Note 374 — CHAPTER FIVE.
Reading edition
Has not the idea of this black flag been taken from the black sail referred to by Plutarch in his life of Theseus? When the latter was to go with the Athenian youths to attempt the destruction of the Minotaur, a ship was prepared with a black sail, us carrying them to certain ruin. But when Theseus encouraged his father Ægeus by his confidence of success against the Minotaur, he gave another sail, a white one, to the pilot, ordering him, if he brought Theseus safe back, to hoist the white; but if not, to sail with the black one in token of his misfortune. When Theseus returned, the pilot forgot to hoist the white sail and Ægeus destroyed himself.