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

THE THEBAIDbe wounded," said she, "for Tydeus was slain through Minerva'sviolence, and Amphiaraus met his fate through Apollo's devices;and let Hippomedon be spared to me unto his land in the cityof Mycenae, for he is a Greek soldier by descent, and to mewas sacrificed what he brought with him of the cattle of histerritory. And where is the promise thou didst make that thouwouldest allow the Greeks to be buried afterwards, Hippomedon'sbody being in a river in water ? " When Jove heard that, heremained looking at distant Thebes; and the flood of the streamof Ismenos ebbed and abated, so that Hippomedon was visiblein the place wherein he lay. When the Thebans saw him inthat guise, they hurled a shower of spears and arrows at him,so that his body was a thick wood of them ; and though thathero was half-dead and mangled, no Theban hero dared to spoilhim of sword or helmet, till Hypseus, son of Asopus, came tohim and struck his armour from him and was exulting andboasting throughout the host with the other king's gleamingsword in his hand and his helmet on his head." Here," said he," is victorious Hippomedon. And he was avenging Tydeus onthe Thebans.They were destroyed and scattered in the streamof Ismenos," so that bright-cheeked Hippomedon slew twentythreekings at that onslaught in avenging Tydeus on theThebans ; and records in general do not commemorate the hostshe slew there.Now deeply grieved was the high-spirited king Capaneus, sonof Tairsis (sic), a Greek, to hear that boasting ; and he shookand brandished the spear in his hand, and this is what he said:"It were just for thee, O hand," said he, "to assist me in fighting,for in thee is my confidence and not in any other powerfulfriend." That hero threw the rough snedded fir that was inhis hand, and he directed it ^towards Hypseus, so that itquickly broke his back after splitting his shield and manglinghis cuirass, so that like a compact stone tower severely brokenwas the overthrow of that champion or soldier as he fell.Andthis is what Capaneus said: "Look thou," said he, "it is I thathave slain thee. And my slaying thee is a cause of honour tothy name." No sooner had he said that than he pluckedHippomedon's sword and helmet from him, and therewith237