Tydeus, therefore, and Polynices went their way.
When they had got as far the deep-meadowed and rush-grown banks of the Aesopus, the Achaeans sent Tydeus as their envoy, and he found the Cadmeans gathered in great numbers to a banquet in the house of Eteocles.

Stranger though he was, he knew no fear on finding himself single-handed among so many, but challenged them to contests of all kinds, and in each one of them was at once victorious, so mightily did Minerva help him.

The Cadmeans were incensed at his success, and set a force of fifty youths with two captains--the godlike hero Maeon, son of Haemon, and Polyphontes, son of Autophonus--at their head, to lie in wait for him on his return journey; but Tydeus slew every man of them, save only Maeon, whom he let go in obedience to heaven's omens.

Such was Tydeus of Aetolia.

His son can talk more glibly, but he cannot fight as his father did." Diomed made no answer, for he was shamed by the rebuke of Agamemnon; but the son of Capaneus took up his words and said, "Son of Atreus, tell no lies, for you can speak truth if you will.