Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/93

Rh Alone will with my brother grapple in fight.

If I slay him, mine halls I hold alone:

O'erthrown, I yield the city up to him.

Argives, forbear the struggle, and return

Unto your land, not leaving here your lives;

And of the Sown suffice the already dead."

Thus spake he: Polyneikes then, thy son,

Leapt from the ranks, and hailed the challenge-word;

And all the Argives shouted yea to this,

And Kadmus' folk, as righteous in their eyes.

On these terms made they truce, and in mid-space

Took oaths whereby the chieftains should abide.

Then ancient Oedipus' two sons straightway

'Gan case their bodies in all-brazen mail,

Holpen of friends; by Theban lords the king

Of this land, and by Danaan chiefs his brother.

There stood they gleaming,—never paled their cheeks,—

Each panting at his foe to dart the spear.

On this side and on that their friends drew nigh,

With heartening words thus speaking unto them:

"Thine, Polyneikes, is it to set up

Zeus' trophy-statue, and give Argos fame;"

To Eteokles—"Thou for Thebes dost fight:

Now triumph, and thou hold'st her sceptre fast."

So did they hail them, cheering them to fight.

And the priests slew the sheep: flame-tongue they marked, And flame-cleft, steamy reek that bodeth ill,