business to
make it resemble the original." Pope has rendered a few passages with
equal beauty and truth, but on the whole the antique colouring, the
dramatic traits, and picturesque details are very imperfectly preserved.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: This brief introduction is from Lintot's Miscellany. In the
edition of his works in 1736 Pope omitted the final clause which follows
the word "correction."]

[Footnote 2: Singer's Spence, p. 209, 211.]

[Footnote 3: Spence, p. 211.]

[Footnote 4: Spence, p. 146.]

[Footnote 5: Spence, p. 214.]

[Footnote 6: Spence, p. 210.]

[Footnote 7: Spence, p. 214.]

[Footnote 8: Spence, p. 146.]

[Footnote 9: Spence, p. 204.]

[Footnote 10: Spence, p. 146.]

[Footnote 11: Spence, p. 146, 196.]

[Footnote 12: Spence, p. 211.]

[Footnote 13: Spence, p. 209, 211.]

[Footnote 14: Pope to Cromwell, June 10, 1709.]

[Footnote 15: Pope to Cromwell, Jan. 22, 1709.]

ARGUMENT

Oedipus, King of Thebes, having by mistake slain his father Laius, and
married his mother Jocasta, put out his own eyes, and resigned the realm
to his sons, Eteocles and Polynices. Being neglected by them, he makes
his prayer to the Fury Tisiphone, to sow debate betwixt the brothers.
They agree at last to reign singly, each a year by turns, and the first
lot is obtained by Eteocles. Jupiter, in a council of the gods, declares
his resolution of punishing the Thebans, and Argives also, by means of a
marriage betwixt Polynices and one of the daughters of Adrastus, king of
Argos. Juno opposes, but to no effect, and Mercury is sent on a message
to the shades, to the ghost of Laius, who is to appear to Eteocles, and
provoke him to break the agreement. Polynices in the meantime departs
from Thebes by night, is overtaken by a storm, and arrives at Argos,
where he meets with Tydeus, who had fled from Calydon, having killed his
brother. Adrastus entertains them, having received an oracle from Apollo
that his daughters should be married to a boar and a lion, which he
understands to be meant of these strangers, by whom the hides of those
beasts were worn, and who arrived at the time when he kept an annual
feast in honour of that god. The rise of this solemnity he relates to
his guests, the loves of Phoebus and Psamathe, and the story of
Choroebus. He inquires, and is made acquainted with their descent and
quality. The sacrifice is renewed, and the book concludes with a hymn to
Apollo.

THE FIR