ambition fills thee。 This I say to thee； and this to thee； Polyneices；
Adrastus hath conferred a foolish favour on thee； and thou too hast
shown little sense in coming to lay thy city waste。 Suppose thou
conquer this land （which Heaven forefend！） tell me； I conjure thee；
how wilt thou rear a trophy to Zeus？ how wilt thou begin the sacrifice
after thy country's conquest or inscribe the spoils at the streams
of Inachus with 〃Polyneices gave Thebes to the flames and dedicated
these shields to the gods〃？ Oh！ never； my son； be it thine to win such
fame from Hellas！ If； on the other hand； thou art worsted and thy
brother's cause prevail； how shalt thou return to Argos； leaving
countless dead behind？ Some one will be sure to say； 〃Out on thee！
Adrastus； for the evil bridegroom thou hast brought unto thy house；
thanks to one maid's marriage； ruin is come on us。〃
Towards two evils； my son； art thou hasting；…loss of influence
there and ruin in the midst of thy efforts here。 Oh！ my children；
lay aside your violence； two men's follies； once they meet； result
in very deadly evil。
LEADER
O heaven； avert these troubles and reconcile the sons of Oedipus
in some way！
ETEOCLES
Mother； the season for parley is past； the time we still delay
is idle waste； thy good wishes are of no avail； for we shall never
be reconciled except upon the terms already named； namely； that I
should keep the sceptre and be king of this land： wherefore cease
these tedious warnings and let me be。 （Turning to POLYNEICES） And as
for thee； outside the walls； or die！
POLYNEICES
Who will slay me？ who is so invulnerable as to plunge his sword in
my body without reaping the self…same fate？
ETEOCLES
Thou art near him； aye； very near； dost see my arm？
POLYNEICES
I see it； but wealth is cowardly； a craven too fond of life。
ETEOCLES
Was it then to meet a dastard thou camest with all that host to
war？
POLYNEICES
In a general caution is better than foolhardiness。
ETEOCLES
Relying on the truce； which saves thy life； thou turnest boaster。
POLYNEICES
Once more I ask thee to restore my sceptre and share in the
kingdom。
ETEOCLES
I have naught to restore； 'tis my own house； and I will dwell
therein。
POLYNEICES
What！ and keep more than thy share？
ETEOCLES
Yes； I will。 Begone！
POLYNEICES
O altars of my fathers' gods！…
ETEOCLES
Which thou art here to raze。
POLYNEICES
Hear me。
ETEOCLES
Who would hear thee after thou hast marched against thy
fatherland？
POLYNEICES
O temples of those gods that ride on snow…white steeds！
ETEOCLES
They hate thee。
POLYNEICES
I am being driven from my country。
ETEOCLES
Because thou camest to drive others thence。
POLYNEICES
Unjustly； O ye gods！
ETEOCLES
Call on the gods at Mycenae； not here。
POLYNEICES
Thou hast outraged right…
ETEOCLES
But I have not like thee become my country's foe。
POLYNEICES
By driving me forth without my portion。
ETEOCLES
And further I will slay thee。
POLYNEICES
O father； dost thou hear what I am suffering？
ETEOCLES
Yea； and he hears what thou art doing。
POLYNEICES
Thou too； mother mine？
ETEOCLES
Thou hast no right to mention thy mother。
POLYNEICES
O my city！
ETEOCLES
Get thee to Argos； and invoke the waters of Lerna。
POLYNEICES
I will； trouble not thyself； all thanks to thee though； mother
mine…
ETEOCLES
Forth from the land！
POLYNEICES
I go； yet grant me to behold my father。
ETEOCLES
Thou shalt not have thy wish。
POLYNEICES
At least then my tender sisters。
ETEOCLES
No！ them too thou shalt never see。
POLYNEICES
Ah； sisters mine！
ETEOCLES
Why dost thou； their bitterest foe； call on them？
POLYNEICES
Mother dear； to thee at least farewell！
JOCASTA
A joyous faring mine in sooth； my son！
POLYNEICES
Thy son no more！
JOCASTA
Born to sorrow； endless sorrow； I！
POLYNEICES
'Tis because my brother treats me despitefully。
ETEOCLES
I am treated just the same。
POLYNEICES
Where wilt thou be stationed before the towers？
ETEOCLES
Why ask me this？
POLYNEICES
I will array myself against thee for thy death。
ETEOCLES
I too have the same desire。
JOCASTA
Woe is me！ what will ye do； my sons？
POLYNEICES
The event will show。
JOCASTA
Oh； fly your father's curse！
（JOCASTA enters the palace。）
ETEOCLES
Destruction seize our whole house！
POLYNEICES
Soon shall my sword be busy； plunged in gore。 But I call my native
land and heaven too to witness； with what contumely and bitter
treatment I am being driven forth； as though I were a slave； not a son
of Oedipus as much as he。 If aught happen to thee； my city； blame him；
not me； for I came not willingly； and all unwillingly am I driven
hence。 Farewell； king Phoebus； lord of highways； farewell palace and
comrades； farewell ye statues of the gods； at which men offer sheep；
for I know not if shall ever again address you； though hope is still
awake； which makes me confident that with heaven's help I shall slay
this fellow and rule my native Thebes。
（POLYNEICES departs。）
ETEOCLES
Forth from the land！ 'twas a true name our father gave thee； when；
prompted by some god； he called thee Polyneices； a name denoting
strife。
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
To this land came Cadmus of Tyre； at whose feet an unyoked
heifer threw itself down； giving effect to an oracle on the spot where
the god's response bade him take up his abode in Aonia's rich
cornlands； where gushing Dirce's fair rivers of water pour o'er
verdant fruitful fields； here was born the Bromian god by her whom
Zeus made a mother； round whom the ivy twined its wreaths while he was
yet a babe； swathing him amid the covert of its green foliage as child
of happy destiny； to be a theme for Bacchic revelry among the maids
and wives inspired in Thebes。
antistrophe
There lay Ares' murderous dragon； a savage warder； watching with
roving eye the watered glens and quickening streams； him did Cadmus
slay with a jagged stone； when he came thither to draw him lustral
water； smiting that fell head with a blow of his death…dealing arm；
but by the counsel of Pallas； motherless goddess； he cast the teeth
upon the earth into deep furrows； whence sprang to sight mail…clad
host 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 disclosed them to the sunlit breath of heaven。
epode
Thee too； Epaphus； child of Zeus； sprung from Io our ancestress；
call on in my foreign tongue； all hail to thee！ hear my prayer uttered
in accents strange； and visit this land； 'twas in thy honour thy
descendants settled here； and those goddesses of twofold name；
Persephone and kindly Demeter or Earth the queen of all； that
feedeth every mouth； won it for themselves； send to the help of this
land those torch…bearing queens； for to gods all things are easy。
ETEOCLES （to an attendant）
Go； fetch Creon son of Menoeceus； the brother of jocasta my
mother； tell him I fain would confer with him on matters affecting our
public and private weal； before we set out to battle and the
arraying of our host。 But lo！ he comes and saves thee the trouble of
going； I see him on his way to my palace。
（CREON enters。）
CREON
To and fro have I been； king Eteocles； in my desire to see thee；
and have gone all round the gates and sentinels of Thebes in quest
of thee。
ETEOCLES
Why； and I was anxious to see thee； Creon； for I found the terms
of peace far from satisfactory； when I came to confer with Polyneices。
CREON
I hear that he has wider aims than Thebes； relying on his alliance
with the daughter of Adrastus and his army。 Well； we must leave this
dependent on the gods； meantime I am come to tell thee our chief
obstacle。
ETEOCLES
What is that？ I do not understand what thou sayest。
CREON
There is come one that was captured by the Argives。
ETEOCLES
What news does he bring from their camp？
CREON
He says the Argive army intend at once to draw a ring of troops
round the city of Thebes； about its towers。
ETEOCLES
In that case the city of Cadmus must lead out its troops。
CREON
Whither？ art thou so young that thine eyes see not what they
should？
ETEOCLES
Across yon trenches for immediate action。
CREON
Our Theban forces are small； while theirs are numberless。
ETEOCLES
I well know they are reputed brave。
CREON
No mean repute have those Argives among Hellenes。
ETEOCLES
Never fear！ I will soon fill the plain with their dead。
CREON
I could wish it so； but I see great difficulties in this。
ETEOCLES
Trust me； I will not keep my host within the walls。
CREON
Still victory is entirely a matter of good counsel。
ETEOCLES
Art anxious then that I should have recourse to any other scheme？
CREON
Aye to every scheme； before running the risk once for all。
ETEOCLES
Suppose we fall on them by night from ambuscade？
CREON
Good！ provided in the event of defeat thou canst secure thy return
hither。
ETEOCLES
Night equalizes risks； though it rather favours daring。
CREON
Th