Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/100

72 How came to pass the death of her two sons,

The strife, of Oedipus' curse that came?—declare.

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,

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 wed

Adrastus' child, and dwell within thy land,—

Grant me to slay my brother, and to stain

My warring hand with blood of victory!"—

Asking a crown of shame, to slay a brother.

Tears sprang from many an eye at that dread fate,

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,

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,

Clashed they, foam-flakes beslavering their beards.

With spears they lunged: yet crouched behind their shields,