What induced thee to select this alliance? Adrastus Dark riddles of Phoebus stole away my judgment. Theseus What said Apollo to determine the maidens’ marriage? Adrastus That I should give my daughters twain to a wild boar and a lion. Theseus How dost thou explain the message of the god? Adrastus One night came to my door two exiles. Theseus The name of each declare; thou art speaking of both together. Adrastus They fought together, Tydeus with Polynices. Theseus Didst thou give thy daughters to them as to wild beasts? Adrastus Yea, for, as they fought, I likened them to those monsters twain. Theseus Why had they left the borders of their native land and come to thee? Adrastus Tydeus was exiled for the murder of a kinsman. Theseus Wherefore had the son of Oedipus left Thebes ? Adrastus By reason of his father’s curse, not to spill his brother’s blood. Theseus Wise no doubt that voluntary exile. Adrastus But those who stayed at home were for injuring the absent. Theseus What! did brother rob brother of his inheritance? Adrastus To avenge this I set out; hence my ruin. Theseus Didst consult seers, and gaze into the flame of burnt-offerings? Adrastus Ah me! thou pressest on the very point, wherein I most did fail. Theseus It seems thy going was not favoured by heaven. Adrastus Worse; I went in spite even of Amphiaraus. Theseus And so heaven lightly turned Reiske conjectures ἀπεστράφης , and omits σ’ . its face from thee. Adrastus I was carried away by the clamour of younger men. Theseus Thou didst favour courage instead of discretion. Adrastus Dindorf condemns this line. Paley brackets it as spurious. Nauck assigns it to Theseus, and retains it. True; and many a general owes defeat to that. O king of Athens , bravest of the sons of Hellas , I blush