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

THE THEBAIDon a plan after (the death of) my friends ; and it is sad that Iand my brother did not then form a plan the first day the Greekscame to Thebes before the things befell that have happenedbetween us. And now," said he, " I shall do battle with Eteocles,and do not hinder us from doing it. And health to thee, O highking,after I am gone, and to all the nobles of the Greeks." Nowthe heroes were equally sad at that farewell of Polynices, andAdrastus was comforting and detaining him ;but he did not staywith Adrastus, fur the goddess was disquieting him, to wit,Megaera. And this is what she said to him :"Do not delay, O lad,"said she, "seeing thy brother Eteocles is calling for thee, and ishastening for battle and conflict with thee." Then, indeed,Polynices arose actively and in haste, and urged his horse overthe fine smooth plains, till he came to the city of Thebes.As to Polynices thus far.As regards Eteocles, king of Thebes, he was thus engaged inoffering honourable sacrifices to Jove, son of Saturn, for a Thebanvictory ; and he was tracing back Jove's relationship with theThebans. And when Eteocles was thus engaged in offering thesacrifices, a jet black spark sprang from the fire of the sacrifice,and burnt the king's helmet and his hair. And when he wasso, a messenger came urgently and in haste to him, to wit,Aepytus. And this is what he said to Eteocles :" Quickly stopthe sacrifices," said he, " seeing thy brother hath arrived at thegate of Thebes in quest of thee ; and he is calling thee andchallenging thee alone with a view to battle and conflict withthee." Now Eteocles heard that, and he arose angrily manfully,and the tale that had come to him he deemed no honour. Andthere approached him his battle-heroes and his usual soldiersaccompanying, and this is what they said to him " : Stay, highking,"said they, " in thy royal seat, and be composed and joyous,and we shall ward off thine enemies from thee, and he that urgeda combat on thee will fall." And then came powerful Creon tohim, and it was not to check the fray he essayed; but he began to281