was born, and condemned by the authors of his being to become the prey of wild beasts. Discovered by his cries, or by accident in a lonely place, he was presented to the queen of Corinth, who brought him up in her court under the name of Edipus, and as her adopted son."

t

Having attained manhood, and being informed of the dangers to which he had been exposed, he consulted the gods, and their ministers confirming by their answer the oracle which had preceded his birth, he was precipitated into the calamities he endeavoured to avoid. Resolved to return no more to Corinth, which he considered as his native country, he took the road to Phocis, and in his way met in a narrow path, an old man, who haughtily commanded him to leave the way open to him, endeavouring at the same time to compel him to obedience by force. This was Laïus. Edipus repelled his attack, and laid him dead at his feet."

After this fatal accident, the kingdom of Thebes and the hand of Jocasta were promised to the man who should deliver the Thebans from the evils with which they were afflicted. Sphinx, a natural daughter of Laïus, associating with a band of robbers, ravaged the plain, detained travellers by artful questions, and led them astray amongst the windings of Mount Phicion, to deliver them into the

* Euripid. in Phoeniss. v 30. Apollodor. lib. 3. p. 181. 'Apollodor. ibid. p. 183. "Euripid. in Phoeniss. v. 40.

Diod. lib. 4. p. 266.

hands of her perfidious companions.

Edipus unravelled her snares, dispersed the accomplices of her crimes, and by gathering the fruit of his victory, fulfilled in all its extent the prediction of the oracle.

Incest triumphed on earth, but Heaven hastened to arrest it in its course. Discoveries hateful and horrid soon appalled the guilty couple. Jocasta terminated her misfortunes by a violent death. Edipus, according te some authors, tore out his eyes," and died in Attica, where Theseus had granted him an asylum. But other traditions say,* he was condemned to support the light of day, that he might behold those places which had been the scenes of his crimes; and to retain life, that he might communicate it to children still more guilty, and no less unfortunate than himself. These were Eteocles, Polynices, Antigone, and Ismene, whom he had by Eurygania, his second wife."

No sooner were the two princes of an age to wield the sceptre, than they confined Edipus in the recesses of his palace, and agreed alternately to guide the reins of government during a whole year." Eteocles first ascended that throne under

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Sophocl. in Edip. * Mem. de l'Acad. des Banier. Mytholog. t. iii. p.

▾ Homer. Odyss. lib. 11. v. 273. Colon. Apollodor. lib. 3. p. 185. Bell. Lettr. t. v. Hist. p. 146. 367.

' Pausan. lib. 1. cap. 28. p. 69. Idem. lib. 9. сар. 5. p. 722. Apollodor. lib. 3. p. 185. " Diod. lib. 4. p. 267. Eurip. in Phoeniss. v. 64. Apollodor. lib. 3. p. 185.

which the threatening abyss was still open, and refused to resign his power. Polynices repaired to the court of Adrastus, king of Argos, who gave him his daughter in marriage, and promised to assist him with powerful succours."

Such was the origin of the first expedition, in which the Greeks displayed some knowledge of the military art.* Hitherto Greece had only beheld bands of men, not soldiers, suddenly over-run a neighbouring country, and retire after committing a few hostilities and transient acts of cruelty." In the war of Thebes, projects were concerted with prudence, and pursued with firmness: different nations then first associated in one and the same camp, and were united under the same general, braving with equal courage the rigour of the seasons, the tediousness of a siege, and the perils of daily combats.

Adrastus shared the command of the army with Polynices, whom he wished to establish on the throne of Thebes; the brave Tydeus, son of Eneus king of Ætolia; the impetuous Capaneus ; Amphiaraus the soothsayer; Hippomedon, and Parthenopæus. Among the followers of these warriors, all distinguished by their birth and valour," appeared, in an inferior order of merit and of dig

z Diod. ibid.

*The year 1329 before Christ. a Pausan. lib. 9. c. 9. p. 728. b Diod. lib. 4. p. 267. Apollodor. lib.3. p. 187. Eschyl. in Sept. cont. Theb. Euripid. in Phoeniss.

nities, the principal inhabitants of Messenia, Arcadia, and Argolis.

The army having begun its march, entered the Nemean forest, where the generals instituted the games still celebrated with the greatest solemnity. After passing the isthmus of Corinth, they entered Boeotia, and forced the troops of Eteocles to shut themselves up within the walls of Thebes."

The Greeks were yet ignorant of the art of gaining possession of a place defended by a strong garrison. All the efforts of the besiegers were directed against the gates; all the hopes of the besieged consisted in frequent sallies. In these actions, great numbers had already fallen on both sides; already the valiant Capaneus had been precipitated from the top of a ladder which he had reared against the wall; when Eteocles and Polynices resolved to decide their differences by single combat. The day being appointed, the place determined, the people in tears, and the armies waiting in profound silence, the two princes rushed upon each other; and, mutually pierced with wounds, breathed forth their last, unable to satiate their vengeance. They were laid on the same funeral pile; and, in order to express, by a dreadful image, their implacability during life, it was

c Pausan. lib. 2. c. 20. p. 156. Argument. in Nem. Pind. p. 319. p. 729. 'Diod. lib. 4. p. 268.

d

Apollodor. lib. 3. p. 189.

• Pausan. lib. 9. c. 9.

said that the flame itself, as if animated by their hatred, divided, that their ashes might remain distinct and unmixed.

Creon, brother of Jocasta, was entrusted during the minority of Laodamus, the son of Eteocles, with the continuance of a war that every day became more fatal to the assailants, and which was terminated by a vigorous sally of the Thebans. The combat was dreadful and bloody; Tydeus and the greater part of the Argive generals perished in it. Adrastus, compelled to raise the siege, was unable to bestow funeral honours on those left on the field of battle." Theseus was obliged to interpose his authority to constrain Creon to submit to the law of nations, then beginning to be introduced.i

The victory of the Thebans only deferred their destruction. The Argive chiefs had left sons worthy of becoming their avengers. When every

thing was ripe for the enterprise,* these young princes, known by the name of Epigoni, that is, the Successors, among whom appeared Diomed, son of Tydeus, and Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, entered the country of their enemies at the head of a formidable army..

A battle soon ensued, and the Thebans, having lost it, abandoned the city, which was delivered

p.

195.

Diod. lib. 4. p. 268. Apollodor. lib. 3. i Isocr. in Panathen. t. ii. p. 269. Pausan. lib. 1. c. 38. p. 94. Plut. in Thes. t. i. p. 14. * The year 1319 before Christ. VOL. I.

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