Meanwhile the war beneath the the walls of Thebes was conducted with fierce and vigorous bravery, by the chiefs who had assembled for its attack, until Eteocles and Polynice perceiving that the combat was unlikely soon to terminate, offered to finish the battle by a single combat, on which the crown should depend.
——————————"From the flying troops
Eteocles leaps forth in furious guise,
And with a terrible accent he exclaims,
'To Polynice.' With presumptuous rage,
His steps he traces, and at last he finds him.
'Thebans,' he cried, with a tremendous voice,
'Thebans and Argives, cease your guilty rage!
Ye have descended to the field of battle
In our contention, prodigal of life