From the unhappy union of Oedipus with Jocasta sprung Eteocles and
Polynice; when they came to manhood an arrangement was made between them,
by which it was agreed, that they should exercise the kingly authority for
one year alternately. Eteocles was the eldest, and took to himself the
first period of government; but when his year had past, the throne had
proved so agreeable, that he refused to keep his promise of abdicating.
Polynice disgusted at such conduct retired to Argos, where Adrastus, king
of the place, gave him his daughter in marriage, and attempted to persuade
Eteocles into some feeling of justice; but not only did the latter persist
in his conduct, but sought to slay the famous Tydius, the ambassador of
Adrastus, who however escaped this danger with increased renown; and on his
return to his king was appointed by him to join a numerous army, selected
to trench against the walls of Thebes; nor was this an ungrateful task to
the warrior who had been so treacherously assaulted. {221}
--------------"Frowning he speaks, and shakes
The dark crest, streaming o'er his shaded helm
In triple wave; whilst dreadful ring around
The brazen bosses of his shield; he stands
Close to the river's margin, and with shouts
Demands the war, like an impatient steed,
That pants upon the foaming curb."
Amphiaraus, who was famous for his knowledge of futurity, and a warrior of
great renown: knew from his power of divination, that he was sure to perish
if he accompanied the expedition, and therefore secreted himself so
successfully, that his wife only, knew the the place of his concealment;
she however consented to betray him, bribed by an offer of a bracelet of
great worth from Polynice, who was desirous of gaining so important an
auxiliary. Previous to Amphiaraus quitting Argos for Thebes, he told his
son Alcmeon to slay his mother, if news of his death should reach him; and
when Alcmeon heard that his father's chariot had been swallowed by the
earth, which opened to receive its victim, he sacrificed Euriphyle to the
vengeance of his dead sire. But so execrable a crime could not pass
unpunished, and he was tortured by the Furies until he retired to Arcadia,
where he married Alphisibaus. To fill up the measure of his crimes, he
repudiated her, and took for his spouse Callirhoe. The brothers of his
deserted wife however, assassinated him in revenge; and Callirhoe in the
extremity of her anguish, devoted her two sons in the presence of their
dead father, to revenge his death.
[Illustration]
Her wishes were fulfilled, they slew the murderers of Alcmeon, {222} but to
appease the gods, the fatal bracelet was sacrificed upon the altar of
Apollo.
Meanwhile the war beneath the the walls of Thebes was conducted with fierce
and vigorous bravery, by the chiefs who had assembled for its attack, until
Eteocles and Polynice perceiving that the combat was unlikely soon to
terminate, offered to finish the battle by a single combat, on which the
crown should depend.
--------------------"From the flying troops
Eteocles leaps forth in furious guise,
And with a terrible accent he exclaims,
'To Polynice.' With presumptuous rage,
His steps he traces, and at last he finds him.
'Thebans,' he cried, with a tremendous voice,
'Thebans and Argives, cease your guilty rage!
Ye have descended to the field of battle
In our contention, prodigal of life
Ours is the strife, be ours the forfeiture.
Let us ourselves, to a conclusion bring
This unjust waste of blood, within your presence,
And on this field of death--And thou, whom I
Should call no more my brother, do thou spare
The blood of Thebes: thy hate, thy rage, thy sword,
All, all, on me let fall, on me alone!'
To speak and leap with fury to the charge
Were actions of one instant.
Drunk with blood,
And fury, of his own life quite regardless,
Provided his antagonist he slew,
Eteocles upon his wretched brother
Falls with his sword, and all his strength collects.
For a long time, intent to ward his blows
Stands Polynice. But at length he cries
'I call to witness Heaven and Thebes
Thou will'st it!' While to heaven his eyes he raised,
And thus exclaimed, his sword he onward thrust:
The hovering furies guide the reckless blow
To pierce the bosom of Eteocles.
He falls--upon his brother spouts his blood!"
This unnatural combat was brief, though fierce, Eteocles the king was the
first who fell, and Polynice regarding him with ill-disguised pleasure; and
although the blood was flowing fast and free from his own mortal wounds,
exclaimed:
----------------"'Thou diest, and I am king,
Within these hands, red with a brother's blood,
Shall dwell the sceptre thou didst wrest from me.
Thy brow on which doth rest the same bright drop,
Shall bear the crown thou did'st usurp from me.
And that thy soul may fly with more regret
Know traitor that thy last blow comes from me.'"