freedom. As a matter of fact, they were not much ahead of the women, for these at once ran forth with joyful acclamations and, surrounding the men, adorned them with ribbons and garlands. Then the crowd surged towards the house of the despot, but his wife, bolting the doors of her chamber, hanged herself. He had two daughters, still unwedded, most beautiful to look upon, of marriageable age. These they seized and dragged out, having resolved to do away with them, but to torture and insult them first. But Megisto, with the rest of the women, meeting them, cried out that they were committing a frightful crime if they who deemed themselves worthy to be a democratic people were, in this matter, showing recklessness and wanton violence like despots. As many had respect for the high worth of the woman who spoke so boldly amid her tears, they decided to omit the violence, and permit the daughters to die by their own hand.

When, therefore, they had returned the maidens to the house and ordered their death immediately, the elder, Myro, loosing her girdle and making a noose of it, bade farewell to her sister and urged her to take note and do exactly what she saw her do, so that, she said, we may not end our lives in any humiliating way, unworthy of ourselves. But when the younger sister wanted the other to concede to her the privilege of dying first, and seized hold of the girdle, the elder said, I have never denied you anything else that you wanted; and so you may receive this favour also, and I will patiently endure and bear what is more grievous than death, and that is, dearest, to see you die first. Thereupon she instructed her sister how to put the noose around her neck, and when she saw that she was dead she took her down and covered her. She herself begged Megisto to take care of her and not to suffer her to be laid in any ignominious way when she should be dead. In consequence no one there was so bitter or such a hater of despots as not to shed tears and commiserate the nobility of the maidens.

Of the deeds, countless in number, done by women acting together these may suffice as examples. But cases of individual bravery I will put down as they come to me, not in any order, because I think that the record of the present subject does not at all require a chronological arrangement.

Concerning the Virtues of Women Perseus (Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals, Vol. I. Goodwin, William W., editor; Chauncy, Issac, translator. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company; Cambridge: Press of John Wilson and Son, 1874.) — 15 focus

EXAMPLE 15. Of Micca and Megisto.

Aristotimus having usurped tyranny over the people of Elis in Peloponnesus, against whom he prevailed by the aid of King Antigonus, used not his power with any meekness or moderation. For he was naturally a savage man; and being in servile fear of a band of mixed barbarians, who guarded his person and his government, he connived at many injurious and cruel things which his subjects suffered at their hands, among which was the calamity of Philodemus. This man had a beautiful daughter, whose name was Micca. This maid one of the tyrant’s captains of auxiliaries, called Lucius, attempted to lie with, more out of a design to debauch her than for any love he had to her; and for this end he sent to fetch her to him. The parents verily seeing the strait they were in advised her to go; but the maid, being of a generous and courageous spirit, clasped about her father, beseeching him with earnest entreaties that he would rather see her put to death than that her virginity should be filthily and wickedly violated. Some delay being made, Lucius himself starts up in the midst of his cups, enraged with wrath and lust, and drunk with wine; and finding Micca laying her head on her father’s knees, he instantly commanded her to go along with him; but she refusing, he rent off her clothes, and whipped her stark naked, she stoutly enduring the smart in silence. When her father and mother perceived that by their tears they could not avail or bring any succor to her, they turned to imploring the help of both Gods and men, as persons that were oppressed by the most cruel and unrighteous proceedings. But this barbarous fellow, drunk and raging every way with madness, ran the maid through as she lay with her, face in her father’s bosom. Neither was the tyrant affected with these cruelties, but slew many and sent more into exile; for they say eight hundred took their flight into Aetolia, petitioning the tyrant that their wives and children might come to them. A little after he made proclamation, permitting the women that would to go to their husbands, carrying with them all their household goods that they pleased; but when he perceived that all the women received the proclamation with pleasure (for the number was above six hundred), he charged them all to go in great companies on the appointed day, as if he intended to consult for their safety. When the day came, they crowded at the gates with their goods packed up, carrying their children, some in their arms and some in carts, and stayed for one another. All on a sudden many of the tyrant’s creatures made towards them in great haste, crying aloud to them to stay, while they were yet at great distance from them; and as they approached, they charged the women to return back. Likewise turning about their chariots and carts, they forced them upon them, drove the horses through the midst of them without fear or wit, suffering the women neither to follow nor to stay, nor to reach forth any help to the perishing infants, some of whom were killed falling out of the carts, others run over by the carts. So they drove them in (as so many sheep which butchers drive along), hauling and whipping them as they thronged upon one another, till they had crowded them all into a prison; but their goods they returned to Aristotimus. The people of Elis taking these things very heinously, the priestesses devoted to Bacchus (which they call the Sixteen), taking with them their suppliant boughs and wreaths belonging to the service of their God, went to meet Aristotimus in the market-place; the guards, out of a reverential awe, stood off and gave way to their approach. These priestesses stood still at first with silence, solemnly reaching forth their supplicatory rods; but as soon as they appeared as petitioners and deprecators of his wrath against the women, he fell into a great rage at the guards, exclaiming against them that they had suffered the priestesses to approach his presence, and he caused some to be thrust away, others to be beaten and dragged through the marketplace, and fined them two talents apiece.

These things being transacted in this manner, one Hellanicus moved a conspiracy against this tyrant. He was a man who, by reason of old age and the loss of two sons by death, was unsuspected of the tyrant, as being altogether unlikely for action. In the mean time also the exiles waft themselves over from Aetolia, and take Amymona, a very convenient place on the borders to entrench a camp in, where they received great numbers of the citizens who made their escape by flight from Elis. Aristotimus being startled at these things went in to the imprisoned women, and thinking to work them to his pleasure more by fear than by favor, charged them to send letters to their husbands, enjoining them to depart out of the coasts; if they would not write, he threatened them to slay their children before their eyes, and then put them (the mothers) to death by torments. Whilst he was long provoking and urging them to declare whether they would obey his mandates or not, most of them answered him nothing, but looked with silence one upon another, signifying by nods and gestures that they were not at all affrighted at his threat. But Megisto the wife of Timocleon, who both in respect of her husband and her own excellent accomplishments carried the port of a princess among them, would not vouchsafe to rise off her seat to him nor permit the rest so to do, but as she sat, she gave him this answer:—

Verily if thou wert a discreet man, thou wouldst not after this manner discourse with women about their husbands, but wouldst send to them as to our lords, finding out better language than that by which thou hast deluded us. But if thou thyself despairest to prevail with them, and therefore undertakest to trepan them by our means, do not hope to put a cheat upon us again. And may they never be guilty of such baseness, that for the saving their wives and little ones they will desert that liberty of their native country; for it is not so great a prejudice to them to lose us, whom even now they are deprived of, as it will be benefit to set the subjects at liberty from thy cruelty and oppression.

Aristotimus, being not able to refrain himself at this speech of Megisto, required that her son should be brought, as if it were to slay him before her eyes; but whilst the officer was seeking out the child, that was in the company of other children playing and wrestling together, his mother called him by his name, and said: Come hither, my child; before thou hast any sense and understanding, be thou delivered from bitter tyranny; for it would be much more grievous to me to see thee basely enslaved than to see thee die. At which Aristotimus drawing his sword upon the mother herself, and transported with rage, was going to fall upon her, when one of his favorites, Cylon by name (esteemed his trusty confidant, but in reality a hater of him, and a confederate with Hellanicus in the conspiracy), put a stop to him, and averted him in an humble manner, telling him: This is an ignoble and woman-like carriage, not at all becoming a person of a princely mind and a statesman. Hereupon Aristotimus scarcely coming to his senses departed. Now observe what an ominous prodigy happened to him. It was about noon, when he was taking some repose, his wife sitting by; and whilst his servants were providing dinner, an eagle was seen in the air floating over the house, which did, as it were considerately and on purpose, let fall a stone of an handsome bigness upon that part of the roof of the house which was over the apartment where Aristotimus lay. At the same time there was also a great rattling from above, together with an outcry made by the people that were abroad looking upon the bird. Upon which Aristotimus, falling into a great consternation and examining the matter, sent and called his soothsayer which he usually consulted in his public concerns, and being in great perplexity, desired to be satisfied what that prodigy meant. The soothsayer bade him be of good cheer, for it signified that Jupiter now wakened and assisted him. But to the citizens that he could confide in he said, that vengeance would no longer be delayed from falling on the tyrant’s head. Wherefore it was concluded by Hellanicus and his friends not to defer any longer, but to bring matters to an issue the next day.

At night Hellanicus imagined in his sleep that he saw one of his dead sons stand by him saying, What is the matter with thee, O father! that thou sleepest To-morrow thou shalt be governor of this city. Being animated by his vision, he encouraged the rest concerned with him. Now Aristotimus was informed that Craterus, coming to his aid with great forces, was encamped in Olympia; upon which he became so confidently secure, that he ventured to go without his guards into the market-place, Cylon only accompanying him. Wherefore Hellanicus, observing this opportunity, did not think good to give the signal to those that were to undertake the enterprise with him, but with a clear voice and lifting up both his hands, he spake saying: O ye good men! why do ye delay? Here is a fair theatre in the midst of your native country for you to contend in for the prize of valor. Whereupon Cylon in the first place drawing his sword smote one of Aristotimus’s waiting gentlemen; but Thrasybulus and Lampis making a brisk opposition, Aristotimus escaped by flight into the temple of Jupiter. Here slaying him, they dragged forth his corpse into the market-place, and proclaimed liberty to the citizens. Neither were the men there much before the women, who immediately ran forth with joyful acclamations, environing the men and binding triumphant garlands about their heads. The multitude presently rushed on upon the tyrant’s palace, where his wife shutting herself into her bed-chamber hanged herself. He had also two daughters, maidens of most beautiful complexions, ripe for marriage. Those they laid hands on, and haled forth, with a desperate resolution to slay them, but first to torment and abuse them. But Megisto, with the rest of the women, meeting them called out with a loud voice: Will they perpetrate such enormities who reckon themselves a free people, in imitation of the practices of audacious and libidinous tyrants? The multitude reverencing the gravity of this matron, pleading with them so undauntedly as also affectionately with tears, they resolved to lay aside this opprobrious way of proceeding, and to cause them to die by their own hands. As they were therefore returned into the chamber, they required the maids immediately to be their own executioners. Muro, the eldest, untying her girdle and tying it about her neck, saluted her sister, and exhorted her to be careful and do whatever she saw her do; lest (as she said) we come to our death in a base and unworthy manner. But the younger desiring it might be her lot to die first, she delivered her the girdle, saying: I did never deny thee any thing thou didst ever desire, neither will I now; take this favor also. I am resolved to bear and endure that which is more grievous than death to me, to see my most dear sister die before me. Upon this, when she had instructed her sister how to put the girdle so as to strangle her, and perceived her dead, she took her down and covered her. And now the eldest sister, whose turn was next, besought Megisto to take care of her, and not suffer her to lie indecently after she was dead. So that there was not any one present that was so bitter and vehement a tyrant-hater that he did not lament and compassionate these maidens upon their brave and virtuous behavior.

Of the innumerable famous exploits performed by women, these examples may suffice. But as for their particular virtues, we will describe them according as they offer themselves scattered here and there, not supposing that our present history doth necessarily require an exact order of time.

Notes on the current edition

Γυναικῶν ἀρεταί

1. εἰς van Herwerden: ἐπʼ.

2. ὑπὲρ ἑξακοσίας Bernardakis: ὑπὲρ ἑξακόσιαι.

3. ἐπεφέροντο] ἐπεφαίνοντο Cobet.

4. διεφθείροντο] διεφθείρετο Dinse, wrongly.

5. ὁσίως] καὶ ὁσίως Schellens.

6. διένευσαν Wyttenbach: διʼ εὔνοιαν.

7. γυναικῶν] γυναίων S. A. Naber, wrongly.

8. Κύλων] Κύλλων in the Delphinian inscription (Dittenberger 3 no. 423).

9. πέπονθας ... καθεύδων;] πεπονθὼς ... καθεύδεις; Dinse.

10. ἑταίρους Wyttenbach: ἑτέρους.

11. μέλλετε] Dinse would insert ἔφη or ἐβόησεν.

12. πολὺ Cobet: πολλοὶ.

13. αὐτῷ] αὐτῇ Dinse.

14. ταῦτα] ταὐτὰ Cobet, omitting ὅμοια.

15. Μυρὼ] Νοιρὼ Cobet.

16. οὐδὲ ἓν F.C.B.: οὐδὲν.

17. αὐτὴ F.C.B.: αὐτὴν.

Plutarch Mulierum virtutes 15

ed. Frank Cole Babbitt

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Μίκκα καὶ Μεγιστώ

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Μίκκα καὶ Μεγιστώ

XV. MICCA AND MEGISTO¹

EXAMPLE 15. Of Micca and Megisto.

Notes on the current edition

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Μίκκα καὶ Μεγιστώ

Current edition Perseus

Μίκκα καὶ Μεγιστώ

XV. MICCA AND MEGISTO 1

EXAMPLE 15. Of Micca and Megisto.

Notes on the current edition

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XV. MICCA AND MEGISTO¹