Polynices did not,
as you might suppose, end the siege of Thebes. No sooner were their
funerals over, than both armies began to fight again; and they continued
the contest until all the chiefs had been killed except Adrastus only.

Most of the soldiers had also been slain: so Adrastus made up his mind
to go home, and wait until the sons of these fallen heroes were old
enough to fight, before he went on with the war. As they thought it
their duty to avenge all injuries, and especially the death of a
relative, Adrastus had no trouble in getting these youths to march
against Thebes. So they began a second siege, which was known as the War
of the E-pig'o-ni, or descendants, because the young warriors took up
their fathers' quarrel.

Such was the bravery of these young men, that they succeeded where their
fathers had failed, and after a long struggle took the city of Thebes.
As Polynices was dead, and could not claim the scepter he had so longed
to possess, they put his son Ther-san'der upon the throne.

This young man ruled for a while in peace; but because his sons were
insane, the Thebans thought that the gods still hated the race of
OEdipus: so they drove these princes away, and chose another and less
unlucky family to rule over them instead.

Even the daughters of OEdipus were very unhappy; for Antigone, having
taken the part of her brother Polynices, was put to death, while her
sister Ismene died of grief.

Such was the end of the race of OEdipus,--a king who has been
considered the most unhappy man that ever lived, because, although he
meant to be good, he was forced by fate to commit the most horrible
crimes.

XIII. THE CHILDHOOD OF PARIS.

In those days, Pri'am and Hec'u-ba were King and Queen of Troy (or
Il'i-um),--a beautiful city near the coast of Asia Minor, almost
opposite Athens. They were the parents of a large family of sons and
daughters; and among the sons were Hec'tor and Par'is, young men of
remarkable strength and beauty.

Paris had had a very adventurous life. When he was but a little babe,
his mother dreamed that she saw a flaming brand in the cradle, in the
place where the child lay. This brand seemed to set fire to the cradle
and all the palace; and the queen, awaking with a start, was overjoyed
to find that it was nothing but a dream.

Men in those days believed that dreams were sent by the gods to warn
them of coming events, and so Hecuba was very anxious to know what the
burn