Togail na Tebe = The Thebiad of Statius : the Irish text

THE THEBAIDWhen Jove heard that, he smiled his laughing smile at hisson, gave him kisses, and said to him :fury or wrath that makes me promote this war." Son," said he, " it is notBut prophetsand wizards from the beginning of the world have decided thatthis cruel war of Thebes would be waged. And be not thouafraid, O Bacchus, to sack Thebes now, and surely they maydeserve evil to be done them, for their wickedness is vast."Bacchus was exceeding glad at those tidings.As to them thus far.But as to the Thebans, a trusty messenger of his peoplereached Eteocles, king of Thebes, and related to him that thekingfolk of the Greeks with their hosts and allies were nigh tothe greenswarded plains of Thebes.It was sad, however, anddisconcerting to the Thebans, in every place they were, to hearthose great tidings. Now unto Eteocles were assembled his hostsand allies, his battle-champions and his valorous heroes there onthe greenswarded lawns of his castle and city.The mustering and gathering of the Thebans here.And every company of a goodly host sat down there round itschief and lord of those that came from Aonia, Euboea, Phocis,and from all the cities of the Thebans.Moreover, women, youths,and little folks arose and filled the walls of the city and otherheights for assembling, as they viewed that host.There also was the virgin of many charms, to wit, Antigone,the sister of Eteocles and Polynices, on a very high huge towerat a distance away from the wall of that city.For this was acustom they observed that hosts and multitudes should not seetheir maidens, till they were married. And visible to her therewas the march of the hosts away over the plain, but she was notvisible to them. And he that was in attendance on her then wasaged very learned Phorbas, to wit, a favourite of her father andof her grandfather, and her foster-father. And she began askingof him ": Who are they at all, this very great army ? " saidshe. "And I behold," said she, " the fine pure banners of brightpurple Menoeceus and the cruel arms of victorious Creon."169But