<SPAN name="THE_ATHENIAN_AND_THE_THEBAN"></SPAN>
<h2>THE ATHENIAN AND THE THEBAN</h2>
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<p>An Athenian and a Theban were on the road together, and passed
the time in conversation, as is the way of travellers. After
discussing a variety of subjects they began to talk about heroes, a
topic that tends to be more fertile than edifying. Each of them was
lavish in his praises of the heroes of his own city, until
eventually the Theban asserted that Hercules was the greatest hero
who had ever lived on earth, and now occupied a foremost place
among the gods; while the Athenian insisted that Theseus was far
superior, for his fortune had been in every way supremely blessed,
whereas Hercules had at one time been forced to act as a servant.
And he gained his point, for he was a very glib fellow, like all
Athenians; so that the Theban, who was no match for him in talking,
cried at last in some disgust, "All right, have your way; I only
hope that, when our heroes are angry with us, Athens may suffer
from the anger of Hercules, and Thebes only from that of
Theseus."</p>
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