44 HISTORICAL TALES.

Seven chiefs led the army, one to assail each of
the seven celebrated gates of Thebes. Onward they
marched against that strong city, heedless of the
hostile portents which they met on their way. The
Thebans also sought the oracle of the gods, and
were told that they should be victorious, but only
on the dread condition that Creon’s son, Menceceus,
should sacrifice himself to Mars. The devoted
youth, on learning that the safety of his country
depended on his life, forthwith killed himself before
the city gates,—thus securing by innocent blood the
powerful aid of the god of war.

Long and strenuous was the contest that suc-
ceeded, each of the heroes fiercely attacking the
gate adjudged to him. But the gods were on the
side of the Thebans and every assault proved in vain.
Parthenopeeus, one of the seven, was killed by a stone,
and another, Capaneus, while furiously mounting the
walls from a scaling-ladder, was slain by a thunder-
bolt cast by Jupiter, and fell dead to the earth.

The assailants, terrified by this portent, drew back,
and were pursued by the Thebans, who issued from
their gates. But the battle that was about to take
place on the open plain was stopped by Eteocles, who
proposed to settle it by a single combat with his
brother Polynikes, the victory to be given to the
side whose champion succeeded in this mortal duel.
Polynikes, filled with hatred of his brother, eagerly
accepted this challenge. Adrastus, the leader of the
assailing army, assented, and the unholy combat
began.

Never was a more furious combat than that be-