ghost of Laius, father of Oedipus, escapes—to the envy of the other
dead—from the lower world for the purpose of hardening Eteocles against
his brother. Meanwhile at Argos there are wedding festivities, but also
bad omens, when Argia is married to Polynices and Deipyle to Tydeus.
The story of the fatal necklace of Harmonia worn by Argia is told
incidentally. After twelve days of rejoicing, Polynices turns to his
claims on Thebes:
Grief and mad anger gnawed his mind, and that
Than which no heavier burden vexes men—
Hope long deferred.[1388]
Tydeus undertakes a mission to Thebes to require from Eteocles observance
of his pact; but Eteocles refuses and plots to waylay the envoy on his
way back by ordering an ambush of fifty men to await him. Tydeus’s fight
against his foes in the pass is one of the most spirited and saga-like
passages of the _Thebaid_. His challenge to the lurking assassins is
given in ringing tones:
“Step forth and face me. Out! To open ground!
Why dread to dare? What cowardice is this?
’Tis I alone, alone, that offer fight.”[1389]
At the stone of the Sphinx he baffles their onset, slaying one after
another:
Alarmed they miss their fellows, then they count.
Their murder-lust is changed amid their grief
Over the thinning of so strong a band (_rarescere turbam_).[1390]
One survivor is spared to take back the tidings to the treacherous king.