Isocrates, Helen, Larue Van Hook (Translator), 18

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[18] In the first place Theseus¹, reputedly the son of Aegeus, but in reality the progeny of Poseidon, seeing Helen not as yet in the full bloom of her beauty, but already surpassing other maidens, was so captivated by her loveliness that he, accustomed as he was to subdue others, and although the possessor of a fatherland most great and a kingdom most secure, thought life was not worth living amid the blessings he already had unless he could enjoy intimacy with her.

Helen. Isocrates. Larue Van Hook (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1945.

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Current edition Perseus

Helen (English) (Isocrates, Vol. 3. Van Hook, Larue, translator. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1945 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Ἑλένη Perseus (Isocrates, Vol. 3. Van Hook, Larue, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1945 (printing).) — 18 focus

[18] καὶ πρῶτον μὲν Θησεύς, ὁ λεγόμενος μὲν Αἰγέως, γενόμενος δʼ ἐκ Ποσειδῶνος, ἰδὼν αὐτὴν οὔπω μὲν ἀκμάζουσαν, ἤδη δὲ τῶν ἄλλων διαφέρουσαν, τοσοῦτον ἡττήθη τοῦ κάλλους ὁ κρατεῖν τῶν ἄλλων εἰθισμένος, ὥσθʼ ὑπαρχούσης αὐτῷ καὶ πατρίδος μεγίστης καὶ βασιλείας ἀσφαλεστάτης ἡγησάμενος οὐκ ἄξιον εἶναι ζῆν ἐπὶ τοῖς παροῦσιν ἀγαθοῖς ἄνευ τῆς πρὸς ἐκείνην οἰκειότητος,

Notes on the current edition

Helen

1. For Isocrates’ view of Theseus see Isoc. 12.126 ff. , with his references to this discussion of the hero. For Theseus see Eur. Hipp. 887 ff. and Plut. Thes. Theseus, reputed son of Aegeus and of Aethra, daughter of Pittheus, king of Troezen in Argolis , was honored as the founder of the political institutions of Athens. Cf. p. 79 and note.

Isocrates Helen 18

Larue Van Hook (Translator)

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