How came to pass the death of her two sons,
The strife, of Oedipus' curse that came?—declare.1355
Messenger.
The land's fair fortune in her towers' defence
Thou know'st: the girdling walls be not so far
But that thou mayest know whate'er is done.
Now when in brazen mail they had clad their limbs,
Those princes, sons of ancient Oedipus,1360
Into the mid-space went they forth and stood,
Those chieftains two, those battle-leaders twain,
As for the grapple and strife of single fight.
Then, gazing Argos-ward, Polyneikes prayed:
"Queen Hera,—for thine am I since I wed1365
Adrastus' child, and dwell within thy land,—
Grant me to slay my brother, and to stain
My warring hand with blood of victory!"—
Asking[1] a crown of shame, to slay a brother.
Tears sprang from many an eye at that dread fate,1370
And each on other did men look askance.
But unto golden-shielded Pallas' fane
Eteokles looked, and prayed: "Daughter of Zeus,
Grant that the conquering spear, of mine hand sped,
Yea, from this arm, may smite my brother's breast,1375
And slay him who hath come to waste my land!"
Then, when the Tuscan trump, like signal-torch,
Rang forth the token of the bloody fray,
Forth darted each at other in terrible rush;
And, like wild boars that whet the tameless tusk,1380
Clashed they, foam-flakes beslavering their beards.
With spears they lunged: yet crouched behind their shields,
- ↑ Reading αἰτῶν, with Nauck.
