and twain his feet;
When age hath bowed him to the ground
A third foot in his staff is found."

And when the Sphinx found that her riddle was answered, she cast herself
from a high rock and perished. Now for a while Oedipus reigned in
great power and glory; but afterwards his doom came upon him, so that in
his madness he put out his own eyes. Then his two sons cast him into
prison, and took his kingdom, making agreement between themselves that
each should reign for the space of one year. And the elder of the two,
whose name was Eteocles, first had the kingdom; but when his year was
come to an end, he would not abide by his promise, but kept that which
he should have given up, and drave out his younger brother from the
city. Then the younger, whose name was Polynices, fled to Argos, to King
Adrastus. And after a while he married the daughter of the King, who
made a covenant with him that he would bring him back with a high hand
to Thebes, and set him on the throne of his father. Then the King sent
messengers to certain of the princes of Greece, entreating that they
would help in this matter. And of these some would not, but others
hearkened to his words, so that a great army was gathered together and
followed the King and Polynices to make war against Thebes. So they came
and pitched their camp over against the city. And after that they had
fought against it many days, and yet had prevailed nothing, Adrastus
held a council of the chiefs, and it was agreed that next day, early in
the morning, they should assault the city with all their might. And when
the morning was come, the chiefs were gathered together, being seven in
number. And first of all they slew a bull, and caught the blood of the
beast in the hollow of a shield, into which they dipped their hands,
and sware a great oath that they would take the city of Thebes or die.
And having sworn, they hung upon the chariot of Adrastus what should be
memorials of them each for his own father and mother, all weeping the
while. After this they cast lots for the places which they should take,
for there were seven gates to the city, that each chief might assault a
gate.

[Illustration: OEDIPUS AND THE SPHINX.]

But their purpose was known to the King Eteocles, for he had heard the
whole matter from Tiresias, the wise seer, who told beforehand all that
should come to pass, discovering it from the voice of birds, for being
blind he could not judge from their flight, or f