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length he resolved to slay him; and he bid him prepare to die.

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"And if thou desirest burial," he said, will bury thee when thou reachest the shore; thou wilt leap into the sea, the way is open for thee." "At least," said Arion, "grant me this :—let me strike my harp once more. Then I will leap into the sea, and my spirit shall enter the gloomy house of Hades."

They granted his request, and stood apart; and he struck his harp once more. Marvellously sweet were the strains it poured forth; and the hearts of his murderers were almost touched. But their lust for gold prevailed; and when he had made an end, they bade him leap from the ship. Forth he leapt, with his harp in his hand; and the sailors thought that he was lost.

But a dolphin had heard the music, and came gambolling over the waves. And Arion mounted his back, and continued his sweet strain. The dolphin speeded westward all that day, more fleetly than the fleetest ship. And all that day and all that night Arion pursued his strain. With the early morning he saw the cliffs of Tænarus; and the dolphin speeded onward to the shore: and the minstrel gladly sprung upon the beach, and paid his thanks to Poseidon.

Straightway he journeyed to Corinth, and told his tale to Periander. The king would hardly believe him. "Tarry in my palace," he said, "till the crew returns to Greece. I will examine them in thy presence, and we shall discover the whole truth."

Ere long the vessel reached the port of Corinth; and the king sent for the crew. "How fares Arion?" he inquired; "we have heard that he still sojourns in Italy."

"He is dwelling at Tarentum," they answered, "O king; he hath fame and riches more than those of mortals."

"Doth he not long for Corinth? demanded Periander. "The love of a native land is strong." "Nay, O king," returned the master, "the love of money is stronger."

"It is stronger than virtue in some," said Periander. "Come forth, Arion, and confront them that would have been thy murderers."

Arion came forth from his retreat, and fear fell on the evil crew. They fell on their knees, and begged for mercy and Arion joined his prayers with theirs. "We will grant it," said Periander at length, "when the goods of Arion are returned."

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And ages after, a small brazen statue was to be seen at Tænarus: a man riding on a dolphin.

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BEAUTIFUL were the walls, and stately the towers, of Thebes, with her seven gates. High in the midst of the city rose the temple of Zeus, father of gods and men. Fair, with its marble columns, was the shrine of Phoebus Apollo, and of Poseidon, container of the earth. But now around the gates rang the clang of war, and the shouting of heroes: for the curse of a father was on the city, and his sons were devoted to the sword.

Edipus, king of Thebes, had committed a grievous crime. In ignorance he had committed it ; but his remorse was without measure. With his own hand he tore out his eyes; and dwelt in sorrow and darkness amidst his palace. Up rose, then, his sons, the daring Eteocles, and the fiery

strength of Polynices. They drove their father forth in the bitterness of his soul, and he roamed as a wanderer over the earth. Yet he went not forth alone; for the leader of his blindness, and the staff of his weary steps, was the love of Antigone, his daughter. Onwards they travelled through Greece, till they rested in sea-girt Attica. But ere he left his country, the old man called on the gods and he prayed them to bring vengeance on his evil sons, on Eteocles and hardhearted Polynices. "They have driven me forth," he said, "unbefriended, and they look to enjoy my crown. Let dissension and division come among them; let their breasts be filled with hate instead of love; let them divide their possessions with the Scythian stranger; and go down to the grave by each other's sword!"

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So spake the old man: nor was his prayer unheard. But he himself tarried awhile in the temple of the benevolent goddesses ;* and they removed him, by an easy fate, from the earth. Then, with hasty steps, Antigone returned to her own land she had heard the curse of her father, and she was now to see it accomplished.

Many were the oaths that the brothers sware; many were the vows that they made. Both could

I. e. The Furies.

not reign at once; yet each desired the throne. "I will wield the sceptre first," said the might of royal Eteocles: "I will administer justice to Thebes, and rule the people of Cadmus. But when the days shall have passed, and the returning sun shall have brought about a year, I will retire from the city, and thou shalt ascend the throne. For a year thou also shalt ascend it: but then thou shalt resign it to me. Thus, year by year, will we two reign in Thebes, till old age comes down upon us, and we cross the river over which is no return."

"I am content," said mighty Polynices, "for there is wisdom in thy words. But swear to me, first, by Zeus, and Ares, and Athene, that thou. wilt verily fulfil thy promise, and restore to me the throne in due season; else, I shall lose my birthright, and become the laughing-stock of all Hellenes."

Thus he spoke and Eteocles obeyed his words, and he sware by Cadmean Jupiter, and by Ares the turner of the battle, he sware also by blueeyed Athene, and by the holy streams of Dirce, that he would, in his turn, yield the throne to his brother, and himself depart from Thebes.

Polynices departed to Argos, and remained there the appointed year. But then he sent a

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