Histories

Fate, however, had decreed that Eetion's offspring should be the source of ills for Corinth [22.9083,37.9083] (Perseus) Corinth, for Labda, standing close to this door, heard all this. Fearing that they would change their minds and that they would take and actually kill the child, she took it away and hid it where she thought it would be hardest to find, in a chest, for she knew that if they returned and set about searching they would seek in every place—which in fact they did.

They came and searched, but when they did not find it, they resolved to go off and say to those who had sent them that they had carried out their orders. They then went away and said this.

Eetion's son, however, grew up, and because of his escape from that danger, he was called Cypselus, after the chest. When he had reached manhood and was seeking a divination, an oracle of double meaning was given him at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi. Putting faith in this, he made an attempt on Corinth [22.9083,37.9083] (Perseus) Corinth and won it.

The oracle was as follows:

1. That man is fortunate who steps into my house,
2. Cypselus, son of Eetion, the king of noble Corinth [22.9083,37.9083] (Perseus) Corinth,
3. He himself and his children, but not the sons of his sons.