And Hyllus vowed that he would do this thing, only that he could not set fire to the pile with his own hand.  So they bare Hercules to the top of the hill of Oeta, and built a great pile of wood, and laid him thereon.  And Philoctetes, who was of the companions of Hyllus, set fire to the pile.  For which deed Hercules gave to him his bow and the arrows that missed not their aim.  And the tale of this bow, and how it fared with him that had it, may be read in the story of Philoctetes.

THE STORY OF THE SEVEN CHIEFS AGAINST THEBES.

It befell in times past that the Gods, being angry with the inhabitants of Thebes, sent into their land a very noisome beast which men called the Sphinx.  Now this beast had the face and breast of a very fair woman, but the feet and claws of a lion; and it was wont to ask a riddle of such as encountered it; and such as answered not aright it would tear and devour.  Now when it had laid waste the land many days, there chanced to come to Thebes one Oedipus, who had fled from the city of Corinth that he might escape the doom which the Gods had spoken against him.  And the men of the place told him of the Sphinx, how she cruelly devoured the people, and that he who should deliver them from her should have the kingdom.  So Oedipus, being very bold, and also ready of wit, went forth to meet the monster.  And when she saw him she spake, saying—­

  “Read me this riddle right, or die: 
  What liveth there beneath the sky,
  Four-footed creature that doth choose
  Now three feet and now twain to use,
  And still more feebly o’er the plain
  Walketh with three feet than with twain?”

And Oedipus made reply—­

  “’Tis man, who in life’s early day
  Four-footed crawleth on his way;
  When time hath made his strength complete,
  Upright his form and twain his feet;
  When age hath bowed him to the ground
  A third foot in his staff is found.”

And when the Sphinx found that her riddle was answered, she cast herself from a high rock and perished.  Now for a while Oedipus reigned in great power and glory; but afterwards his doom came upon him, so that in his madness he put out his own eyes.  Then his two sons cast him into prison, and took his kingdom, making agreement between themselves that each should reign for the space of one year.  And the elder of the two, whose name was Eteocles, first had the kingdom; but when his year was come to an end, he would not abide by his promise, but kept that which he should have given up, and drave out his younger brother from the city.  Then the younger, whose name was Polynices, fled to Argos, to King Adrastus.  And after a while he married the daughter of the King, who made a covenant with him that he would bring him back with a high hand to Thebes, and set him on the throne of his father.  Then the King sent messengers to certain of the princes of Greece, entreating that