Phoenissae
Choose a text
id="mobileReaderAuthor" class="mobile-reader-author" href="/authors/euripides" aria-label="More works by Euripides">
—
⋯
Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
207
207
Eteocles
207
Mother, it is no longer a contest of words; the time we still delay is idle waste; your good wishes accomplish nothing;
208
for we can never be reconciled except upon the terms already named, that I should keep the scepter and be king of this land. Cease these tedious warnings and let me be. Turning to Polyneices And as for you, get outside the walls, or die!
209
209
Polyneices
209
Who will kill me? Who is so invulnerable as to plunge a murderous sword
210
in my body without getting for himself the same fate?
211
211
Eteocles
211
He is near, not far away. Do you see my hands?
212
212
Polyneices
212
I see them; but wealth is cowardly, a craven too fond of life.
213
213
Eteocles
213
Then did you come to battle with so many against a man worth nothing?
214
214
Polyneices
214
Yes, for a steadfast general is better than a bold one.
215
215
Eteocles
215
Relying on the truce, which saves your life, you turn boaster.
216
216
Polyneices
216
And so do you; once more I demand back my scepter and share of the land.
217
217
Eteocles
217
I admit no demand; I will live in my own house.
218
218
Polyneices
218
And keep more than your share?
219
219
Polyneices
219
O altars of my fathers’ gods—
220
220
Polyneices
220
Hear me—
221
221
Polyneices
221
And temples of the gods who ride on white horses—
222
222
Polyneices
222
I am being driven from my country—
223
223
Polyneices
223
Unjustly, O gods!
224
224
Polyneices
224
You have become unholy—
225
225
Polyneices
225
By driving me out without my portion.
226
226
Polyneices
226
O father, do you you hear what I am suffering?
227
227
Polyneices
227
And you, mother?
228
228
Polyneices
228
O my city!
229
229
Polyneices
229
I will; do not be troubled; but I thank you, mother.
230
230
Polyneices
230
I will go; but let me see my father.
231
231
Polyneices
231
At least then my maiden sisters.
232
232
Polyneices
232
Ah, my sisters!
233
233
Polyneices
233
To you at least farewell, mother!
234
234
Polyneices
234
I am no longer your son.
235
235
Polyneices
235
Because my brother treats me outrageously.
236
236
Polyneices
236
Where will you be stationed before the towers?
237
237
Polyneices
237
I will set myself against you for your death.
238
238
Jocasta
238
Woe is me! what will you do, my sons?
239
239
Jocasta
239
Oh, try to escape your father’s curse! Exit Jocasta.
240
240
Polyneices
240
Soon my sword will be busy, plunged in gore. But I call my native land and the gods to witness, with what dishonor and bitter treatment I am being driven forth, as though I were a slave, not a son of Oedipus as much as he. If anything happens to you, my city, blame him, not me;
241
for I did not come willingly, and unwillingly I am driven from the land. And you, Phoebus, lord of highways, and my home, farewell, and my comrades, and statues of the gods, where sheep are sacrificed. For I do not know if I can ever again address you; though hope is not yet asleep, which makes me confident that with the gods’ help
242
I shall slay him and rule this land of Thebes. Exit Polyneices.
243
243
Eteocles
243
Get out of the country! It was a true name our father gave you, when, prompted by some god, he called you Polyneices, man of many quarrels. Exit Eteocles.
244
244
Chorus
244
Cadmus of Tyre came to this land, and at his feet a four-footed,
245
untamed heifer threw itself down, fulfilling an oracle, where the god’s prophecy told him to make his home in the plains rich with wheat,
246
and where the lovely waters of Dirce pour over the fields, the green and deep-seeded fields; here Bromius’ mother gave birth
247
from her union with Zeus; Bromius, round whom the ivy twined its wreaths while he was still a baby, covering him and blessing him in the shades of its green foliage,
248
a Bacchic dance for the maids and wives inspired in Thebes.
249
249
Chorus
249
There was Ares’ murderous dragon, a savage guard,
250
watching with wandering eye the watery rivers and fresh streams. Cadmus destroyed it with a jagged stone, when he came there to draw lustral water; smiting the deadly head
251
with a blow of his beast-slaying arm; and by the counsel of PalIas, the motherless goddess, he cast the teeth upon the deep fields to fall to the earth,
252
from which the earth brought forth a sight fully-armed, above the surface of the soil; but grim slaughter once again united them to the earth they loved, bedewing with blood the ground that had
253
shown them to the sunlit breath of heaven.
254
254
Chorus
254
And you, Epaphus, born from Io, our first mother, and child of Zeus: you I summon in foreign cry,
255
oh! in foreign prayers: come, come to this land; your descendants settled here; and the goddesses of twofold name, Persephone and the kindly
256
goddess Demeter the queen of all, Earth the nurse of all, won it for themselves; send to the help of this land those torch-bearing goddesses; for to gods all things are easy.
257
257
Eteocles
257
Go, bring Creon, son of Menoeceus, the brother of Jocasta my mother; tell him I want to consult with him on matters public and private, before we set out to battle and the arrangement of the army.
258
But he is here, saving you the trouble; I see him on his way to my house.
259
259
Creon
259
I have been everywhere, lord Eteocles, in my desire to see you, and have gone all round the gates and sentinels of Thebes hunting for you.
260
260
Eteocles
260
And I wanted to see you, Creon; for I found the terms of peace far from satisfactory, when I came to confer with Polyneices.
261
261
Creon
261
I hear that he has wider aims than Thebes, relying on his alliance with Adrastus and his army. But we must leave this dependent on the gods;
262
I have come to tell you our chief obstacle.
263
263
Eteocles
263
What is that? I do not understand what you say.
264
264
Creon
264
Someone has come who was captured from the Argives.
265
265
Eteocles
265
What news does he bring from there?
266
266
Creon
266
He says the Argive army intend at once to wind about the city of Thebes and its towers, with their army.
267
267
Eteocles
267
In that case the city of Cadmus must lead out its army.
268
268
Creon
268
Where? Are you so young that your eyes do not see what they should?
269
269
Eteocles
269
Across those trenches, to fight at once.
270
270
Creon
270
Our forces are small, while theirs are plentiful.
271
271
Eteocles
271
I know well they are brave in argument.
272
272
Creon
272
Argos has some weight among the Hellenes.
273
273
Eteocles
273
Never fear! I will soon fill the plain with their dead.
274
274
Creon
274
I could wish it so; but I see great difficulties in this.
275
275
Eteocles
275
I will not keep my army within the walls.
276
276
Creon
276
And yet victory is entirely a matter of good counsel.
277
277
Eteocles
277
Do you then want me to turn to some other way?
278
278
Creon
278
Yes, to every one, before running the risk once for all.
279
279
Eteocles
279
Suppose we fall on them by night from ambush?
280
280
Creon
280
Yes, if in the event of defeat you can return safely here.
281
281
Eteocles
281
Night equalizes risks, though it rather favors daring.
282
282
Creon
282
The darkness of night is a terrible time to suffer disaster.
283
283
Eteocles
283
Well, shall I attack them as they sit at dinner?
284
284
Creon
284
That might cause them fright, but victory is what we need.
285
285
Eteocles
285
Dirce’s ford is certainly deep enough to prevent their retreat.
286
286
Creon
286
No plan so good as to keep well guarded.
287
287
Eteocles
287
What if we ride out against the army of Argos?
288
288
Creon
288
Their troops too are fenced all round with chariots.
289
289
Eteocles
289
What shall I do, then? Am I to surrender the city to the enemy?
290
290
Creon
290
No indeed! But out of your wisdom form some plan.
291
291
Eteocles
291
What forethought is wiser than mine?
292
292
Creon
292
They have seven men, I hear—
293
293
Eteocles
293
What is their appointed task? their might is small.
294
294
Creon
294
. . . To attack the seven gates.
295
295
Eteocles
295
What are we to do then? I will not wait till every chance is gone.
296
296
Creon
296
You also choose seven men to set against them at the gates.
297
297
Eteocles
297
To lead our companies, or to fight single-handed?
298
298
Creon
298
To lead; choose the very bravest ones.
299
299
Eteocles
299
I understand; to repel attempts at scaling our walls.
300
300
Creon
300
With others to share the command, for one man doesn’t see everything.
301
301
Eteocles
301
Selecting them for courage or thoughtful prudence?
302
302
Creon
302
Both; for one is nothing without the other.
303
303
Eteocles
303
It shall be done; I will go to our seven towers and post captains at the gates, as you say,
304
pitting them man for man against the enemy. To tell each one’s name is a great waste of time, when the enemy are camped beneath our very walls. But I will go, that my hands may no longer hang idle. And may I find my brother face to face,
305
meet him in battle and kill him with my spear and kill him, for coming to waste my country! But if I suffer any misfortune, you must see to the marriage between Antigone, my sister and Haemon, your son; and now, as I take my leave,
306
I ratify their previous betrothal. You are my mother’s brother, no need to speak at length. Take care of her as she deserves, both for your own sake and mine. As for my father, he has been guilty of folly against himself in putting out his eyes; I have small praise for him;