surround the Argives and prevent a retreat; but are themselves overcome
by a divinely contrived sleep and surprised by the Argives, who break
their lines and do much slaughter. At daybreak a fierce attack is
delivered on Thebes, when Creon’s son Menoeceus devotes himself for his
city, plunging to death from a rampart-tower. Capaneus, defiantly scaling
the town walls, is struck dead by Jupiter’s thunderbolt.