THE SEVEN AGAINST THEBES.

Amona the legendary tales of Greece, none of
which are strictly, though several are perhaps
partly, historical, none—after that of Troy—was
more popular with the ancients than the story of
the two sieges of Thebes. This tale had probably
in it an historical element, though deeply overlaid
with myth, and it was the greatest enterprise of
Grecian war, after that of Troy, during what is
called the age of the Heroes. And in it is included
one of the most pathetic episodes in the story of
Greece, that of the sisterly affection and tragic fate
of Antigone, whose story gave rise to noble dramas
by the tragedians Aischylus and Sophocles, and is
still a favorite with lovers of pathetic lore.

Asa prelude to our story we must glance at the
mythical history of Gidipus, which, like that of his
noble daughter, has been celebrated in ancient drama.
Anoracle had declared that he should kill his father,
the king of Thebes. He was, in consequence, brought
up in ignorance of his parentage, yet this led to the
accomplishment of the oracle, for as a youth he,
during a roadside squabble, killed his father not
knowing him. For this crime, which had been one
of their own devising, the gods, with their usual

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