But they thought it was a just course of action, though there was no
previous reason for enmity with Eurystheus, and they had no longer hope
of reward except that of a good reputation; so they incurred this danger
for the boys, because they pitied the down-trodden, and hated the
oppressors, and tried to hinder the latter and aid the former, believing
it a mark of liberty to do nothing by compulsion, and of justice to aid
the wronged, and of courage to die, if need be, fighting for both. 15.
And both were so proud that Eurystheus and his party did not seek to gain
any favor from willing men, and the Athenians were unwilling that
Eurystheus, even if he came as a suppliant, should drive out their
suppliants. So they summoned a force and fought and conquered the army
from the whole of Peloponnesus, and brought the children of Heracles to
safety, dispelled their fear and freed their souls, and because of their
father's courage they crowned them with their own perils. 16. And they,
while children, were much more fortunate than their father; for he,
though bringing much happiness to all men, made his own life full of toil
and strife and emulation, and punished others who were wrong-doers, but
he could not punish Eurystheus who was his enemy and had sinned against
him. But his sons through this city saw on the same day their own safety
and the punishment of their enemies.

17. So many occasions came to our ancestors for fighting for this idea of
justice. For the commencement of their life was just. For they were not,
like many, collected from all quarters, and they did not settle here
after expelling the earlier inhabitants, but they sprang from the soil
and it was both their mother and country. 18. And they were the first and
only ones at that time to banish the ruling families and establish a
democracy, in the belief that freedom of all is the greatest harmony, and
making the rewards of their dangers common, they administered the
government with free minds, (19) by law honoring the good and punishing