Book IV

time When warrior-bands were gathered to besiege The sacred walls of Thebes, and earnestly They prayed that from Mycenae they might lead Renowned auxiliars to the war, and we Would willingly have given the aid they asked⁠— For we approved the prayer⁠—but Jove, with signs Of angry omen, changed our purposes. The chiefs departed, journeying on to where Asopus flows through reeds and grass, and thence The Achaians sent an embassy to Thebes By Tydeus. There he met the many sons Of Cadmus at the banquets in the hall Of valiant Eteocles. Though alone Among so many, and a stranger guest, The hero feared them not, but challenged them To vie with him in games; and easily He won the victory, such aid was given By Pallas. Then the sons of Cadmus, skilled In horsemanship, were wroth, and privily Sent fifty armed youths to lie in wait For his return. Two leaders had the band⁠— Maion, the son of Harmon, like a god In form, and Lycophontes, brave in war, Son of Autophonos. A bloody death Did Tydeus give the youths. He slew them all Save Maion, whom he suffered to return, Obedient to an omen from the gods. Such was Aetolian Tydeus; but his son, A better speaker, is less brave in war.”