---
title: "Seven Against Thebes · Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας"
author: "Aeschylus"
translator: "Herbert Weir Smyth"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
url: https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-seven-against-thebes/
cite: "Aeschylus, tr. Herbert Weir Smyth, Seven Against Thebes · Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-seven-against-thebes/"
---

# Seven Against Thebes · Ἑπτὰ ἐπὶ Θήβας

*Aeschylus, tr. Herbert Weir Smyth*

Seven champions at seven gates, and two brothers fated to kill each other.

> Greek: ed. Herbert Weir Smyth, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0085.tlg004, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Herbert Weir Smyth, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0085.tlg004.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## Contents

1. [Lines 1–544](https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-seven-against-thebes/1.md)
2. [Lines 545–1084](https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-seven-against-thebes/2.md)

## 1. Lines 1–544

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-seven-against-thebes/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-seven-against-thebes/1/#p-N

[¶0] A large gathering of citizens of Thebes. Enter Eteocles with attendants.
Eteocles:
Men of Cadmus’s city, he who guards from the stern the concerns of the State and guides its helm with eyes untouched by sleep must speak to the point. For if we succeed, the responsibility is heaven’s;

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
Κάδμου πολῖται, χρὴ λέγειν τὰ καίρια
ὅστις φυλάσσει πρᾶγος ἐν πρύμνῃ πόλεως
οἴακα νωμῶν, βλέφαρα μὴ κοιμῶν ὕπνῳ.
εἰ μὲν γὰρ εὖ πράξαιμεν, αἰτία θεοῦ·

[¶1] but if—may it not happen—disaster is our lot, Eteocles would be the one name shouted many times throughout the city in the citizens’ resounding uproars and laments. From these evils may Zeus the Defender, upholding his name, shield the city of the Cadmeans!

> Greek: εἰ δʼ αὖθʼ, ὃ μὴ γένοιτο, συμφορὰ τύχοι,
Ἐτεοκλέης ἂν εἷς πολὺς κατὰ πτόλιν
ὑμνοῖθʼ ὑπʼ ἀστῶν φροιμίοις πολυρρόθοις
οἰμώγμασίν θʼ, ὧν Ζεὺς ἀλεξητήριος
ἐπώνυμος γένοιτο Καδμείων πόλει.

[¶2] But now you—both he who is still short of his youthful prime, and he who, though past his prime, still strengthens the abundant growth of his body, and every man still in his prime, as is fitting—you must aid the State and
the altars of your homeland’s gods so that their honors may never be obliterated. You must aid, too, your children, and Mother Earth, your beloved nurse. For welcoming all the distress of your childhood, when you were young and crept upon her kind soil, she raised you to inhabit her and bear the shield,
and to prove yourselves faithful in this time of need. And so, until today, God has been favorably inclined, for though we have long been under siege, the war has gone well for the most part through the gods’ will. But now, as the seer, the herdsman of birds, informs us,
using his ears and his mind to understand with unerring skill the prophetic birds unaided by sacrificial fire—he, master of such prophecy, declares that the greatest Argive attack is being planned in night assembly and that they will make plans to capture our city.

> Greek: ὑμᾶς δὲ χρὴ νῦν, καὶ τὸν ἐλλείποντʼ ἔτι
ἥβης ἀκμαίας καὶ τὸν ἔξηβον χρόνῳ,
βλαστημὸν ἀλδαίνοντα σώματος πολύν,
ὥραν τʼ ἔχονθʼ ἕκαστον ὥστε συμπρεπές,
πόλει τʼ ἀρήγειν καὶ θεῶν ἐγχωρίων
βωμοῖσι, τιμὰς μὴ ʼξαλειφθῆναί ποτε·
τέκνοις τε, Γῇ τε μητρί, φιλτάτῃ τροφῷ·
ἡ γὰρ νέους ἕρποντας εὐμενεῖ πέδῳ,
ἅπαντα πανδοκοῦσα παιδείας ὄτλον,
ἐθρέψατʼ οἰκητῆρας ἀσπιδηφόρους
πιστοὺς ὅπως γένοισθε πρὸς χρέος τόδε.
καὶ νῦν μὲν ἐς τόδʼ ἦμαρ εὖ ῥέπει θεός·
χρόνον γὰρ ἤδη τόνδε πυργηρουμένοις
καλῶς τὰ πλείω πόλεμος ἐκ θεῶν κυρεῖ.
νῦν δʼ ὡς ὁ μάντις φησίν, οἰωνῶν βοτήρ,
ἐν ὠσὶ νωμῶν καὶ φρεσίν, πυρὸς δίχα,
χρηστηρίους ὄρνιθας ἀψευδεῖ τέχνῃ·
οὗτος τοιῶνδε δεσπότης μαντευμάτων
λέγει μεγίστην προσβολὴν Ἀχαιίδα
νυκτηγορεῖσθαι κἀπιβουλεύσειν πόλει.

[¶3] Hurry each of you to the battlements and the gates of our towered walls! Rush with all your armor! Fill the parapets and take your positions on the platforms of the towers. Stand your ground bravely where the gates open out,
and do not be afraid of this crowd of foreigners. God will bring it to a good end. I myself have dispatched scouts and men to observe their army, and I am confident that their going is not in vain. Once I have heard their report, I will not be taken by any trickery.
Enter a Scout.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ ἔς τʼ ἐπάλξεις καὶ πύλας πυργωμάτων
ὁρμᾶσθε πάντες, σοῦσθε σὺν παντευχίᾳ,
πληροῦτε θωρακεῖα, κἀπὶ σέλμασιν
πύργων στάθητε, καὶ πυλῶν ἐπʼ ἐξόδοις
μίμνοντες εὖ θαρσεῖτε, μηδʼ ἐπηλύδων
ταρβεῖτʼ ἄγαν ὅμιλον· εὖ τελεῖ θεός.
σκοποὺς δὲ κἀγὼ καὶ κατοπτῆρας στρατοῦ
ἔπεμψα, τοὺς πέποιθα μὴ ματᾶν ὁδῷ·
καὶ τῶνδʼ ἀκούσας οὔ τι μὴ ληφθῶ δόλῳ.

[¶4] Scout:
Eteocles, mighty prince of the Cadmeans,
I have returned with a sure report of the army outside the walls; I myself am an eyewitness of their actions. Seven warriors, fierce regiment-commanders, slaughtered a bull over a black shield, and then touching the bull’s gore with their hands they swore an oath
by Ares, by Enyo, and by Rout who delights in blood, that either they will level the city and sack the Cadmeans’ town by force, or will in death smear this soil with their blood. And on Adrastus’ chariot they were placing remembrances of themselves
for their parents at home, and were shedding tears while so doing, but no piteous wailing escaped their lips. For their iron- hearted spirit heaved, blazing with courage, as of lions with war in their eyes. Your knowledge of these things was not delayed by fearfulness;

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
Ἐτεόκλεες, φέριστε Καδμείων ἄναξ,
ἥκω σαφῆ τἀκεῖθεν ἐκ στρατοῦ φέρων,
αὐτὸς κατόπτης δʼ εἴμʼ ἐγὼ τῶν πραγμάτων·
ἄνδρες γὰρ ἑπτά, θούριοι λοχαγέται,
ταυροσφαγοῦντες ἐς μελάνδετον σάκος
καὶ θιγγάνοντες χερσὶ ταυρείου φόνου,
Ἄρη τʼ, Ἐνυώ, καὶ φιλαίματον Φόβον
ὡρκωμότησαν ἢ πόλει κατασκαφὰς
θέντες λαπάξειν ἄστυ Καδμείων βίᾳ,
ἢ γῆν θανόντες τήνδε φυράσειν φόνῳ·
μνημεῖά θʼ αὑτῶν τοῖς τεκοῦσιν ἐς δόμους
πρὸς ἅρμʼ Ἀδράστου χερσὶν ἔστεφον, δάκρυ
λείβοντες· οἶκτος δʼ οὔτις ἦν διὰ στόμα.
σιδηρόφρων γὰρ θυμὸς ἀνδρείᾳ φλέγων
ἔπνει, λεόντων ὡς Ἄρη δεδορκότων.
καὶ τῶνδε πύστις οὐκ ὄκνῳ χρονίζεται·

[¶5] for I left them casting lots to decide how each commander, his post assigned by chance, would lead his regiment against the gates. Therefore, choose the bravest men of the city and station them quickly at the outlets of the gates. For nearby already the Argive army in full armor
is advancing in a flurry of dust, and glistening foam splatters the plain in drops from the horses’ pantings. So you, like the careful helmsman of a ship, secure the city before Ares’ blasts storm down upon it; for the wave of their army now crashes over the dry land.

> Greek: κληρουμένους δʼ ἔλειπον, ὡς πάλῳ λαχὼν
ἕκαστος αὐτῶν πρὸς πύλας ἄγοι λόχον.
πρὸς ταῦτʼ ἀρίστους ἄνδρας ἐκκρίτους πόλεως
πυλῶν ἐπʼ ἐξόδοισι τάγευσαι τάχος·
ἐγγὺς γὰρ ἤδη πάνοπλος Ἀργείων στρατὸς
χωρεῖ, κονίει, πεδία δʼ ἀργηστὴς ἀφρὸς
χραίνει σταλαγμοῖς ἱππικῶν ἐκ πλευμόνων.
σὺ δʼ ὥστε ναὸς κεδνὸς οἰακοστρόφος
φράξαι πόλισμα, πρὶν καταιγίσαι πνοὰς
Ἄρεως· βοᾷ γὰρ κῦμα χερσαῖον στρατοῦ·

[¶6] Seize the first opportune moment for doing this. For all else, I, on my part, will keep a reliable eye on the lookout, and you, by learning from my certain report what happens beyond the gates, shall remain unharmed. Exit.

> Greek: καὶ τῶνδε καιρὸν ὅστις ὤκιστος λαβέ·
κἀγὼ τὰ λοιπὰ πιστὸν ἡμεροσκόπον
ὀφθαλμὸν ἕξω, καὶ σαφηνείᾳ λόγου
εἰδὼς τὰ τῶν θύραθεν ἀβλαβὴς ἔσῃ.

[¶7] Eteocles:
O Zeus and Earth, and gods that guard our city,
and Curse, potent agent of my father’s vengeance, do not destroy my city, ripping it up from its foundations, captive of the enemy, a city that speaks in Greece’s tongue, and do not destroy our hearths and homes.
May they never hold the free land and city of Cadmus beneath the yoke of slavery! Be our protection! I am certain that what I ask is in our common interest; for a State that prospers pays honors to its gods. Exit Eteocles, with citizens. The Chorus enters in fearful agitation.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
ὦ Ζεῦ τε καὶ Γῆ καὶ πολισσοῦχοι θεοί,
Ἀρά τʼ Ἐρινὺς πατρὸς ἡ μεγασθενής,
μή μοι πόλιν γε πρυμνόθεν πανώλεθρον
ἐκθαμνίσητε δῃάλωτον, Ἑλλάδος
φθόγγον χέουσαν, καὶ δόμους ἐφεστίους·
ἐλευθέραν δὲ γῆν τε καὶ Κάδμου πόλιν
ζυγοῖσι δουλίοισι μήποτε σχεθεῖν·
γένεσθε δʼ ἀλκή· ξυνὰ δʼ ἐλπίζω λέγειν·
πόλις γὰρ εὖ πράσσουσα δαίμονας τίει.

[¶8] Chorus:
In terror I wail loud cries of sorrow. Their army is let loose! Leaving camp,
—look!—the mounted throng floods swiftly ahead. The dust whirling in the air tells me this is so—its message is speechless, yet clear and true. And now the plains of my native land under the blows of hooves send a roar to my ears; the sound flies
and rumbles like a resistless torrent crashing down a mountainside. Ah, ah, you gods and goddesses, raise your war cry over our walls to drive away the onrushing evil! The army of the white shield,
ready for battle, rushes at full speed against the city. Who then will rescue us, which of the gods or goddesses will help? Or shall I fall in supplication at the feet
of our ancestral gods’ statues? Ah, blessed gods, firmly enthroned, the time has come to hold fast to your statues. Why do we delay, who are much to be lamented?

> Greek: Χορός:
θρέομαι φοβερὰ μεγάλʼ ἄχη·
μεθεῖται στρατός· στρατόπεδον λιπὼν
ῥεῖ πολὺς ὅδε λεὼς πρόδρομος ἱππότας·
αἰθερία κόνις με πείθει φανεῖσʼ,
ἄναυδος σαφὴς ἔτυμος ἄγγελος.
ἔτι δὲ ⟨γᾶς⟩ ἐμᾶς πεδίʼ ὁπλόκτυπʼ ὠ-
τὶ χρίμπτει βοάν· ποτᾶται, βρέμει δʼ
ἀμαχέτου δίκαν ὕδατος ὀροτύπου.
ἰὼ ἰὼ
ἰὼ θεοὶ θεαί τʼ ὀρόμενον κακὸν
βοᾷ τειχέων ὕπερ ἀλεύσατε.
ὁ λεύκασπις ὄρνυται λαὸς εὐ-
τρεπὴς ἐπὶ πόλιν διώκων [πόδα].
τίς ἄρα ῥύσεται, τίς ἄρʼ ἐπαρκέσει
θεῶν ἢ θεᾶν;
πότερα δῆτʼ ἐγὼ ⟨πάτρια⟩ ποτιπέσω
βρέτη δαιμόνων;
ἰὼ μάκαρες εὔεδροι,
ἀκμάζει βρετέων ἔχεσθαι· τί μέλ-
λομεν ἀγάστονοι;

[¶9] Do you hear the clash of shields, or does it escape you? When, if not now, shall we place sacred robes and wreaths on the statues to accompany our prayers? I see the clash—it is not the clatter of a single spear. What will you do? Will you betray
your own land, Ares, where you have dwelt since long ago? God of the golden helmet, look, look upon the city that you once cherished!

> Greek: ἀκούετʼ ἢ οὐκ ἀκούετʼ ἀσπίδων κτύπον;
πέπλων καὶ στεφέων πότʼ εἰ μὴ νῦν ἀμ-
φὶ λιτάνʼ ἕξομεν;
κτύπον δέδορκα· πάταγος οὐχ ἑνὸς δορός.
τί ῥέξεις; προδώσεις, παλαίχθων
Ἄρης, τὰν τεάν;
ἰὼ χρυσοπήληξ δαῖμον ἔπιδʼ ἔπι-
δε πόλιν ἅν ποτʼ εὐφιλήταν ἔθου.

[¶10] Chorus:
Oh come all you gods who guard our city and its land!

> Greek: Χορός:
θεοὶ πολιάοχοι πάντες ἴτε χθονὸς·

[¶11] See this suppliant band of maidens praying to be saved from slavery. A torrent of men, their helmet plumes tossing, crashes around the city,
sped on by the blasts of Ares. No! Father Zeus, all-accomplishing, fend from us altogether capture at the hands of the enemy.

> Greek: ἴδετε παρθένων
ἱκέσιον λόχον δουλοσύνας ὕπερ.
κῦμα [γὰρ] περὶ πτόλιν δοχμολόφων ἀνδρῶν
καχλάζει πνοαῖς Ἄρεος ὀρόμενον.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ Ζεῦ πάτερ παντελές,
πάντως ἄρηξον δαΐων ἅλωσιν.

[¶12] The Argives encircle the citadel of Cadmus. Terror of their weapons of war shakes us, as the bridles in the horse’s jaws rattle the sound of death. Seven bold captains, conspicuous among the army
in spear-wielding harnesses, at the seven gates … take their stand each according to his lot.

> Greek: Ἀργέιοι δὲ πόλισμα Κάδμου
κυκλοῦνται· φόβος δʼ ἀρῄων ὅπλων
[δονεῖ], διὰ δέ τοι γενύων ἱππίων
κινύρονται φόνον χαλινοί.
ἑπτὰ δʼ ἀγάνορες πρέποντες στρατοῦ
δορυσσοῖς σαγαῖς πύλαις ἑβδόμαις
…
προσίστανται πάλῳ λαχόντες.

[¶13] Chorus:
Pallas, Zeus-born power delighting in battle, prove yourself the savior of the city!
And you, lord of steeds, ruler of the deep, Poseidon, with your fish-striking weapon grant us release from our fears, grant us release!

> Greek: Χορός:
σύ τʼ, ὦ Διογενὲς φιλόμαχον κράτος,
ῥυσίπολις γενοῦ,
Παλλάς, ὅ θʼ ἵππιος ποντομέδων ἄναξ
ἰχθυβόλῳ Ποσειδάων μαχανᾷ,
ἐπίλυσιν φόβων, ἐπίλυσιν δίδου.

[¶14] You too, Ares—pity us!—guard the city named for Cadmus and make evident your closeness to us!

> Greek: σύ τʼ, Ἄρης, φεῦ, φεῦ, πόλιν ἐπώνυμον
Κάδμου φύλαξον κήδεσαί τʼ ἐναργῶς.

[¶15] And Cypris, you who are the first mother of our race, defend us who are sprung from your blood. We come to you, crying out in prayers for your divine ears.

> Greek: καὶ Κύπρις, ἅτʼ εἶ γένους προμάτωρ,
ἄλευσον· σέθεν γὰρ ἐξ αἵματος
γεγόναμεν· λιταῖσί σε θεοκλύτοις
ἀυτοῦσαι πελαζόμεσθα.

[¶16] And you, Apollo, lord of the Wolf, be a wolf to the enemy force and give them groan for groan! You too, maiden child of Leto, ready your bow!

> Greek: καὶ σύ, Λύκειʼ ἄναξ, Λύκειος γενοῦ
στρατῷ δαΐῳ στόνων ἀντίτας.
σύ τʼ, ὦ Λατογένει-
α κούρα, τόξον εὐτυκάζου [Ἄρτεμι φίλα].

[¶17] Chorus:
Ah! Ah!
I hear the rattle of chariots encircling the town. O lady Hera! The hubs are creaking beneath the axles’ load. Beloved Artemis!
The air rages at the shaking of spears! What is happening to our city? What will the future bring? And where does God finally lead us?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἒ ἒ ἒ ἔ,
ὄτοβον ἁρμάτων ἀμφὶ πόλιν κλύω·
ὦ πότνιʼ Ἥρα.
ἔλακον ἀξόνων βριθομένων χνόαι.
Ἄρτεμι φίλα, ἒ ἒ ἒ ἔ,
δοριτίνακτος αἰθὴρ δʼ ἐπιμαίνεται.
τί πόλις ἄμμι πάσχει, τί γενήσεται;
ποῖ δʼ ἔτι τέλος ἐπάγει θεός;

[¶18] Chorus:
Ah! Ah! A hail of stones strikes our battlements from afar. O beloved Apollo!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἒ ἒ ἒ ἔ,
ἀκροβόλων δʼ ἐπάλξεων λιθὰς ἔρχεται·
ὦ φίλʼ Ἄπολλον·

[¶19] There is the clang of bronze-bound shields at the gates. O son of Zeus, in whom dwells the sacred power to decide in battle war’s outcome! And you, blessed queen Onca, on behalf of the city,
defend your seven- gated home!

> Greek: κόναβος ἐν πύλαις χαλκοδέτων σακέων,
παῖ Διός, ὅθεν
πολεμόκραντον ἁγνὸν τέλος ἐν μάχᾳ.
σύ τε, μάκαιρʼ ἄνασσʼ Ὄγκα, πρὸ πόλεως
ἑπτάπυλον ἕδος ἐπιρρύου.

[¶20] Chorus:
All-powerful divinities, you gods and goddesses who wield the power to guard the towers of our land, do not betray our city that now toils under the spear
to an alien-tongued army. Hear us, hear, as is right, the prayers we maidens offer with outstretched hands.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ παναρκεῖς θεοί,
ἰὼ τέλειοι τέλειαί τε γᾶς
τᾶσδε πυργοφύλακες,
πόλιν δορίπονον μὴ προδῶθʼ
ἑτεροφώνῳ στρατῷ.
κλύετε παρθένων κλύετε πανδίκως
χειροτόνους λιτάς.

[¶21] Chorus:
Beloved spirits,
encompass the city to deliver it from ruin and show that you love it. Consider the people’s offerings, and as you consider, help us.
Remember, I beg, our city’s worship, rich in sacrifice..

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ φίλοι δαίμονες,
λυτήριοί ⟨τʼ⟩ ἀμφιβάντες πόλιν,
δείξαθʼ ὡς φιλοπόλεις,
μέλεσθέ θʼ ἱερῶν δημίων,
μελόμενοι δʼ ἀρήξατε·
φιλοθύτων δέ τοι πόλεος ὀργίων
μνήστορες ἐστέ μοι.

[¶22] Eteocles:
You intolerable things! I ask you, is this the best way to save the city? Does it hearten our army here besieged,
when you fall before the images of the gods that guard the city and shout and shriek—behavior that moderate people despise? May I never share my home with the female race, neither in time of evil nor in pleasant prosperity! When things go well for her, her boldness is unbearable,
but when she is afraid, she is an even greater evil for home and city. So now your cries as you rushed here and there in panicked flight have rattled the citizens into dispirited cowardice. The cause of the enemy outside our gates is excellently strengthened by your behavior, while we inside are ruined by our own people.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
ὑμᾶς ἐρωτῶ, θρέμματʼ οὐκ ἀνασχετά,
ἦ ταῦτʼ ἄριστα καὶ πόλει σωτήρια,
στρατῷ τε θάρσος τῷδε πυργηρουμένῳ,
βρέτη πεσούσας πρὸς πολισσούχων θεῶν
αὔειν, λακάζειν, σωφρόνων μισήματα;
μήτʼ ἐν κακοῖσι μήτʼ ἐν εὐεστοῖ φίλῃ
ξύνοικος εἴην τῷ γυναικείῳ γένει.
κρατοῦσα μὲν γὰρ οὐχ ὁμιλητὸν θράσος,
δείσασα δʼ οἴκῳ καὶ πόλει πλέον κακόν.
καὶ νῦν πολίταις τάσδε διαδρόμους φυγὰς
θεῖσαι διερροθήσατʼ ἄψυχον κάκην·
τὰ τῶν θύραθεν δʼ ὡς ἄριστʼ ὀφέλλεται,
αὐτοὶ δʼ ὑπʼ αὐτῶν ἔνδοθεν πορθούμεθα.

[¶23] This is the sort of trouble you will have if you dwell with women. Now if anyone fails to obey my authority—whether man or woman or something in between—a sentence of death will be decreed for him and by no means whatsoever will he escape destruction by stoning at the people’s hands.

> Greek: τοιαῦτά τἂν γυναιξὶ συνναίων ἔχοις.
κεἰ μή τις ἀρχῆς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀκούσεται,
ἀνὴρ γυνή τε χὤ τι τῶν μεταίχμιον,
ψῆφος κατʼ αὐτῶν ὀλεθρία βουλεύσεται,
λευστῆρα δήμου δʼ οὔ τι μὴ φύγῃ μόρον.

[¶24] It is for the man to take care of business outside the house; let no woman make decrees in those matters. Keep inside and do no harm! Do you hear me or not? Am I speaking to the deaf?

> Greek: μέλει γὰρ ἀνδρί, μὴ γυνὴ βουλευέτω,
τἄξωθεν· ἔνδον δʼ οὖσα μὴ βλάβην τίθει.
ἤκουσας ἢ οὐκ ἤκουσας, ἢ κωφῇ λέγω;

[¶25] Chorus:
Dear son of Oedipus, I grew afraid when I heard the clatter of the crashing chariots,
when the hubs screamed as they whirled around the wheel, and when I heard the sound of the steering gear, fire-forged bits, in the horses’ mouths.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ φίλον Οἰδίπου τέκος, ἔδεισʼ ἀκού-
σασα τὸν ἁρματόκτυπον ὄτοβον ὄτοβον,
ὅτε τε σύριγγες ἔκλαγξαν ἑλίτροχοι,
ἱππικῶν τʼ ἀπύαν πηδαλίων διὰ στόμα
πυριγενετᾶν χαλινῶν.

[¶26] Eteocles:
Well, then, has a helmsman ever found a way to safety by fleeing from stern to prow,
when his ship is foundering in high seas?

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
τί οὖν; ὁ ναύτης ἆρα μὴ ʼς πρῷραν φυγὼν
πρύμνηθεν ηὗρε μηχανὴν σωτηρίας,
νεὼς καμούσης ποντίῳ πρὸς κύματι;

[¶27] Chorus:
But trusting in the gods I came in haste to their ancient statues, when the deadly blizzard of falling stones thundered against the gates. Just then I set out in fear to pray to the Blessed Ones
that they spread their protection over the city.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ δαιμόνων πρόδρομος ἦλθον ἀρ-
χαῖα βρέτη, θεοῖσι πίσυνος, νιφάδος
ὅτʼ ὀλοᾶς νειφομένας βρόμος ἐν πύλαις·
δὴ τότʼ ἤρθην φόβῳ πρὸς μακάρων λιτάς, πόλεως
ἵνʼ ὑπερέχοιεν ἀλκάν.

[¶28] Eteocles:
Pray that the rampart withstand the enemy spear. Yes, the outcome is in the gods’ hands—but then, it is said that the gods of a captured city abandon it.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
πύργον στέγειν εὔχεσθε πολέμιον δόρυ.
οὐκοῦν τάδʼ ἔσται πρὸς θεῶν· ἀλλʼ οὖν θεοὺς
τοὺς τῆς ἁλούσης πόλεος ἐκλείπειν λόγος.

[¶29] Chorus:
Never so long as I live may this divine assembly abandon us,
nor may I live to see the city overrun and the army seizing it with hostile fire!

> Greek: Χορός:
μήποτʼ ἐμὸν κατʼ αἰῶνα λίποι θεῶν
ἅδε πανάγυρις, μηδʼ ἐπίδοιμι τάνδʼ
ἀστυδρομουμέναν πόλιν καὶ στράτευμʼ
ἁπτόμενον πυρὶ δαΐῳ.

[¶30] Eteocles:
When you invoke the gods, do not be ill-advised. For Obedience is
the mother of Success, wife of Salvation—as the saying goes.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
μή μοι θεοὺς καλοῦσα βουλεύου κακῶς·
πειθαρχία γάρ ἐστι τῆς εὐπραξίας
μήτηρ, γυνὴ σωτῆρος· ὧδʼ ἔχει λόγος.

[¶31] Chorus:
So she is, but the power of god is supreme, and often in bad times it raises the helpless man out of harsh misery even when stormclouds are lowering over his eyes.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔστι· θεοῦ δʼ ἔτʼ ἰσχὺς καθυπερτέρα·
πολλάκι δʼ ἐν κακοῖσι τὸν ἀμάχανον
κἀκ χαλεπᾶς δύας ὕπερθʼ ὀμμάτων
κρημναμενᾶν νεφελᾶν ὀρθοῖ.

[¶32] Eteocles:
It is the man’s duty to offer victims and sacrifices to the gods when they test their enemy; your duty is to be silent and to remain inside the house.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
ἀνδρῶν τάδʼ ἐστί, σφάγια καὶ χρηστήρια
θεοῖσιν ἕρδειν πολεμίων πειρωμένους·
σὸν δʼ αὖ τὸ σιγᾶν καὶ μένειν εἴσω δόμων.

[¶33] Chorus:
By the will of the gods we inhabit an unconquered city, and the rampart withstands the enemy throng.

> Greek: Χορός:
διὰ θεῶν πόλιν νεμόμεθʼ ἀδάματον,
δυσμενέων δʼ ὄχλον πύργος ἀποστέγει.

[¶34] What indignation makes you resent this?

> Greek: τίς τάδε νέμεσις στυγεῖ;

[¶35] Eteocles:
I do not begrudge your honor of the divine race; but lest you make the citizens cowardly, be calm and do not be overly fearful.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
οὔτοι φθονῶ σοι δαιμόνων τιμᾶν γένος·
ἀλλʼ ὡς πολίτας μὴ κακοσπλάγχνους τιθῇς,
εὔκηλος ἴσθι μηδʼ ἄγαν ὑπερφοβοῦ.

[¶36] Chorus:
When I heard the strange and jumbled clashes,
I came in trembling fear to this citadel, our seat of worship.

> Greek: Χορός:
ποτίφατον κλύουσα πάταγον ἀνάμιγα
ταρβοσύνῳ φόβῳ τάνδʼ ἐς ἀκρόπτολιν,
τίμιον ἕδος, ἱκόμαν.

[¶37] Eteocles:
If, then, you hear that men are dying or wounded, do not seize on the news with loud wailing. For this is the food of Ares, human blood.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
μή νυν, ἐὰν θνῄσκοντας ἢ τετρωμένους
πύθησθε, κωκυτοῖσιν ἁρπαλίζετε.
τούτῳ γὰρ Ἄρης βόσκεται, φόνῳ βροτῶν.

[¶38] Chorus:
Oh, but I hear horses snorting!

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν ἀκούω γʼ ἱππικῶν φρυαγμάτων.

[¶39] Eteocles:
Hear them, then, but not too clearly.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
μή νυν ἀκούουσʼ ἐμφανῶς ἄκουʼ ἄγαν.

[¶40] Chorus:
The city groans from deep in the earth, as though we are surrounded.

> Greek: Χορός:
στένει πόλισμα γῆθεν, ὡς κυκλουμένων.

[¶41] Eteocles:
Surely it is enough that I am making plans for this?

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
οὐκοῦν ἔμʼ ἀρκεῖ τῶνδε βουλεύειν πέρι.

[¶42] Chorus:
I am terrified—the crashing at the gates is increasing.

> Greek: Χορός:
δέδοικʼ, ἀραγμὸς δʼ ἐν πύλαις ὀφέλλεται.

[¶43] Eteocles:
Won’t you be silent, and speak none of this throughout the city?

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
οὐ σῖγα μηδὲν τῶνδʼ ἐρεῖς κατὰ πτόλιν;

[¶44] Chorus:
Divine company, do not betray our fortifications!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ ξυντέλεια, μὴ προδῷς πυργώματα.

[¶45] Eteocles:
Damn you! Will you not endure these events in silence?

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
οὐκ ἐς φθόρον σιγῶσʼ ἀνασχήσῃ τάδε;

[¶46] Chorus:
Gods of our city! Do not let my fate be slavery!

> Greek: Χορός:
θεοὶ πολῖται, μή με δουλείας τυχεῖν.

[¶47] Eteocles:
You would enslave both me and all the city.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
αὐτὴ σὺ δουλοῖς κἀμὲ καὶ πᾶσαν πόλιν.

[¶48] Chorus:
Almighty Zeus, turn your missile against the enemy!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ παγκρατὲς Ζεῦ, τρέψον εἰς ἐχθροὺς βέλος.

[¶49] Eteocles:
O Zeus, what a breed you have made for us in women!

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
ὦ Ζεῦ, γυναικῶν οἷον ὤπασας γένος.

[¶50] Chorus:
A breed steeped in misery, just like men whose city is captured.

> Greek: Χορός:
μοχθηρόν, ὥσπερ ἄνδρας ὧν ἁλῷ πόλις.

[¶51] Eteocles:
Why are your words ill-omened, when you still grasp the gods’ statues?

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
παλινστομεῖς αὖ θιγγάνουσʼ ἀγαλμάτων;

[¶52] Chorus:
In my weakness fear controls my tongue.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀψυχίᾳ γὰρ γλῶσσαν ἁρπάζει φόβος.

[¶53] Eteocles:
If only you would grant my plea for a small service.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
αἰτουμένῳ μοι κοῦφον εἰ δοίης τέλος.

[¶54] Chorus:
Please state it as quickly as possible, and I will quickly know what to do.

> Greek: Χορός:
λέγοις ἂν ὡς τάχιστα, καὶ τάχʼ εἴσομαι.

[¶55] Eteocles:
Be silent, wretched woman; do not terrify your own men.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
σίγησον, ὦ τάλαινα, μὴ φίλους φόβει.

[¶56] Chorus:
I am silent. I will suffer what is destined together with the others.

> Greek: Χορός:
σιγῶ· σὺν ἄλλοις πείσομαι τὸ μόρσιμον.

[¶57] Eteocles:
I welcome this sentiment of yours over what you said before.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
τοῦτʼ ἀντʼ ἐκείνων τοὔπος αἱροῦμαι σέθεν.

[¶58] And in addition, keep your distance from the gods’ images and make a stronger prayer, that the gods fight on our side. And once you have heard my prayers, then sing the victory song, the sacred cry of joy and goodwill, our Greek ritual of shouting in tribute,
that brings courage to our friends and dissolves fear of the enemy. And now Here Eteocles makes his vow. to the gods who guard our city’s land, both those who dwell in the plain and those who watch over its meeting-place, to Dirce’s springs and the waters of Ismenus, I vow that, if things go well and the city is saved,
the citizens shall redden the gods’ altars with the blood of sheep and sacrifice bulls to the gods—this is my vow—and offer trophies, while I will crown their holy temples with the spoil of the enemy’s spear-pierced garments.

> Greek: καὶ πρός γε τούτοις, ἐκτὸς οὖσʼ ἀγαλμάτων,
εὔχου τὰ κρείσσω, ξυμμάχους εἶναι θεούς·
κἀμῶν ἀκούσασʼ εὐγμάτων, ἔπειτα σὺ
ὀλολυγμὸν ἱερὸν εὐμενῆ παιώνισον,
Ἑλληνικὸν νόμισμα θυστάδος βοῆς,
θάρσος φίλοις, λύουσα πολέμιον φόβον.
ἐγὼ δὲ χώρας τοῖς πολισσούχοις θεοῖς,
πεδιονόμοις τε κἀγορᾶς ἐπισκόποις,
Δίρκης τε πηγαῖς, ὕδατί τʼ Ἰσμηνοῦ λέγω
εὖ ξυντυχόντων καὶ πόλεως σεσωμένης,
μήλοισιν αἱμάσσοντας ἑστίας θεῶν,
[ταυροκτονοῦντας θεοῖσιν, ὧδʼ ἐπεύχομαι]
θύσειν τροπαῖα, δαΐων δʼ ἐσθήματα,
στέψω λάφυρα δουρίπληχθʼ ἁγνοῖς δόμοις.
[στέψω πρὸ ναῶν, πολεμίων δʼ ἐσθήματα.]

[¶59] Make this kind of prayer to the gods, without your previous lamentation, nor with wild and useless panting; for you will not escape your destiny any the more. As for me, I will go station six men, with me as the seventh, as champions to oppose the enemy in proud fashion
at the seven exits in the wall, even before speedy messengers or swift-rushing reports arrive and inflame us with urgent need. Exit.

> Greek: τοιαῦτʼ ἐπεύχου μὴ φιλοστόνως θεοῖς,
μηδʼ ἐν ματαίοις κἀγρίοις ποιφύγμασιν·
οὐ γάρ τι μᾶλλον μὴ φύγῃς τὸ μόρσιμον.
ἐγὼ δέ γʼ ἄνδρας ἓξ ἐμοὶ σὺν ἑβδόμῳ
ἀντηρέτας ἐχθροῖσι τὸν μέγαν τρόπον
εἰς ἑπτατειχεῖς ἐξόδους τάξω μολών,
πρὶν ἀγγέλους σπερχνούς τε καὶ ταχυρρόθους
λόγους ἱκέσθαι καὶ φλέγειν χρείας ὕπο.

[¶60] Chorus:
I heed him, but through terror my heart finds no repose.
Anxieties border upon my heart and kindle my fear of the army surrounding our walls, as a trembling dove fears for her children in the nest because of snakes that are dangerous bed-fellows.

> Greek: Χορός:
μέλει, φόβῳ δʼ οὐχ ὑπνώσσει κέαρ·
γείτονες δὲ καρδίας
μέριμναι ζωπυροῦσι τάρβος
τὸν ἀμφιτειχῆ λεών,
δράκοντας ὥς τις τέκνων
ὑπερδέδοικεν λεχαίων δυσευνάτορας
πάντρομος πελειάς.

[¶61] For against our fortifications some are advancing with all their men, all in formation. Ah, what will become of me? Others are hurling jagged boulders
at the citizens on all sides. O Gods born of Zeus, by every means rescue our city and people, sprung from Cadmus!

> Greek: τοὶ μὲν γὰρ ποτὶ πύργους
πανδαμεὶ πανομιλεὶ
στείχουσιν. τί γένωμαι;
τοὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀμφιβόλοισιν
ἰάπτουσι πολίταις
χερμάδʼ ὀκριόεσσαν.
παντὶ τρόπῳ, Διογενεῖς
θεοί, πόλιν καὶ στρατὸν
Καδμογενῆ ῥύεσθε.

[¶62] Chorus:
What more fertile plain will you find in place of ours,
if you abandon to the enemy this deep-soiled land and the water of Dirce which is the most nourishing of the streams that earth-encircling Poseidon
and Tethys’ children pour forth? Therefore, divine guardians of the city, hurl murderous destruction on the men outside our walls
and panic that makes them throw away their weapons, and so win glory for these citizens. Defend the city and remain in possession of your home and throne
in answer to our shrill, wailing prayers!

> Greek: Χορός:
ποῖον δʼ ἀμείψεσθε γαίας πέδον
τᾶσδʼ ἄρειον, ἐχθροῖς
ἀφέντες τὰν βαθύχθονʼ αἶαν,
ὕδωρ τε Διρκαῖον, εὐ-
τραφέστατον πωμάτων
ὅσων ἵησιν Ποσει-
δᾶν ὁ γαιάοχος
Τηθύος τε παῖδες.
πρὸς τάδʼ, ὦ πολιοῦχοι
θεοί, τοῖσι μὲν ἔξω
πύργων ἀνδρολέτειραν
κῆρα, ῥίψοπλον ἄταν,
ἐμβαλόντες ἄροισθε
κῦδος τοῖσδε πολίταις.
καὶ πόλεως ῥύτορες ⟨ἔστʼ⟩
εὔεδροί τε στάθητʼ
ὀξυγόοις λιταῖσιν.

[¶63] Chorus:
It is a great cause for grief to hurl a primeval city to Hades in this way, quarry and slave of the spear, ravaged shamefully in the dusty ashes by an Argive man through divine will.
And grief, too, to let the women be led away captive—ah me!—young and old, dragged by the hair, like horses, with their cloaks torn off them.
A city, emptied, shouts out as the human booty perishes with mingled cries. A heavy fate, indeed, my fear anticipates.

> Greek: Χορός:
οἰκτρὸν γὰρ πόλιν ὧδʼ ὠγυγίαν
Ἀίδᾳ προϊάψαι, δορὸς ἄγραν
δουλίαν ψαφαρᾷ σποδῷ
ὑπʼ ἀνδρὸς Ἀχαιοῦ θεόθεν
περθομέναν ἀτίμως,
τὰς δὲ κεχειρωμένας ἄγεσθαι,
ἒ ἔ, νέας τε καὶ παλαιὰς
ἱππηδὸν πλοκάμων, περιρ-
ρηγνυμένων φαρέων. βοᾷ
δʼ ἐκκενουμένα πόλις,
λαΐδος ὀλλυμένας μιξοθρόου·
βαρείας τοι τύχας προταρβῶ.

[¶64] Chorus:
It is a lamentable thing that modest girls should be plucked unripe, before the customary rites, and should make
a loathsome journey from their homes. What? I declare that the dead will do better than the captives; for when a city is subdued—ah, ah!—many and miserable are its sufferings.

> Greek: Χορός:
κλαυτὸν δʼ ἀρτιτρόποις ὠμοδρόποις
νομίμων προπάροιθεν διαμεῖψαι
δωμάτων στυγερὰν ὁδόν·
τί; τὸν φθίμενον γὰρ προλέγω
βέλτερα τῶνδε πράσσειν·
πολλὰ γάρ, εὖτε πτόλις δαμασθῇ,
ἒ ἔ, δυστυχῆ τε πράσσει.

[¶65] Man drags off man, or kills, or sets fires; the whole city is defiled with smoke. Mad Ares storms, subduing the people and polluting reverence.

> Greek: ἄλλος δʼ ἄλλον ἄγει, φονεύ-
ει, τὰ δὲ πυρφορεῖ· καπνῷ
[δὲ] χραίνεται πόλισμʼ ἅπαν·
μαινόμενος δʼ ἐπιπνεῖ λαοδάμας
μιαίνων εὐσέβειαν Ἄρης.

[¶66] Chorus:
Tumults swell through the town, and against it a towering net is advancing. Man falls before man beneath the spear. Sobs and wails over gore-covered babes, just nursed at their mothers’ breasts,
resound. Rape and pillage of those fleeing through the city are the deeds of one’s own blood. Plunderer joins up with plunderer; the empty-handed calls to the empty-handed, wishing to have a partner,
each greedy for neither less nor equal share. Reason exists for imagining what will come after this.

> Greek: Χορός:
κορκορυγαὶ δʼ ἀνʼ ἄστυ, προτὶ [πτόλιν]
δʼ ὁρκάνα
πυργῶτις· πρὸς ἀνδρὸς δʼ ἀνὴρ
⟨ἀμφὶ⟩ δορὶ κλίνεται·
βλαχαὶ δʼ αἱματόεσσαι
τῶν ἐπιμαστιδίων
ἀρτιτρεφεῖς βρέμονται.
ἁρπαγαὶ δὲ διαδρομᾶν ὁμαίμονες·
ξυμβολεῖ φέρων φέροντι,
καὶ κενὸς κενὸν καλεῖ,
ξύννομον θέλων ἔχειν,
οὔτε μεῖον οὔτʼ ἴσον λελιμμένοι.
τἀκ τῶνδʼ εἰκάσαι λόγος πάρα.

[¶67] Chorus:
The earth’s varied fruits, fallen to the ground, give pain, a bitter sight for the maid-servants.

> Greek: Χορός:
παντοδαπὸς δὲ καρπὸς χαμάδις πεσὼν
ἀλγύνει κυρήσας· πικρὸν δʼ
ὄμμα θαλαμηπόλων·

[¶68] In jumbled confusion the abundant gifts of earth are carried away by reckless looting waves. Young women, enslaved, suffer a new evil: a bed of misery, prize of the conquering enemy’s spear, as though of a prospering husband—
they can expect the coming of the nightly rite, which gives aid to tears and anguish!
The Scout is seen approaching from one side; Eteocles from the other.

> Greek: πολλὰ δʼ ἀκριτόφυρτος
γᾶς δόσις οὐτιδανοῖς
ἐν ῥοθίοις φορεῖται.
δμωίδες δὲ καινοπήμονες νέαι·
τλάμονʼ εὐνὰν αἰχμάλωτον
ἀνδρὸς εὐτυχοῦντος ὣς
δυσμενοῦς ὑπερτέρου
ἐλπίς ἐστι νύκτερον τέλος μολεῖν,
παγκλαύτων ἀλγέων ἐπίρροθον.

[¶69] LEADER OF THE FIRST HALF-CHORUS:
The scout, I believe,
is bringing some fresh news of the army to us, my friends, since the joints of his legs are hastily speeding as they carry him on his mission.

> Greek: Ἡμιχόριον Α:
ὅ τοι κατόπτης, ὡς ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ, στρατοῦ
πευθώ τινʼ ἡμῖν, ὦ φίλαι, νέαν φέρει,
σπουδῇ διώκων πομπίμους χνόας ποδῶν.

[¶70] LEADER OF THE SECOND HALF-CHORUS:
And, indeed, here is our lord himself, the son of Oedipus, at the right moment to hear the messenger’s report. Haste makes his stride uneven, too.

> Greek: Ἡμιχόριον Β:
καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδʼ αὐτὸς Οἰδίπου τόκος
εἰς ἀρτίκολλον ἀγγέλου λόγον μαθεῖν·
σπουδὴ δὲ καὶ τοῦδʼ οὐκ ἀπαρτίζει πόδα.

[¶71] Scout:
It is with certain knowledge that I will give my account of the enemy’s actions, how each man according to lot has been posted at the gates. Tydeus is already storming opposite the Proetid gates; but the seer will not allow him to ford the Ismenus because the omens from the sacrifices are not favorable.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
λέγοιμʼ ἂν εἰδὼς εὖ τὰ τῶν ἐναντίων,
ὥς τʼ ἐν πύλαις ἕκαστος εἴληχεν πάλον.
Τυδεὺς μὲν ἤδη πρὸς πύλαισι Προιτίσιν
βρέμει, πόρον δʼ Ἰσμηνὸν οὐκ ἐᾷ περᾶν
ὁ μάντις· οὐ γὰρ σφάγια γίγνεται καλά.

[¶72] Yet Tydeus, raging and eager for battle, shouts like a serpent hissing at high noon, and lashes skilled Oecles’ son, with the taunt that he cringes in cowardice before death and battle. With such cries he shakes three overshadowing plumes,
his helmet’s mane, while from under his shield, bells forged of bronze therein ring out a fearsome clang. He has this haughty symbol on his shield: a well-crafted sky, ablaze with stars, and the brightness of the full moon shining in the center of the shield,
the moon that is the most revered of the stars, the eye of night. Raving so in his arrogant armor, he shouts beside the river-bank, craving battle, like some charger that fiercely champs at the bit as he waits in eagerness for the trumpet’s war-cry.

> Greek: Τυδεὺς δὲ μαργῶν καὶ μάχης λελιμμένος
μεσημβριναῖς κλαγγαῖσιν ὡς δράκων βοᾷ·
θείνει δʼ ὀνείδει μάντιν Οἰκλείδην σοφόν,
σαίνειν μόρον τε καὶ μάχην ἀψυχίᾳ.
τοιαῦτʼ ἀυτῶν τρεῖς κατασκίους λόφους
σείει, κράνους χαίτωμʼ, ὑπʼ ἀσπίδος δʼ ἔσω
χαλκήλατοι κλάζουσι κώδωνες φόβον·
ἔχει δʼ ὑπέρφρον σῆμʼ ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος τόδε,
φλέγονθʼ ὑπʼ ἄστροις οὐρανὸν τετυγμένον·
λαμπρὰ δὲ πανσέληνος ἐν μέσῳ σάκει,
πρέσβιστον ἄστρων, νυκτὸς ὀφθαλμός, πρέπει.
τοιαῦτʼ ἀλύων ταῖς ὑπερκόμποις σαγαῖς
βοᾷ παρʼ ὄχθαις ποταμίαις, μάχης ἐρῶν,
ἵππος χαλινῶν ὣς κατασθμαίνων μένει,
ὅστις βοὴν σάλπιγγος ὁρμαίνει μένων.

[¶73] Whom will you send against him? Who will be capable of standing as our champion at the Proetid gate when its bars are loosened?

> Greek: τίνʼ ἀντιτάξεις τῷδε; τίς Προίτου πυλῶν
κλῄθρων λυθέντων προστατεῖν φερέγγυος;

[¶74] Eteocles:
I would not tremble before any mere ornaments on a man. Nor can signs and symbols wound and kill—crests and bell have no bite without the spear.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
κόσμον μὲν ἀνδρὸς οὔτινʼ ἂν τρέσαιμʼ ἐγώ,
οὐδʼ ἑλκοποιὰ γίγνεται τὰ σήματα·
λόφοι δὲ κώδων τʼ οὐ δάκνουσʼ ἄνευ δορός.

[¶75] And regarding this "night" which you describe on his shield, sparkling with heaven’s stars—perhaps the folly of it might yield to one some prophetic understanding. For should night fall on this man’s eyes as he dies, then to its bearer this arrogant symbol
would prove rightly and justly named; and it is against himself that he will have prophesied this outrageous violence. Now as for me, against Tydeus I will station the trusty son of Astacus as defender of this gate, since he is full noble and
reveres the throne of Honor and detests proud speech. He is slow to act disgracefully, and he has no cowardly nature. His race springs from the men sown of the dragon’s teeth, from one of those whom Ares spared, and so Melanippus is truly born of our land. Ares will decide the outcome with a throw of the dice;

> Greek: καὶ νύκτα ταύτην ἣν λέγεις ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος
ἄστροισι μαρμαίρουσαν οὐρανοῦ κυρεῖν,
τάχʼ ἂν γένοιτο μάντις ἡ ἀνοία τινί.
εἰ γὰρ θανόντι νὺξ ἐπʼ ὀφθαλμοῖς πέσοι,
τῷ τοι φέροντι σῆμʼ ὑπέρκομπον τόδε
γένοιτʼ ἂν ὀρθῶς ἐνδίκως τʼ ἐπώνυμον,
καὐτὸς καθʼ αὑτοῦ τήνδʼ ὕβριν μαντεύσεται.
ἐγὼ δὲ Τυδεῖ κεδνὸν Ἀστακοῦ τόκον
τῶνδʼ ἀντιτάξω προστάτην πυλωμάτων,
μάλʼ εὐγενῆ τε καὶ τὸν Αἰσχύνης θρόνον
τιμῶντα καὶ στυγοῦνθʼ ὑπέρφρονας λόγους.
αἰσχρῶν γὰρ ἀργός, μὴ κακὸς δʼ εἶναι φιλεῖ.
σπαρτῶν δʼ ἀπʼ ἀνδρῶν, ὧν Ἄρης ἐφείσατο,
ῥίζωμʼ ἀνεῖται, κάρτα δʼ ἔστʼ ἐγχώριος,
Μελάνιππος· ἔργον δʼ ἐν κύβοις Ἄρης κρινεῖ·

[¶76] but Justice, his kin by blood, indeed sends this man forth to keep the enemy spear from the mother that gave him birth. Exit Melanippus.

> Greek: Δίκη δʼ ὁμαίμων κάρτα νιν προστέλλεται
εἴργειν τεκούσῃ μητρὶ πολέμιον δόρυ.

[¶77] Chorus:
May the gods grant success to our champion, since he rises up in a just cause, to battle for his city! But I shudder
to watch the bloody deaths of men cut down for the sake of their own people.

> Greek: Χορός:
τὸν ἁμόν νυν ἀντίπαλον εὐτυχεῖν
θεοὶ δοῖεν, ὡς δικαίως πόλεως
πρόμαχος ὄρνυται· τρέμω δʼ αἱματη-
φόρους μόρους ὑπὲρ φίλων
ὀλομένων ἰδέσθαι.

[¶78] Scout:
Yes, may the gods so grant success to this man. Capaneus is stationed at the Electran gates, another giant of a man, greater than the one described before.
But his boast is too proud for a mere human, and he makes terrifying threats against our battlements—which, I hope, chance will not fulfil! For he says he will utterly destroy the city with god’s will or without it, and that not even conflict with Zeus, though it should fall before him in the plain, will stand in his way.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
τούτῳ μὲν οὕτως εὐτυχεῖν δοῖεν θεοί·
Καπανεὺς δʼ ἐπʼ Ἠλέκτραισιν εἴληχεν πύλαις,
γίγας ὅδʼ ἄλλος τοῦ πάρος λελεγμένου
μείζων, ὁ κόμπος δʼ οὐ κατʼ ἄνθρωπον φρονεῖ,
πύργοις δʼ ἀπειλεῖ δείνʼ, ἃ μὴ κραίνοι τύχη·
θεοῦ τε γὰρ θέλοντος ἐκπέρσειν πόλιν
καὶ μὴ θέλοντός φησιν, οὐδὲ τὴν Διὸς
ἔριν πέδοι σκήψασαν ἐμποδὼν σχεθεῖν.

[¶79] The god’s lightning and thunderbolts he compares to midday heat. For his shield’s symbol he has a man without armor bearing fire, and the torch, his weapon, blazes in his hands; and in golden letters he says “I will burn the city.”

> Greek: τὰς δʼ ἀστραπάς τε καὶ κεραυνίους βολὰς
μεσημβρινοῖσι θάλπεσιν προσῄκασεν·
ἔχει δὲ σῆμα γυμνὸν ἄνδρα πυρφόρον,
φλέγει δὲ λαμπὰς διὰ χερῶν ὡπλισμένη·
χρυσοῖς δὲ φωνεῖ γράμμασιν πρήσω πόλιν.

[¶80] Against such a man make your dispatch—who will meet him in combat, who will stand firm without trembling before his boasts?

> Greek: τοιῷδε φωτὶ πέμπε—τίς ξυστήσεται,
τίς ἄνδρα κομπάζοντα μὴ τρέσας μενεῖ;

[¶81] Eteocles:
Here too gain follows with interest from gain. The tongue proves in the end to be an unerring accuser of men’s wicked thoughts.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
καὶ τῷδε κέρδει κέρδος ἄλλο τίκτεται.
τῶν τοι ματαίων ἀνδράσιν φρονημάτων
ἡ γλῶσσʼ ἀληθὴς γίγνεται κατήγορος·

[¶82] Capaneus makes his threats, ready to act, irreverent toward the gods, and giving his tongue full exercise in wicked glee, he, though a mere mortal, sends a loud and swollen boast to Zeus in heaven. But I trust that the fire-bearing thunderbolt will justly come to him,
and when it comes it will not be anything like the sun’s mid-day heat. And against him, even though he is a big talker, a man of fiery spirit, mighty Polyphontes, is stationed, a dependable sentinel
with the good will of guardian Artemis and the other gods. Now tell me about another one allotted to other gates! Exit Polyphontes.

> Greek: Καπανεὺς δʼ ἀπειλεῖ, δρᾶν παρεσκευασμένος,
θεοὺς ἀτίζων, κἀπογυμνάζων στόμα
χαρᾷ ματαίᾳ θνητὸς ὢν εἰς οὐρανὸν
πέμπει γεγωνὰ Ζηνὶ κυμαίνοντʼ ἔπη·
πέποιθα δʼ αὐτῷ ξὺν δίκῃ τὸν πυρφόρον
ἥξειν κεραυνόν, οὐδὲν ἐξῃκασμένον
μεσημβρινοῖσι θάλπεσιν τοῖς ἡλίου.
ἀνὴρ δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, κεἰ στόμαργός ἐστʼ ἄγαν,
αἴθων τέτακται λῆμα, Πολυφόντου βία,
φερέγγυον φρούρημα, προστατηρίας
Ἀρτέμιδος εὐνοίαισι σύν τʼ ἄλλοις θεοῖς.
λέγʼ ἄλλον ἄλλαις ἐν πύλαις εἰληχότα.

[¶83] Chorus:
Death to him who exults so arrogantly over the city! May the thunderbolt stop him before he leaps into my home
and plunders me from my maiden chambers with his outrageous spear!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὄλοιθʼ ὃς πόλει μεγάλʼ ἐπεύχεται,
κεραυνοῦ δέ νιν βέλος ἐπισχέθοι,
πρὶν ἐμὸν ἐσθορεῖν δόμον, πωλικῶν
θʼ ἑδωλίων ὑπερκόπῳ
δορί ποτʼ ἐκλαπάξαι.

[¶84] Scout:
Now I will tell you about the man who next drew station at the gates. The third lot leaped out of the upturned bronze helmet for Eteoclus,
to hurl his band against the Neistan gates. He whirls his horses as they snort through their bridles, eager to fall against the gate. Their muzzles whistle in a barbarian way, filled with the breath of their haughty nostrils.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
καὶ μὴν τὸν ἐντεῦθεν λαχόντα πρὸς πύλαις
λέξω· τρίτῳ γὰρ Ἐτεόκλῳ τρίτος πάλος
ἐξ ὑπτίου ʼπήδησεν εὐχάλκου κράνους,
πύλαισι Νηίστῃσι προσβαλεῖν λόχον.
ἵππους δʼ ἐν ἀμπυκτῆρσιν ἐμβριμωμένας
δινεῖ, θελούσας πρὸς πύλαις πεπτωκέναι.
φιμοὶ δὲ συρίζουσι βάρβαρον τρόπον,
μυκτηροκόμποις πνεύμασιν πληρούμενοι.

[¶85] His shield is decorated in great style: an armored man climbs a ladder’s rungs to mount an enemy tower that he wants to destroy. This one, too, shouts in syllables of written letters that even Ares could not hurl him from the battlements.

> Greek: ἐσχημάτισται δʼ ἀσπὶς οὐ σμικρὸν τρόπον·
ἀνὴρ [δʼ·] ὁπλίτης κλίμακος προσαμβάσεις
στείχει πρὸς ἐχθρῶν πύργον, ἐκπέρσαι θέλων.
βοᾷ δὲ χοὖτος γραμμάτων ἐν ξυλλαβαῖς,
ὡς οὐδʼ ἂν Ἄρης σφʼ ἐκβάλοι πυργωμάτων.

[¶86] Send a dependable opponent against this man, too, to keep the yoke of slavery from our city.

> Greek: καὶ τῷδε φωτὶ πέμπε τὸν φερέγγυον
πόλεως ἀπείργειν τῆσδε δούλιον ζυγόν.

[¶87] Eteocles:
I would send this man here, and with good fortune. Exit Megareus. Indeed, he has already been sent, his only boast in his hands, Megareus, Creon’s seed, of the race of the sown- men.
He will not withdraw from the gate in fear of the thunder of the horses’ furious snorting; but either he will die and pay the earth the full price of his nurture, or will capture two men and the city on the shield, and then adorn his father’s house with the spoils.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
πέμποιμʼ ἂν ἤδη τόνδε, σὺν τύχῃ δέ τῳ·
καὶ δὴ πέπεμπται κόμπον ἐν χεροῖν ἔχων,
Μεγαρεύς, Κρέοντος σπέρμα τοῦ σπαρτῶν
γένους,
ὃς οὔτι μάργων ἱππικῶν φρυαγμάτων
βρόμον φοβηθεὶς ἐκ πυλῶν χωρήσεται,
ἀλλʼ ἢ θανὼν τροφεῖα πληρώσει χθονί,
ἢ καὶ δύʼ ἄνδρε καὶ πόλισμʼ ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος
ἑλὼν λαφύροις δῶμα κοσμήσει πατρός.

[¶88] Tell me about another’s boasts and do not begrudge me the full tale!

> Greek: κόμπαζʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλῳ, μηδέ μοι φθόνει λέγων.

[¶89] Chorus:
O champion of my home, I pray that this man will have good fortune, and that there will be bad fortune for his enemies. As they boast too much against the city in their frenzied mind,
so, too, may Zeus the Requiter look on them in anger!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπεύχομαι τῷδε μὲν εὐτυχεῖν, ἰὼ
πρόμαχʼ ἐμῶν δόμων, τοῖσι δὲ δυστυχεῖν.
ὡς δʼ ὑπέραυχα βάζουσιν ἐπὶ πτόλει
μαινομένᾳ φρενί, τώς νιν
Ζεὺς νεμέτωρ ἐπίδοι κοταίνων.

[¶90] Scout:
Another, the fourth, has the gate near Onca Athena and takes his stand with a shout, Hippomedon, tremendous in form and figure. I shuddered in fear as he spun a huge disk—the circle of his shield, I mean—
I cannot deny it. The symbol-maker who put the design on his shield was no lowly craftsman: the symbol is Typhon, spitting out of his fire-breathing mouth a dark, thick smoke, the darting sister of fire.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
τέταρτος ἄλλος, γείτονας πύλας ἔχων
Ὄγκας Ἀθάνας, ξὺν βοῇ παρίσταται,
Ἱππομέδοντος σχῆμα καὶ μέγας τύπος·
ἅλω δὲ πολλήν, ἀσπίδος κύκλον λέγω,
ἔφριξα δινήσαντος· οὐκ ἄλλως ἐρῶ.
ὁ σηματουργὸς δʼ οὔ τις εὐτελὴς ἄρʼ ἦν
ὅστις τόδʼ ἔργον ὤπασεν πρὸς ἀσπίδι,
Τυφῶνʼ ἱέντα πύρπνοον διὰ στόμα
λιγνὺν μέλαιναν, αἰόλην πυρὸς κάσιν·

[¶91] And the rim of the hollow-bellied shield is fastened all around with snaky braids. The warrior himself has raised the war-cry and, inspired by Ares he raves for battle like a maenad, with a look to inspire fear. We must put up a good defense against the assault of such a man,
for already Rout is boasting of victory at the gate.

> Greek: ὄφεων δὲ πλεκτάναισι περίδρομον κύτος
προσηδάφισται κοιλογάστορος κύκλου.
αὐτὸς δʼ ἐπηλάλαξεν, ἔνθεος δʼ Ἄρει
βακχᾷ πρὸς ἀλκὴν Θυιὰς ὣς φόβον βλέπων.
τοιοῦδε φωτὸς πεῖραν εὖ φυλακτέον·
Φόβος γὰρ ἤδη πρὸς πύλαις κομπάζεται.

[¶92] Eteocles:
First Onca Pallas, who dwells near the city, close by the gate, and who loathes outrageousness in a man, will fend him off like a dangerous snake away from nestlings. Moreover, Hyperbius, Oenops’ trusty son,
is chosen to match him, man to man, as he is eager to search out his fate in the crisis that chance has wrought—neither in form, nor spirit nor in the wielding of his arms does he bear reproach. Hermes has appropriately pitted them against each other. For the man is hostile to the man he faces in battle,
and the gods on their shields also meet as enemies. The one has fire-breathing Typhon, while father Zeus stands upright on Hyperbius’ shield, his lightening bolt aflame in his hand. And no one yet has seen Zeus conquered.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
πρῶτον μὲν Ὄγκα Παλλάς, ἥτʼ ἀγχίπτολις,
πύλαισι γείτων, ἀνδρὸς ἐχθαίρουσʼ ὕβριν,
εἴρξει νεοσσῶν ὣς δράκοντα δύσχιμον·
Ὑπέρβιος δέ, κεδνὸς Οἴνοπος τόκος,
ἀνὴρ κατʼ ἄνδρα τοῦτον ᾑρέθη, θέλων
ἐξιστορῆσαι μοῖραν ἐν χρείᾳ τύχης,
οὔτʼ εἶδος οὔτε θυμὸν οὐδʼ ὅπλων σχέσιν
μωμητός, Ἑρμῆς δʼ εὐλόγως ξυνήγαγεν.
ἐχθρὸς γὰρ ἁνὴρ ἀνδρὶ τῷ ξυστήσεται,
ξυνοίσετον δὲ πολεμίους ἐπʼ ἀσπίδων
θεούς· ὁ μὲν γὰρ πύρπνοον Τυφῶνʼ ἔχει,
Ὑπερβίῳ δὲ Ζεὺς πατὴρ ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος
σταδαῖος ἧσται, διὰ χερὸς βέλος φλέγων·
κοὔπω τις εἶδε Ζῆνά που νικώμενον.

[¶93] Such then is the favor of the divine powers: we are with the victors, they with the vanquished, if Zeus in fact proves stronger in battle than Typhon. And it is likely that the mortal adversaries will fare as do their gods; and so, in accordance with the symbol,
Zeus will be a savior for Hyperbius since he resides on his shield. Exit Hyperbius.

> Greek: τοιάδε μέντοι προσφίλεια δαιμόνων·
πρὸς τῶν κρατούντων δʼ ἐσμέν, οἱ δʼ ἡσσωμένων,
εἰ Ζεύς γε Τυφῶ καρτερώτερος μάχῃ·
εἰκὸς δὲ πράξειν ἄνδρας ὧδʼ ἀντιστάτας,
Ὑπερβίῳ τε πρὸς λόγον τοῦ σήματος
σωτὴρ γένοιτʼ ἂν Ζεὺς ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος τυχών.

[¶94] Chorus:
I am sure that Zeus’ antagonist, since he has on his shield the unloved form of an earth-born deity, an image hated by both mortals and the long-lived gods,
will drop his head in death before the gate.

> Greek: Χορός:
πέποιθα ⟨δὴ⟩ τὸν Διὸς ἀντίτυπον ἔχοντʼ
ἄφιλον ἐν σάκει τοῦ χθονίου δέμας
δαίμονος, ἐχθρὸν εἴκασμα βροτοῖς τε καὶ
δαροβίοισι θεοῖσιν,
πρόσθε πυλᾶν κεφαλὰν ἰάψειν.

[¶95] Scout:
Let it be so! Next I describe the fifth man who is stationed at the fifth, the Northern gate opposite the tomb of Amphion, Zeus’s son. He swears by his spear which, in his confidence, he holds more to be revered than a god
and more precious than his eyes, that he will sack the city of the Cadmeans in spite of Zeus. He says this, the beautiful child of a mountain-bred mother—a warrior, half man, half boy, and his beard’s first growth is just now advancing on his cheeks,
his youth in first bloom, thick, upspringing hair. But now he makes his advance with a savage heart and a terrifying look, not at all like the maidens he’s named for. Nor does he take his stand at the gate unboasting, but wields our city’s shame on his bronze-forged
shield, his body’s circular defence, on which the Sphinx who eats men raw is cleverly fastened with bolts, her body embossed and gleaming. She carries under her a single Cadmean, so that against this man chiefly our missiles will be hurled.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
οὕτως γένοιτο. τὸν δὲ πέμπτον αὖ λέγω,
πέμπταισι προσταχθέντα Βορραίαις πύλαις,
τύμβον κατʼ αὐτὸν Διογενοῦς Ἀμφίονος·
ὄμνυσι δʼ αἰχμὴν ἣν ἔχει μᾶλλον θεοῦ
σέβειν πεποιθὼς ὀμμάτων θʼ ὑπέρτερον,
ἦ μὴν λαπάξειν ἄστυ Καδμείων βίᾳ
Διός· τόδʼ αὐδᾷ μητρὸς ἐξ ὀρεσκόου
βλάστημα καλλίπρῳρον, ἀνδρόπαις ἀνήρ·
στείχει δʼ ἴουλος ἄρτι διὰ παρηίδων,
ὥρας φυούσης, ταρφὺς ἀντέλλουσα θρίξ.
ὁ δʼ ὠμόν, οὔτι παρθένων ἐπώνυμον,
φρόνημα, γοργὸν δʼ ὄμμʼ ἔχων, προσίσταται.
οὐ μὴν ἀκόμπαστός γʼ ἐφίσταται πύλαις·
τὸ γὰρ πόλεως ὄνειδος ἐν χαλκηλάτῳ
σάκει, κυκλωτῷ σώματος προβλήματι,
Σφίγγʼ ὠμόσιτον προσμεμηχανημένην
γόμφοις ἐνώμα, λαμπρὸν ἔκκρουστον δέμας,
φέρει δʼ ὑφʼ αὑτῇ φῶτα Καδμείων ἕνα,
ὡς πλεῖστʼ ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ τῷδʼ ἰάπτεσθαι βέλη.

## 2. Lines 545–1084

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-seven-against-thebes/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aeschylus-seven-against-thebes/2/#p-N

[¶0] He does not seem to have come to do any petty trading in the battle, nor to shame the making of his long journey—he is Parthenopaeus of Arcadia. Such is the man, and aiming to make full payment for the fine support given him in Argos, his adopted land, he now threatens our fortifications—may God not fulfil his threats!

> Greek: ἐλθὼν δʼ ἔοικεν οὐ καπηλεύσειν μάχην,
μακρᾶς κελεύθου δʼ οὐ καταισχυνεῖν πόρον,
Παρθενοπαῖος Ἀρκάς· ὁ δὲ τοιόσδʼ ἀνὴρ
μέτοικος, Ἄργει δʼ ἐκτίνων καλὰς τροφάς,
πύργοις ἀπειλεῖ τοῖσδʼ ἃ μὴ κραίνοι θεός.

[¶1] Eteocles:
If only they would get from the gods what they wish for, because of those unholy boasts of theirs, then surely they would perish in utter ruin and misery. There is a man for this one, too, whom you name an Arcadian, a man who does not boast, but who knows the thing to do—
Actor, brother of him I named before. He will not allow words that lack deeds to overrun his gate and increase fear, nor will he let in a man who carries on his hostile shield the image of the ravenous, detested beast.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
εἰ γὰρ τύχοιεν ὧν φρονοῦσι πρὸς θεῶν,
αὐτοῖς ἐκείνοις ἀνοσίοις κομπάσμασιν·
ἦ τἂν πανώλεις παγκάκως τʼ ὀλοίατο.
ἔστιν δὲ καὶ τῷδʼ, ὃν λέγεις τὸν Ἀρκάδα,
ἀνὴρ ἄκομπος, χεὶρ δʼ ὁρᾷ τὸ δράσιμον,
Ἄκτωρ ἀδελφὸς τοῦ πάρος λελεγμένου·
ὃς οὐκ ἐάσει γλῶσσαν ἐργμάτων ἄτερ
ἔσω πυλῶν ῥέουσαν ἀλδαίνειν κακά,
οὐδʼ εἰσαμεῖψαι θηρὸς ἐχθίστου δάκους
εἰκὼ φέροντα πολεμίας ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος·

[¶2] That beast outside his shield will blame the man who carries her into the gate, when she has taken a heavy beating beneath the city’s walls. If the gods are willing, what I speak may prove true! Exit Actor.

> Greek: ἣ ʼξωθεν εἴσω τῷ φέροντι μέμψεται,
πυκνοῦ κροτησμοῦ τυγχάνουσʼ ὑπὸ πτόλιν.
θεῶν θελόντων τἂν ἀληθεύσαιμʼ ἐγώ.

[¶3] Chorus:
His words penetrate to my heart, my hair stands on end
as I hear the loud threats of these loud-boasting, impious men. May the gods destroy them here in our land!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἱκνεῖται λόγος διὰ στηθέων,
τριχὸς δʼ ὀρθίας πλόκαμος ἵσταται,
μεγάλα μεγαληγόρων κλυούσᾳ
ἀνοσίων ἀνδρῶν. εἴθε γὰρ
θεοὶ τοῦδʼ ὀλέσειαν ἐν γᾷ.

[¶4] Scout:
The sixth man I will name is of the highest moderation and a seer brave in combat, mighty Amphiaraus.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ἕκτον λέγοιμʼ ἂν ἄνδρα σωφρονέστατον,
ἀλκήν τʼ ἄριστον μάντιν, Ἀμφιάρεω βίαν·

[¶5] Stationed at the Homoloid gate, he repeatedly rebukes mighty Tydeus with evil names “Murderer, maker of unrest in the city, principal teacher of evils to the Argives, summoner of vengeance’s Curse, servant of Slaughter, counselor to Adrastus in these evil plans.” And next, with eyes looking upward, he addressed your own brother, mighty Polynices who shares your blood, and called him by name, dwelling twice upon its latter part. These were his words:

> Greek: Ὁμολωίσιν δὲ πρὸς πύλαις τεταγμένος
κακοῖσι βάζει πολλὰ Τυδέως βίαν·
τὸν ἀνδροφόντην, τὸν πόλεως ταράκτορα,
μέγιστον Ἄργει τῶν κακῶν διδάσκαλον,
Ἐρινύος κλητῆρα, πρόσπολον φόνου,
κακῶν τʼ Ἀδράστῳ τῶνδε βουλευτήριον.
καὶ τὸν σὸν αὖθις προσθροῶν ὁμόσπορον,
ἐξυπτιάζων ὄμμα, Πολυνείκους βίαν,
δίς τʼ ἐν τελευτῇ τοὔνομʼ ἐνδατούμενος,
καλεῖ. λέγει δὲ τοῦτʼ ἔπος διὰ στόμα·

[¶6] “Will such a deed as this be pleasing to the gods, fine to hear of and to relate to those in the future—that you sacked the city of your ancestors and your native gods and launched a foreign army against them? What justice is it to drain dry the font of your existence?”
“And how shall your fatherland, captured by the spear for the sake of your ambition, be won over to your cause? As for me, I will enrich this earth, a seer interred beneath enemy soil. Let us fight! I anticipate no dishonorable death.”

> Greek: ἦ τοῖον ἔργον καὶ θεοῖσι προσφιλές,
καλόν τʼ ἀκοῦσαι καὶ λέγειν μεθυστέροις,
πόλιν πατρῴαν καὶ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς
πορθεῖν, στράτευμʼ ἐπακτὸν ἐμβεβληκότα;
μητρός τε πηγὴν τίς κατασβέσει δίκη;
πατρίς τε γαῖα σῆς ὑπὸ σπουδῆς δορὶ
ἁλοῦσα πῶς σοι ξύμμαχος γενήσεται;
ἔγωγε μὲν δὴ τήνδε πιανῶ χθόνα,
μάντις κεκευθὼς πολεμίας ὑπὸ χθονός.
μαχώμεθʼ, οὐκ ἄτιμον ἐλπίζω μόρον.

[¶7] So the seer spoke as untroubled he held his all-bronze shield. No symbol was fixed to his shield’s circle. For he does not wish to appear the bravest, but to be the bravest, as he harvests the fruit of his mind’s deep furrow, where his careful resolutions grow.

> Greek: τοιαῦθʼ ὁ μάντις ἀσπίδʼ εὐκήλως ἔχων
πάγχαλκον ηὔδα· σῆμα δʼ οὐκ ἐπῆν κύκλῳ.
οὐ γὰρ δοκεῖν ἄριστος, ἀλλʼ εἶναι θέλει,
βαθεῖαν ἄλοκα διὰ φρενὸς καρπούμενος,
ἐξ ἧς τὰ κεδνὰ βλαστάνει βουλεύματα.

[¶8] I advise you to send wise and brave opponents against him. He who reveres the gods is to be feared.

> Greek: τούτῳ σοφούς τε κἀγαθοὺς ἀντηρέτας
πέμπειν ἐπαινῶ. δεινὸς ὃς θεοὺς σέβει.

[¶9] Eteocles:
Ah, the pity of fate’s omen when it makes a just man associate with the irreverent! In all things, nothing is more evil
than evil partnership. Its fruit should not be gathered in: the field of recklessness yields a harvest of death. For it may be that a pious man, embarked shipboard with sailors hot for some crime, perishes along with the sort of men hated by the gods;
or, a man, though upright himself, when among fellow-citizens who hate all strangers and neglect the gods, may fall undeserving into the same trap as they, and be subdued, struck by the scourge of God that strikes all alike. Just so the seer, Oecles’ son,
although a moderate, just, noble, reverent man and a great prophet, mixes with impious, rash-talking men against his own judgment, men stretching out in a procession that is long to retrace, and, if it is Zeus’s will, he will be be dragged down in ruin along with them.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
φεῦ τοῦ ξυναλλάσσοντος ὄρνιθος βροτοῖς
δίκαιον ἄνδρα τοῖσι δυσσεβεστέροις.
ἐν παντὶ πράγει δʼ ἔσθʼ ὁμιλίας κακῆς
κάκιον οὐδέν, καρπὸς οὐ κομιστέος·
ἄτης ἄρουρα θάνατον ἐκκαρπίζεται.
ἢ γὰρ ξυνεισβὰς πλοῖον εὐσεβὴς ἀνὴρ
ναύταισι θερμοῖς καὶ πανουργίᾳ τινὶ
ὄλωλεν ἀνδρῶν σὺν θεοπτύστῳ γένει,
ἢ ξὺν πολίταις ἀνδράσιν δίκαιος ὢν
ἐχθροξένοις τε καὶ θεῶν ἀμνήμοσιν,
ταὐτοῦ κυρήσας ἐκδίκως ἀγρεύματος,
πληγεὶς θεοῦ μάστιγι παγκοίνῳ ʼδάμη.
οὕτως δʼ ὁ μάντις, υἱὸν Οἰκλέους λέγω,
σώφρων δίκαιος ἀγαθὸς εὐσεβὴς ἀνήρ,
μέγας προφήτης, ἀνοσίοισι συμμιγεὶς
θρασυστόμοισιν ἀνδράσιν βίᾳ φρενῶν,
τείνουσι πομπὴν τὴν μακρὰν πάλιν μολεῖν,
Διὸς θέλοντος ξυγκαθελκυσθήσεται.

[¶10] So then, I expect that he will not even charge the gates: not because he lacks courage or is weak-willed, but because he knows that he must meet his end in battle, if the prophecies of Loxias are to come to fruition—the god usually either holds silent or speaks to the point.

> Greek: δοκῶ μὲν οὖν σφε μηδὲ προσβαλεῖν πύλαις
οὐχ ὡς ἄθυμος οὐδὲ λήματος κάκῇ,
ἀλλʼ οἶδεν ὥς σφε χρὴ τελευτῆσαι μάχῃ,
εἰ καρπὸς ἔσται θεσφάτοισι Λοξίου·
φιλεῖ δὲ σιγᾶν ἢ λέγειν τὰ καίρια.

[¶11] Just the same, I will station a man against him, mighty Lasthenes, a gate-keeper who hates foreigners. He has the wisdom of an old man, but his body is at its prime: his eyes are quick, and he does not let his hand delay for his spear to seize what is left exposed by the shield.

> Greek: ὅμως δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ φῶτα, Λασθένους βίαν,
ἐχθρόξενον πυλωρὸν ἀντιτάξομεν,
γέροντα τὸν νοῦν, σάρκα δʼ ἡβῶσαν φύει,
ποδῶκες ὄμμα, χεῖρα δʼ οὐ βραδύνεται
παρʼ ἀσπίδος γυμνωθὲν ἁρπάσαι δόρυ.

[¶12] Still it is God’s gift when mortals succeed. Exit Lasthenes.

> Greek: θεοῦ δὲ δῶρόν ἐστιν εὐτυχεῖν βροτούς.

[¶13] Chorus:
Gods, hear our just prayers and fulfil them, that the city may have good fortune! Turn aside the evils suffered in war onto those who invade our land! May Zeus strike them
with his thunderbolt outside the walls and slay them!

> Greek: Χορός:
κλύοντες θεοὶ δικαίας λιτὰς
ἁμετέρας τελεῖθʼ, ὡς πόλις εὐτυχῇ,
δορίπονα κάκʼ ἐκτρέποντες ⟨ἐς⟩ γᾶς
ἐπιμόλους· πύργων δʼ ἔκτοθεν
βαλὼν Ζεύς σφε κάνοι κεραυνῷ.

[¶14] Scout:
Last I will tell of the seventh champion, him at the seventh gate, your own brother, and of what fate he prays for and calls down on the city. His prayer is that after he mounts the battlements and is proclaimed king in the land,
and shouts the paian in triumph over its capture, he may then meet you in combat, and once he kills you, that he may perish at your side, or, if you survive, make you pay with banishment in the same way as you dishonored him with exile. Mighty Polynices shouts such threats and
invokes his native gods, the gods of his fatherland, to watch over his prayers in every way. He holds a shield, a perfect circle, newly-made, with a double symbol cleverly fastened on it:
a woman modestly walking in the fore leads a man in arms made, it appears, of hammered gold. She claims to be Justice, as the lettering indicates, “I will bring this man back and he will have his city and move freely in his father’s halls.” Such are the inventions fixed to their shields.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
τὸν ἕβδομον δὴ τόνδʼ ἐφʼ ἑβδόμαις πύλαις
λέξω, τὸν αὐτοῦ σοῦ κασίγνητον, πόλει
οἵας ἀρᾶται καὶ κατεύχεται τύχας·
πύργοις ἐπεμβὰς κἀπικηρυχθεὶς χθονί,
ἁλώσιμον παιᾶνʼ ἐπεξιακχάσας,
σοὶ ξυμφέρεσθαι καὶ κτανὼν θανεῖν πέλας,
ἢ ζῶντʼ ἀτιμαστῆρα τὼς ἀνδρηλάτην
φυγῇ τὸν αὐτὸν τόνδε τείσασθαι τρόπον.
τοιαῦτʼ ἀυτεῖ καὶ θεοὺς γενεθλίους
καλεῖ πατρῴας γῆς ἐποπτῆρας λιτῶν
τῶν ὧν γενέσθαι πάγχυ Πολυνείκους βία.
ἔχει δὲ καινοπηγὲς εὔκυκλον σάκος
διπλοῦν τε σῆμα προσμεμηχανημένον.
χρυσήλατον γὰρ ἄνδρα τευχηστὴν ἰδεῖν
ἄγει γυνή τις σωφρόνως ἡγουμένη.
Δίκη δʼ ἄρʼ εἶναί φησιν, ὡς τὰ γράμματα
λέγει κατάξω δʼ ἄνδρα τόνδε καὶ πόλιν
ἕξει πατρῴων δωμάτων τʼ ἐπιστροφάς.
τοιαῦτʼ ἐκείνων ἐστὶ τἀξευρήματα.

[¶15] [Quickly determine yourself whom you think it best to send.] Know that you will find no fault with me in the substance of my report, but you yourself determine on what course to pilot the city. Exit.

> Greek: [σὺ δʼ αὐτὸς ἤδη γνῶθι τίνα πέμπειν δοκεῖ·]
ὡς οὔποτʼ ἀνδρὶ τῷδε κηρυκευμάτων
μέμψῃ, σὺ δʼ αὐτὸς γνῶθι ναυκληρεῖν πόλιν.

[¶16] Eteocles:
O my family sired by Oedipus, steeped in tears,
driven to madness by the gods and by the gods detested! Ah, now indeed our father’s curses are brought to fulfillment. But neither weeping nor wailing is proper for me now, lest a grief even harder to bear is brought to life. As for him whose name is so very fitting, Polynices, we shall know soon enough what the symbol on his shield will accomplish,
whether the babbling letters shaped in gold on his shield, together with his mind’s wanderings, will bring him back. If Justice, Zeus’s maiden daughter, were attending his actions and his thoughts, this might be so. But as it is, neither when he escaped the darkness of his mother’s womb,
nor in childhood, nor at any point in his early manhood, nor when the beard first thickened on his cheek, did Justice acknowledge him and consider him worthy. And even now I do not think that she is standing by his side to aid the destruction of his fatherland.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
ὦ θεομανές τε καὶ θεῶν μέγα στύγος,
ὦ πανδάκρυτον ἁμὸν Οἰδίπου γένος·
ὤμοι, πατρὸς δὴ νῦν ἀραὶ τελεσφόροι.
ἀλλʼ οὔτε κλαίειν οὔτʼ ὀδύρεσθαι πρέπει,
μὴ καὶ τεκνωθῇ δυσφορώτερος γόος.
ἐπωνύμῳ δὲ κάρτα, Πολυνείκει λέγω,
τάχʼ εἰσόμεσθα τοὐπίσημʼ ὅποι τελεῖ,
εἴ νιν κατάξει χρυσότευκτα γράμματα
ἐπʼ ἀσπίδος φλύοντα σὺν φοίτῳ φρενῶν.
εἰ δʼ ἡ Διὸς παῖς παρθένος Δίκη παρῆν
ἔργοις ἐκείνου καὶ φρεσίν, τάχʼ ἂν τόδʼ ἦν·
ἀλλʼ οὔτε νιν φυγόντα μητρόθεν σκότον,
οὔτʼ ἐν τροφαῖσιν, οὔτʼ ἐφηβήσαντά πω,
οὔτʼ ἐν γενείου ξυλλογῇ τριχώματος,
Δίκη προσεῖδε καὶ κατηξιώσατο·
οὐδʼ ἐν πατρῴας μὴν χθονὸς κακουχίᾳ
οἶμαί νιν αὐτῷ νῦν παραστατεῖν πέλας.

[¶17] Indeed, Justice would truly be false to her name, if she should ally herself with a man so utterly audacious in his plans. Trusting in this fact I will go and stand against him—I myself in person. Who else has a more just claim? Commander against commander, brother against brother,
enemy against enemy, I will take my stand. Quick, bring my greaves to protect against spears and stones!

> Greek: ἦ δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη πανδίκως ψευδώνυμος
Δίκη, ξυνοῦσα φωτὶ παντόλμῳ φρένας.
τούτοις πεποιθὼς εἶμι καὶ ξυστήσομαι
αὐτός· τίς ἄλλος μᾶλλον ἐνδικώτερος;
ἄρχοντί τʼ ἄρχων καὶ κασιγνήτῳ κάσις,
ἐχθρὸς σὺν ἐχθρῷ στήσομαι. φέρʼ ὡς τάχος
κνημῖδας, αἰχμῆς καὶ πέτρων προβλήματα.

[¶18] Chorus:
No, son of Oedipus, most dear of our men, do not be like in temperament to him who is called by such an evil name. It is enough that Cadmeans
are advancing to close combat with Argives. That bloodshed can be expiated. But when men of the same blood kill each other as you desire, the pollution from this act never grows old.

> Greek: Χορός:
μή, φίλτατʼ ἀνδρῶν, Οἰδίπου τέκος, γένῃ
ὀργὴν ὁμοῖος τῷ κάκιστʼ αὐδωμένῳ·
ἀλλʼ ἄνδρας Ἀργείοισι Καδμείους ἅλις
ἐς χεῖρας ἐλθεῖν· αἷμα γὰρ καθάρσιον.
ἀνδροῖν δʼ ὁμαίμοιν θάνατος ὧδʼ αὐτοκτόνος,
οὐκ ἔστι γῆρας τοῦδε τοῦ μιάσματος.

[¶19] Eteocles:
If indeed a man should suffer evil, let it be without dishonor, since that is the only benefit for the dead.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
εἴπερ κακὸν φέροι τις, αἰσχύνης ἄτερ
ἔστω· μόνον γὰρ κέρδος ἐν τεθνηκόσι·

[¶20] But you cannot speak of any glory for happenings that are at once evil and held in dishonor.

> Greek: κακῶν δὲ κᾀσχρῶν οὔτινʼ εὐκλείαν ἐρεῖς.

[¶21] Chorus:
For what are you so eager, child? Do not let mad lust for battle fill your soul and carry you away. Reject this evil passion while it is still young.

> Greek: Χορός:
τί μέμονας, τέκνον; μή τί σε θυμοπλη-
θὴς δορίμαργος ἄτα φερέτω· κακοῦ δʼ
ἔκβαλʼ ἔρωτος ἀρχάν.

[¶22] Eteocles:
Since God hastens the deed so urgently,
let the whole race of Laius, hated by Phoebus, be swept on the wind to Cocytus’ destined flood!

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
ἐπεὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα κάρτʼ ἐπισπέρχει θεός,
ἴτω κατʼ οὖρον κῦμα Κωκυτοῦ λαχὸν
Φοίβῳ στυγηθὲν πᾶν τὸ Λαΐου γένος.

[¶23] Chorus:
A savage desire eats away at you, drives you to murder, blood-sacrifice proscribed by divine law, whose only fruit is bitterness.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὠμοδακής σʼ ἄγαν ἵμερος ἐξοτρύ-
νει πικρόκαρπον ἀνδροκτασίαν τελεῖν
αἵματος οὐ θεμιστοῦ.

[¶24] Eteocles:
True, my own beloved father’s hateful, ruinous curse hovers before my dry, unweeping eyes, and informs me of benefit preceding subsequent death.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
φίλου γὰρ ἐχθρά μοι πατρὸς τάλαινʼ ἀρὰ
ξηροῖς ἀκλαύτοις ὄμμασιν προσιζάνει,
λέγουσα κέρδος πρότερον ὑστέρου μόρου.

[¶25] Chorus:
No, do not let yourself be driven to it. You will not be called a coward if you retain life nobly. Will not the avenging Erinys in her dark aegis
leave your house, when the gods receive sacrifice from your hands?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὴ ʼποτρύνου· κακὸς οὐ κεκλή-
σῃ βίον εὖ κυρήσας· μελάναιγις [δʼ·] οὐκ
εἶσι δόμων Ἐρινύς, ὅταν ἐκ χερῶν
θεοὶ θυσίαν δέχωνται;

[¶26] Eteocles:
The gods, it seems, have already banished us from their care, yet they admire the grace we offer them when we perish. So then, why should we cringe and shy away from deadly fate?

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
θεοῖς μὲν ἤδη πως παρημελήμεθα,
χάρις δʼ ἀφʼ ἡμῶν ὀλομένων θαυμάζεται·
τί οὖν ἔτʼ ἂν σαίνοιμεν ὀλέθριον μόρον;

[¶27] Chorus:
It is only at this moment that death stands close by you, for the divine spirit may change its purpose even after a long time and come on a gentler wind. But now it still seethes.

> Greek: Χορός:
νῦν ὅτε σοι παρέστακεν· ἐπεὶ δαίμων
λήματος ἐν τροπαίᾳ χρονίᾳ μεταλ-
λακτὸς ἴσως ἂν ἔλθοι θελεμωτέρῳ
πνεύματι· νῦν δʼ ἔτι ζεῖ.

[¶28] Eteocles:
Yes, the curses of Oedipus have made it seethe in fury.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
ἐξέζεσεν γὰρ Οἰδίπου κατεύγματα·

[¶29] Too true were the phantoms in my sleeping visions, predicting the division of our father’s wealth!

> Greek: ἄγαν δʼ ἀληθεῖς ἐνυπνίων φαντασμάτων
ὄψεις, πατρῴων χρημάτων δατήριοι.

[¶30] Chorus:
Obey us women, although you do not like to.

> Greek: Χορός:
πιθοῦ γυναιξί, καίπερ οὐ στέργων ὅμως.

[¶31] Eteocles:
Recommend something that can be accomplished; your request need not be lengthy.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
λέγοιτʼ ἂν ὧν ἄνη τις· οὐδὲ χρὴ μακράν.

[¶32] Chorus:
Do not yourself take the road to the seventh gate!

> Greek: Χορός:
μὴ ʼλθῃς ὁδοὺς σὺ τάσδʼ ἐφʼ ἑβδόμαις πύλαις.

[¶33] Eteocles:
Let me assure you, you will not blunt my sharpened purpose with words.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
τεθηγμένον τοί μʼ οὐκ ἀπαμβλυνεῖς λόγῳ.

[¶34] Chorus:
And yet any victory, even a cowardly one, is nonetheless held in honor by God.

> Greek: Χορός:
νίκην γε μέντοι καὶ κακὴν τιμᾷ θεός.

[¶35] Eteocles:
A soldier must not embrace that maxim.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
οὐκ ἄνδρʼ ὁπλίτην τοῦτο χρὴ στέργειν ἔπος.

[¶36] Chorus:
But are you willing to harvest the blood of your own brother?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ αὐτάδελφον αἷμα δρέψασθαι θέλεις;

[¶37] Eteocles:
When it is the gods who give you evils, you cannot flee them. Exit.

> Greek: Ἐτεοκλής:
θεῶν διδόντων οὐκ ἂν ἐκφύγοις κακά.

[¶38] Chorus:
I shudder in terror at the goddess who lays ruin to homes, a goddess unlike other divinities, who is an unerring omen of evil to come. I shudder that the Erinys invoked by the father’s prayer will fulfil the over-wrathful
curses that Oedipus spoke in madness. This strife that will destroy his sons drives the Erinys to fulfillment.

> Greek: Χορός:
πέφρικα τὰν ὠλεσίοικον
θεόν, οὐ θεοῖς ὁμοίαν,
παναλαθῆ κακόμαντιν
πατρὸς εὐκταίαν Ἐρινὺν
τελέσαι τὰς περιθύμους
κατάρας Οἰδιπόδα βλαψίφρονος·
παιδολέτωρ δʼ ἔρις ἅδʼ ὀτρύνει.

[¶39] Chorus:
A stranger distributes their inheritance, a Chalybian immigrant from Scythia, a bitter divider of wealth,
savage-hearted iron that apportions land for them to dwell in, as much as they can occupy in death when they have lost their share in these wide plains.

> Greek: Χορός:
ξένος δὲ κλήρους ἐπινωμᾷ,
Χάλυβος Σκυθᾶν ἄποικος,
κτεάνων χρηματοδαίτας
πικρός, ὠμόφρων σίδαρος,
χθόνα ναίειν διαπήλας,
ὁπόσαν καὶ φθιμένοισιν κατέχειν,
τῶν μεγάλων πεδίων ἀμοίρους.

[¶40] Chorus:
But when both have died, each killing
the other in mutual slaughter, and the earth’s dust has swallowed the black streams of their blood, who could offer sacrifice that might make purification? Who could cleanse them of their pollution?
O, the new troubles of this house mixed with its evils of before!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπεὶ δʼ ἂν αὐτοκτόνως
αὐτοδάικτοι θάνωσι,
καὶ γαΐα κόνις πίῃ
μελαμπαγὲς αἷμα φοίνιον,
τίς ἂν καθαρμοὺς πόροι,
τίς ἄν σφε λούσειεν; ὦ
πόνοι δόμων νέοι παλαι-
οῖσι συμμιγεῖς κακοῖς.

[¶41] Chorus:
Indeed I speak of the ancient transgression, now swift in its retribution. It remains even into the third generation,
ever since Laius—in defiance of Apollo who, at his Pythian oracle at the earth’s center, said three times that the king would save his city if he died without offspring—

> Greek: Χορός:
παλαιγενῆ γὰρ λέγω
παρβασίαν ὠκύποινον·
αἰῶνα δʼ ἐς τρίτον μένει·
Ἀπόλλωνος εὖτε Λάιος
βίᾳ, τρὶς εἰπόντος ἐν
μεσομφάλοις Πυθικοῖς
χρηστηρίοις θνᾴσκοντα γέν-
νας ἄτερ σῴζειν πόλιν,

[¶42] Chorus:
Ever since he, overcome by the thoughtlessness of his longing, fathered his own death, the parricide Oedipus, who sowed his mother’s sacred field, where he was nurtured,
and endured a bloody crop. Madness united the frenzied bridal pair.

> Greek: Χορός:
κρατηθεὶς δʼ ἐκ φίλων ἀβουλιᾶν
ἐγείνατο μὲν μόρον αὑτῷ,
πατροκτόνον Οἰδιπόδαν,
ὅστε ματρὸς ἁγνὰν
σπείρας ἄρουραν, ἵνʼ ἐτράφη,
ῥίζαν αἱματόεσσαν
ἔτλα· παράνοια συνᾶγε
νυμφίους φρενώλεις.

[¶43] Chorus:
Now it is as if a sea of evils pushes its swell onward. As one wave sinks, the sea raises up another,
triple-crested, which crashes around the city’s stern. In between a narrow defense stretches—no wider than a wall. I fear that the city will be overthrown along with its kings.

> Greek: Χορός:
κακῶν δʼ ὥσπερ θάλασσα κῦμʼ ἄγει·
τὸ μὲν πίτνον, ἄλλο δʼ ἀείρει
τρίχαλον, ὃ καὶ περὶ πρύμ-
ναν πόλεως καχλάζει.
μεταξὺ δʼ ἀλκὰ διʼ ὀλίγου
τείνει, πύργος ἐν εὔρει.
δέδοικα δὲ σὺν βασιλεῦσι
μὴ πόλις δαμασθῇ.

[¶44] Chorus:
For the compensation is heavy when curses uttered long ago are fulfilled, and once the deadly curse has come into existence, it does not pass away. When the fortune of seafaring merchants has grown too great,
it must be thrown overboard.

> Greek: Χορός:
τελειᾶν γὰρ παλαιφάτων ἀρᾶν
βαρεῖαι καταλλαγαί· τὰ δʼ ὀλοὰ
πελόμενʼ οὐ παρέρχεται.
πρόπρυμνα δʼ ἐκβολὰν φέρει
ἀνδρῶν ἀλφηστᾶν
ὄλβος ἄγαν παχυνθείς.

[¶45] Chorus:
For whom have the gods and divinities that share their altar and the thronging assembly of men ever admired
so much as they honored Oedipus then, when he removed that deadly, man-seizing plague from our land?

> Greek: Χορός:
τίνʼ ἀνδρῶν γὰρ τοσόνδʼ ἐθαύμασαν
θεοὶ καὶ ξυνέστιοι πόλεος ὁ
πολύβατός τʼ ἀγὼν βροτῶν,
ὅσον τότʼ Οἰδίπουν τίον,
τὰν ἁρπαξάνδραν
κῆρʼ ἀφελόντα χώρας;

[¶46] Chorus:
But when, his sanity regained, he grew miserable in his wretched
marriage, then carried away by his grief and with maddened heart he accomplished a double evil. With the hand that killed his father he struck out his eyes, which were dearer to him than his children.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀρτίφρων
ἐγένετο μέλεος ἀθλίων
γάμων, ἐπʼ ἄλγει δυσφορῶν
μαινομένᾳ κραδίᾳ
δίδυμα κάκʼ ἐτέλεσεν·
πατροφόνῳ χερὶ τῶν
κρεισσοτέκνων ὀμμάτων ἐπλάγχθη·

[¶47] Chorus:
Next he launched brutal, wrathful words against the sons he had bred—ah! curses from a bitter tongue—that wielding iron in their hands they would one day divide his property.
So now I tremble in fear that the swift-running Erinys will bring this to fulfillment.
Enter Messenger.

> Greek: Χορός:
τέκνοις δʼ ἀγρίας
ἐφῆκεν ἐπικότους τροφᾶς,
αἰαῖ, πικρογλώσσους ἀράς,
καί σφε σιδαρονόμῳ
διὰ χερί ποτε λαχεῖν
κτήματα· νῦν δὲ τρέω
μὴ τελέσῃ καμψίπους Ἐρινύς.

[¶48] Messenger:
Take heart, you daughters who were nurtured by your mother. Our city has escaped the yoke of slavery; the boasts of the powerful men have fallen to the ground.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
θαρσεῖτε, παῖδες μητέρων τεθραμμέναι.
πόλις πέφευγεν ἥδε δούλιον ζυγόν·
πέπτωκεν ἀνδρῶν ὀβρίμων κομπάσματα·

[¶49] The city enjoys fair weather and has taken on no water even though it has been buffeted by many waves. The walls hold, and we have fortified the gates with champions fully capable in single-handed combat. For the most part all is well, at six of the gates.

> Greek: πόλις δʼ ἐν εὐδίᾳ τε καὶ κλυδωνίου
πολλαῖσι πληγαῖς ἄντλον οὐκ ἐδέξατο.
στέγει δὲ πύργος, καὶ πύλας φερεγγύοις
ἐφραξάμεσθα μονομάχοισι προστάταις·
καλῶς ἔχει τὰ πλεῖστʼ, ἐν ἓξ πυλώμασι·

[¶50] But lord Apollo, the reverend leader of the seventh, took for himself the seventh gate, accomplishing upon the children of Oedipus the ancient follies of Laius.

> Greek: τὰς δʼ ἑβδόμας ὁ σεμνὸς ἑβδομαγέτης
ἄναξ Ἀπόλλων εἵλετʼ, Οἰδίπου γένει
κραίνων παλαιὰς Λαΐου δυσβουλίας.

[¶51] Chorus:
What novel happening will further affect the city?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δʼ ἔστι πρᾶγμα νεόκοτον πόλει πλέον;

[¶52] Messenger:
The city is saved, but the kings born of the same seed—
Chorus:
Who? What did you say? I am out of my mind with fear of your report.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
πόλις σέσωσται· βασιλέες δʼ ὁμόσποροι—
Χορός:
τίνες; τί δʼ εἶπας; παραφρονῶ φόβῳ λόγου.

[¶53] Messenger:
Control yourself now and listen. The sons of Oedipus—
Chorus:
Ah, miserable me, I am prophet of these evils.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
φρονοῦσα νῦν ἄκουσον· Οἰδίπου τόκοι —
Χορός:
οἲ ʼγὼ τάλαινα, μάντις εἰμὶ τῶν κακῶν.

[¶54] Messenger:
In truth, beyond all question, struck down in the dust—
Chorus:
Are they lying out there? This is hard to bear, but say it just the same.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
οὐδʼ ἀμφιλέκτως μὴν κατεσποδημένοι—
Χορός:
ἐκεῖθι κεῖσθον; βαρέα δʼ οὖν ὅμως φράσον.

[¶55] Messenger:
The men are dead, murdered by their very own hands.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ἅνδρες τεθνᾶσιν ἐκ χερῶν αὐτοκτόνων.

[¶56] Chorus:
Then with hands so fraternal did they each kill the other together?

> Greek: Χορός:
οὕτως ἀδελφαῖς χερσὶν ἠναίρονθʼ ἅμα;

[¶57] Messenger:
Yes, so all too equal was their destiny to them both. All alone, in truth, it consumes the ill-fated family. We have cause in this for joy and tears—
the one because the city fares well, the other because the leaders, the two generals, have divided the whole of their property with hammered Scythian steel. They will possess only that land they take in burial, swept away as they were in accordance with their father’s curses.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὕτως ὁ δαίμων κοινὸς ἦν ἀμφοῖν ἄγαν.
αὐτὸς δʼ ἀναλοῖ δῆτα δύσποτμον γένος.
τοιαῦτα χαίρειν καὶ δακρύεσθαι πάρα·
πόλιν μὲν εὖ πράσσουσαν, οἱ δʼ ἐπιστάται,
δισσὼ στρατηγώ, διέλαχον σφυρηλάτῳ
Σκύθῃ σιδήρῳ κτημάτων παμπησίαν.
ἕξουσι δʼ ἣν λάβωσιν ἐν ταφῇ χθονός,
πατρὸς κατʼ εὐχὰς δυσπότμως φορούμενοι.

[¶58] [The city is saved, but through their mutual murder the earth has drunk the blood of the two kings born of the same seed.] Exit.

> Greek: [πόλις σέσωσται· βασιλέοιν δʼ ὁμοσπόροιν]
[πέπωκεν αἷμά γαῖʼ ὑπʼ ἀλλήλων φόνῳ.]

[¶59] Chorus:
O great Zeus and the divine powers that guard our city, you who indeed protect these walls of Cadmus,
should I rejoice and shout in triumph for the unharmed safety of the city, or should I lament our leaders in war,
now wretched, ill-fated and childless? Indeed, in exact accordance with their name and as “men of much strife,” they have perished through their impious intent.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ μεγάλε Ζεῦ καὶ πολιοῦχοι
δαίμονες, οἳ δὴ Κάδμου πύργους
τούσδε ῥύεσθε,
πότερον χαίρω κἀπολολύξω
πόλεως ἀσινεῖ σωτῆρι..,
ἢ τοὺς μογεροὺς καὶ δυσδαίμονας
ἀτέκνους κλαύσω πολεμάρχους;
οἳ δῆτʼ ὀρθῶς κατʼ ἐπωνυμίαν
καὶ πολυνεικεῖς
ὤλοντʼ ἀσεβεῖ διανοίᾳ.

[¶60] Chorus:
O black curse on the family, Oedipus’ curse, now brought to fulfillment! A chill of horror falls about my heart.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ μέλαινα καὶ τελεία
γένεος Οἰδίπου τʼ ἀρά,
κακόν με καρδίαν τι περιπίτνει κρύος.

[¶61] In frenzy like a maenad I make my song for the grave as I hear of their corpses dripping with blood, how they died through the workings of cruel fate. This song of the spear, sung to the flute, is indeed born of an ill omen.

> Greek: ἔτευξα τύμβῳ μέλος
Θυιὰς αἱματοσταγεῖς
νεκροὺς κλύουσα δυσμόρως
θανόντας· ἦ δύσορνις ἅ-
δε ξυναυλία δορός.

[¶62] Chorus:
The curseful utterance of their father has done its work and not fallen short. Laius’ plans, made in disobedience, have kept their force. I am anxious for our city; divine decrees do not lose their edge. The funeral procession with the bodies of the brothers comes into view.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐξέπραξεν, οὐδʼ ἀπεῖπεν
πατρόθεν εὐκταία φάτις·
βουλαὶ δʼ ἄπιστοι Λαΐου διήρκεσαν.
μέριμνα δʼ ἀμφὶ πτόλιν·
θέσφατʼ οὐκ ἀμβλύνεται.

[¶63] Chorus:
O bringers of immense grief, you have done in this a deed beyond belief, yet lamentable troubles have indeed come.

> Greek: ἰὼ πολύστονοι, τόδʼ ἠρ-
γάσασθʼ ἄπιστον· ἦλθε δʼ αἰ-
ακτὰ πήματʼ οὐ λόγῳ.

[¶64] The events are self-evident; the messenger’s report is plain to see. Twofold is our distress—double disaster
of kindred murder, this double suffering has come to fulfillment. What shall I say? What else indeed than that sorrow born of sorrows surround this house’s hearth? But sail upon the wind of lamentation, my friends,
and about your head row with your hands’ rapid stroke in conveyance of the dead, that stroke which always causes the sacred slack-sailed, black-clothed ship to pass over Acheron to the unseen land where Apollo does not walk,
the sunless land that receives all men. But here come Antigone and Ismene to do their bitter duty, the dirge over their brothers both. With all sincerity, I think, will they
pour forth their fitting grief from their lovely, deep-bosomed breasts. But it is right for us, before their singing, to cry out the awful hymn of the Erinys and thereafter
sing the hated victory song of Hades. Ah, sisters most unfortunate in your kin of all women who clasp their girdle about their robes, I weep, I groan, and there is no feigning in the shrill cries that come straight from my heart.

> Greek: Χορός:
τάδʼ αὐτόδηλα, προῦπτος ἀγγέλου λόγος·
διπλαῖ μέριμναι, διδυμάνορα
κάκʼ αὐτοφόνα, δίμοιρα τέ-
λεια τάδε πάθη. τί φῶ;
τί δʼ ἄλλο γʼ ἢ πόνοι πόνων
δόμων ἐφέστιοι;
ἀλλὰ γόων, ὦ φίλαι, κατʼ οὖρον
ἐρέσσετʼ ἀμφὶ κρατὶ πόμπιμον χεροῖν
πίτυλον, ὃς αἰὲν διʼ Ἀχέροντʼ ἀμείβεται
τὰν ἄστολον μελάγκροκον [ναύστολον] θεωρίδα,
τὰν ἀστιβῆ Ἀπόλλωνι, τὰν ἀνάλιον
πάνδοκον εἰς ἀφανῆ τε χέρσον.
ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἥκουσʼ αἵδʼ ἐπὶ πρᾶγος
πικρὸν Ἀντιγόνη τʼ ἠδʼ Ἰσμήνη,
θρῆνον ἀδελφοῖν· οὐκ ἀμφιβόλως
οἶμαί σφʼ ἐρατῶν ἐκ βαθυκόλπων
στηθέων ἥσειν ἄλγος ἐπάξιον.
ἡμᾶς δὲ δίκη πρότερον φήμης
τὸν δυσκέλαδόν θʼ ὕμνον Ἐρινύος
ἰαχεῖν Ἀίδα τʼ
ἐχθρὸν παιᾶνʼ ἐπιμέλπειν.
ἰώ, δυσαδελφόταται πασῶν ὁπόσαι
στρόφον ἐσθῆσιν περιβάλλονται,
κλαίω, στένομαι, καὶ δόλος οὐδεὶς
μὴ ʼκ φρενὸς ὀρθῶς με λιγαίνειν.

[¶65] Chorus:
Ah, pity you senseless men, whom friends could not persuade and evils could not wear down! To your misery you have captured your father’s house with the spear.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ ἰὼ δύσφρονες,
φίλων ἄπιστοι καὶ κακῶν ἀτρύμονες,
δόμους πατρῴους ἑλόν-
τες μέλεοι σὺν αἰχμᾷ.

[¶66] Chorus:
To their misery, indeed,
they found a miserable death in the outrage done their house.

> Greek: μέλεοι δῆθʼ οἳ μελέους θανάτους
εὕροντο δόμων ἐπὶ λύμῃ.

[¶67] Ah, you brothers who were poised to cast over the walls of your home and looked—to your sorrow—for sole rule, now you have been
reconciled by the iron sword. The great Erinys of your father Oedipus has fulfilled it all truly.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ ἰὼ δωμάτων
ἐρειψίτοιχοι καὶ πικρὰς μοναρχίας
ἰδόντες, ἤδη διήλ-
λαχθε σὺν σιδάρῳ.
κάρτα δʼ ἀληθῆ πατρὸς Οἰδιπόδα
πότνιʼ Ἐρινὺς ἐπέκρανεν.

[¶68] Chorus:
Pierced through your left sides, pierced indeed—
through those sides that were born from one womb! Ah, strange ones! Ah, the curses that demand death for death!

> Greek: Χορός:
διʼ εὐωνύμων τετυμμένοι,
τετυμμένοι δῆθʼ,
ὁμοσπλάγχνων τε πλευρωμάτων
…
αἰαῖ δαιμόνιοι,
αἰαῖ δʼ ἀντιφόνων
θανάτων ἀραί.

[¶69] Right through, as you say, were they struck, with blows to house and body by an unspeakable wrath and by the doom, called down by their father’s curse, which they shared without discord.

> Greek: διανταίαν λέγεις [πλαγὰν] δόμοισι καὶ
σώμασιν πεπλαγμένους, [ἐννέπω]
ἀναυδάτῳ μένει
ἀραίῳ τʼ ἐκ πατρὸς
⟨οὐ⟩ διχόφρονι πότμῳ.

[¶70] Chorus:
Groaning spreads throughout the city, too: the walls groan; the land that loves its sons groans. But for those who come after them there remains their property, on which account the strife
of those terrible-fated men came to fulfillment in death. In their haste to anger they apportioned their property so that each has an equal share. To those who loved them their reconciler is not blameless,
nor is Ares agreeable.

> Greek: Χορός:
διήκει δὲ καὶ πόλιν στόνος,
στένουσι πύργοι,
στένει πέδον φίλανδρον· μένει
κτέανα δʼ ἐπιγόνοις,
διʼ ὧν αἰνομόροις,
διʼ ὧν νεῖκος ἔβα
[καὶ] θανάτου τέλος.
ἐμοιράσαντο δʼ ὀξυκάρδιοι
κτήμαθʼ, ὥστʼ ἴσον λαχεῖν.
διαλλακτῆρι δʼ οὐκ
ἀμεμφεία φίλοις,
οὐδʼ ἐπίχαρις Ἄρης.

[¶71] Chorus:
Under strokes of iron they are come to this, and under strokes of iron there await them—what, one might perhaps ask—shares in their father’s tomb.

> Greek: Χορός:
σιδαρόπλακτοι μὲν ὧδʼ ἔχουσιν,
σιδαρόπλακτοι δὲ τοὺς μένουσι,
τάχʼ ἄν τις εἴποι, τίνες;
τάφων πατρῴων λαχαί.

[¶72] Our shrill, heart-rending wail goes with them—product of lamentation and pain felt of its own accord—a wail from a distressed mind, joyless, pouring forth tears from a heart
that wastes away as I weep for these two princes.

> Greek: ὅδʼ ἁμῶν μάλʼ ἀχέτας τοὺς
προπέμπει δαϊκτὴρ γόος αὐ-
τόστονος, αὐτοπήμων,
δαϊόφρων [δʼ·], οὐ φιλογαθής, ἐτύμως
δακρυχέων ἐκ φρενός, ἃ
κλαιομένας μου μινύθει
τοῖνδε δυοῖν ἀνάκτοιν.

[¶73] Chorus:
Over these poor men it can be said that they did much to harm our citizens and also the ranks of all the foreigners
who died in abundance in the fighting. Ill-fated beyond all women who are called by the name of mother is she who bore them. After she made her own child her own husband,
she gave birth to these sons, who have thus ended their lives with kindred hands giving death for death.

> Greek: Χορός:
πάρεστι δʼ εἰπεῖν ἐπʼ ἀθλίοισιν
ὡς ἐρξάτην πολλὰ μὲν πολίτας,
ξένων τε πάντων στίχας
πολυφθόρους ἐν δαΐ.
δυσδαίμων σφιν ἁ τεκοῦσα
πρὸ πασᾶν γυναικῶν ὁπόσαι
τεκνογόνοι κέκληνται.
παῖδα τὸν αὑτᾶς πόσιν αὑτᾷ θεμένα
τούσδʼ ἔτεχʼ, οἱ δʼ ὧδʼ ἐτελεύ-
τασαν ὑπʼ ἀλλαλοφόνοις
χερσὶν ὁμοσπόροισιν.

[¶74] Chorus:
Of the same seed, in truth, they were utterly destroyed in unloving divisions,
in maddened discord, in the ending of their strife. Their hatred has ceased. Their life has been mingled in the blood-soaked earth. Now truly their blood is one.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὁμόσποροι δῆτα καὶ πανώλεθροι,
διατομαῖς οὐ φίλοις,
ἔριδι μαινομένᾳ,
νείκεος ἐν τελευτᾷ.
πέπαυται δʼ ἔχθος, ἐν δὲ γαίᾳ
ζόα φονορύτῳ
μέμεικται· κάρτα δʼ εἴσʼ ὅμαιμοι.

[¶75] Ruthless is that which resolved their strife, the stranger from across the sea, sharpened iron rushed from the fire. Ruthless, too, was Ares, the cruel divider of their property, who made their father’s curses come true.

> Greek: πικρὸς λυτὴρ νεικέων ὁ πόντιος
ξεῖνος ἐκ πυρὸς συθεὶς
θακτὸς σίδαρος· πικρὸς δὲ χρημάτων
κακὸς δατητὰς Ἄρης ἀρὰν πατρῴ-
αν τιθεὶς ἀλαθῆ.

[¶76] Chorus:
They hold in misery their allotted portion of god-given sorrows. Beneath their corpses there will be boundless wealth of earth. Ah, you have wreathed
your race with many troubles! In the final outcome the Curses have raised their piercing cry, now that the family is turned to flight in all directions. A trophy to Ruin now stands at the gate
where they struck each other and where, having conquered them both, the divine power stayed its hand.
The following antiphonal dirge is sung by the two sisters—Antigone standing by the bier of Polynices, Ismene by that of Eteocles.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔχουσι μοῖραν λαχόντες οἱ μέλεοι
διοδότων ἀχθέων·
ὑπὸ δὲ σώματι γᾶς
πλοῦτος ἄβυσσος ἔσται.
ἰὼ πολλοῖς ἐπανθίσαντες
πόνοισι γενεάν·
τελευταῖαι δʼ ἐπηλάλαξαν
Ἀραὶ τὸν ὀξὺν νόμον, τετραμμένου
παντρόπῳ φυγᾷ γένους.
ἕστακε δʼ Ἄτας τροπαῖον ἐν πύλαις,
ἐν αἷς ἐθείνοντο, καὶ δυοῖν κρατή-
σας ἔληξε δαίμων.

[¶77] Antigone:
You were struck as you struck.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
παισθεὶς ἔπαισας.

[¶78] Ismene:
You died as you killed.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
σὺ δʼ ἔθανες κατακτανών.

[¶79] Antigone:
By the spear you killed—

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
δορὶ δʼ ἔκανες—

[¶80] Ismene:
By the spear you died—

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
δορὶ δʼ ἔθανες—

[¶81] Antigone:
Your deed made you wretched.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
μελεοπόνος.

[¶82] Ismene:
You suffering made you wretched.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
μελεοπαθής.

[¶83] Antigone:
Let the lament come.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἴτω γόος.

[¶84] Ismene:
Let the tears come.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἴτω δάκρυ.

[¶85] Antigone:
You are laid out for mourning—

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
πρόκεισαι —

[¶86] Ismene:
Though you did the killing.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
κατακτάς.

[¶87] Antigone:
Ah me!

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἠέ.

[¶88] Ismene:
Ah me!

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἠέ.

[¶89] Antigone:
My heart is mad with wailing.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
μαίνεται γόοισι φρήν.

[¶90] Ismene:
My heart groans within me.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἐντὸς δὲ καρδία στένει.

[¶91] Antigone:
Ah, the grief, brother all-lamentable.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἰὼ ἰὼ πάνδυρτε σύ.

[¶92] Ismene:
And you also, brother all-wretched.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
σὺ δʼ αὖτε καὶ πανάθλιε.

[¶93] Antigone:
You perished at the hands of your nearest and dearest.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
πρὸς φίλου [γʼ·] ἔφθισο.

[¶94] Ismene:
And you killed your nearest and dearest.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
καὶ φίλον ἔκτανες.

[¶95] Antigone:
Twofold to tell of—

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
διπλᾶ λέγειν—

[¶96] Ismene:
Twofold to look upon—

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
διπλᾶ δʼ ὁρᾶν—

[¶97] Antigone:
Are these sorrows so close to those.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἄχθεα τῶνδε τάδʼ ἐγγύθεν.

[¶98] Ismene:
Fraternal sorrows stand close by fraternal sorrows.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
πέλας ἀδελφέʼ ἀδελφεῶν.

[¶99] Chorus:
O Fate, giver of grievous troubles, and awful shade of Oedipus, black Erinys, you are indeed a mighty force.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ Μοῖρα βαρυδότειρα μογερά,
πότνιά τʼ Οἰδίπου σκιά,
μέλαινʼ Ἐρινύς, ἦ μεγασθενής τις εἶ.

[¶100] Antigone:
Ah, me

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἠέ.

[¶101] Ismene:
Ah, me

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἠέ.

[¶102] Antigone:
Sorrows hard to behold—

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
δυσθέατα πήματα —

[¶103] Ismene:
He showed me when he returned from exile.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἔδειξεν ἐκ φυγᾶς ἐμοί.

[¶104] Antigone:
But he made no return after he had killed.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
οὐδʼ ἵκεθʼ ὡς κατέκτανεν.

[¶105] Ismene:
He was saved, but lost his life.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
σωθεὶς δὲ πνεῦμʼ ἀπώλεσεν.

[¶106] Antigone:
He lost it, all too truly.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὤλεσε δῆτʼ ⟨ἄγαν⟩.

[¶107] Ismene:
And took this one’s life away.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
καὶ τὸν ἐνόσφισεν.

[¶108] Antigone:
Wretched family!

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
τάλαν γένος.

[¶109] Ismene:
Wretched suffering!

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
τάλαν πάθος.

[¶110] Antigone:
Kindred sorrows full of groans!

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
δύστονα κήδεʼ ὁμαίμονα.

[¶111] Ismene:
Sorrows steeped in tripled griefs.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
δίυγρα τριπάλτων πημάτων.

[¶112] Chorus:
O Fate, giver of grievous troubles, and awful shade of Oedipus, black Erinys, you are indeed a mighty force.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ Μοῖρα βαρυδότειρα μογερά,
πότνιά τʼ Οἰδίπου σκιά,
μέλαινʼ Ἐρινύς, ἦ μεγασθενής τις εἶ.

[¶113] Antigone:
Now you know of the Erinys by experience—

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
σὺ τοί νιν οἶσθα διαπερῶν—

[¶114] Ismene:
And you are made aware no later—

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
σὺ δʼ οὐδὲν ὕστερος μαθών—

[¶115] Antigone:
When you came back to our city,

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἐπεὶ κατῆλθες ἐς πόλιν,

[¶116] Ismene:
Yes, to face him with your spear.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
δορός γε τῷδʼ ἀντηρέτας.

[¶117] Antigone:
A tale of destruction!

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὀλοὰ λέγειν.

[¶118] Ismene:
Destruction to look upon!

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ὀλοὰ δʼ ὁρᾶν.

[¶119] Antigone:
Oh, the grief—

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἰὼ πόνος—

[¶120] Ismene:
Oh, the evils—

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἰὼ κακά—

[¶121] Antigone:
For home and land.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
δώμασι καὶ χθονί.

[¶122] Ismene:
Above all for me,

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
πρὸ πάντων δʼ ἐμοί.

[¶123] Antigone:
And more also for me.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
καὶ τὸ πρόσω γʼ ἐμοί.

[¶124] Ismene:
Ah I pity your grievous suffering, my king.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἰὼ ἰὼ δυστόνων κακῶν, ἄναξ.

[¶125] Antigone:
Pity for you both, most lamentable of all men.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἰὼ πάντων πολυστονώτατοι.

[¶126] Ismene:
You were possessed by delusion.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἰὼ ἰὼ δαιμονῶντες ἄτᾳ.

[¶127] Antigone:
Where shall we lay them in the earth?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἰὼ ἰώ, ποῦ σφε θήσομεν χθονός;

[¶128] Ismene:
Ah, where their honor is greatest.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἰώ, ὅπου ⟨ʼσʼτι⟩ τιμιώτατον.

[¶129] Antigone:
To lie beside their father, a cause for him of sorrow.
Enter a Herald.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἰὼ ἰώ, πῆμα πατρὶ πάρευνον.

[¶130] Herald:
It is my duty to announce the will and decrees of the council on behalf of the people of this our Cadmean city. It is decreed, first, that Eteocles here, on account of his goodwill towards the city, is to be buried in a kindly grave in its soil;

> Greek: Κῆρυξ:
δοκοῦντα καὶ δόξαντʼ ἀπαγγέλλειν με χρὴ
δήμου προβούλοις τῆσδε Καδμείας πόλεως·
Ἐτεοκλέα μὲν τόνδʼ ἐπʼ εὐνοίᾳ χθονὸς
θάπτειν ἔδοξε γῆς φίλαις κατασκαφαῖς·

[¶131] for hating the enemy he chose death in the city and driven by piety towards his ancestral shrines, he died without reproach where it is an honor for the young to die. This is how I was commanded to speak regarding him. But as for his brother, it is decreed that this corpse of Polyneices
is to be cast out of the city unburied to be torn by dogs, since he would have been the destroyer of the land of the Cadmeans, if one of the gods had not used his brother’s spear to prevent him. Even in death he will retain the stain of his guilt against his fathers’ gods, whom he dishonored
when he launched a foreign army against the city to take it. For this reason it is decreed that he will receive his reward by being buried without honor beneath the winged birds; and that no labor of the hands shall attend him by building up a burial mound nor shall anyone offer him reverence in shrill-sung laments.
He is to be refused the honor of being carried in funeral procession by his loved ones. Such is the decree of the Cadmean authorities.

> Greek: στυγῶν γὰρ ἐχθροὺς θάνατον εἵλετʼ ἐν πόλει
ἱερῶν πατρῴων δʼ ὅσιος ὢν μομφῆς ἄτερ
τέθνηκεν οὗπερ τοῖς νέοις θνῄσκειν καλόν.
οὕτω μὲν ἀμφὶ τοῦδʼ ἐπέσταλται λέγειν·
τούτου δʼ ἀδελφὸν τόνδε Πολυνείκους νεκρὸν
ἔξω βαλεῖν ἄθαπτον, ἁρπαγὴν κυσίν,
ὡς ὄντʼ ἀναστατῆρα Καδμείων χθονός,
εἰ μὴ θεῶν τις ἐμποδὼν ἔστη δορὶ
τῷ τοῦδʼ·. ἄγος δὲ καὶ θανὼν κεκτήσεται
θεῶν πατρῴων, οὓς ἀτιμάσας ὅδε
στράτευμʼ ἐπακτὸν ἐμβαλὼν ᾕρει πόλιν.
οὕτω πετηνῶν τόνδʼ ὑπʼ οἰωνῶν δοκεῖ
ταφέντʼ ἀτίμως τοὐπιτίμιον λαβεῖν,
καὶ μήθʼ ὁμαρτεῖν τυμβοχόα χειρώματα
μήτʼ ὀξυμόλποις προσσέβειν οἰμώγμασιν,
ἄτιμον εἶναι δʼ ἐκφορᾶς φίλων ὕπο.
τοιαῦτʼ ἔδοξε τῷδε Καδμείων τέλει.

[¶132] Antigone:
I at least will say something to the rulers of the Cadmeans: even if no one else is willing to share in burying him, I will bury him alone and risk the peril
of burying my own brother. Nor am I ashamed to act in defiant opposition to the rulers of the city. A thing to be held in awe is the common womb from which we were born, of a wretched mother and unfortunate father. Therefore, my soul, willingly share his evils, even though they are unwilling,
and live in kindred spirit with the dead. No hollow-bellied wolves will tear his flesh—let no one “decree” that! Even though I am a woman, I will myself find the means to give him burial and a grave,
carrying the earth in the fold of my linen robe. With my own hands I will cover him over—let no one “decree” it otherwise. Take heart, I will have the means to do it.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἐγὼ δὲ Καδμείων γε προστάταις λέγω·
ἢν μή τις ἄλλος τόνδε συνθάπτειν θέλῃ,
ἐγώ σφε θάψω κἀνὰ κίνδυνον βαλῶ
θάψασʼ ἀδελφὸν τὸν ἐμόν, οὐδʼ αἰσχύνομαι
ἔχουσʼ ἄπιστον τήνδʼ ἀναρχίαν πόλει.
δεινὸν τὸ κοινὸν σπλάγχνον, οὗ πεφύκαμεν,
μητρὸς ταλαίνης κἀπὸ δυστήνου πατρός.
τοιγὰρ θέλουσʼ ἄκοντι κοινώνει κακῶν
ψυχή, θανόντι ζῶσα συγγόνῳ φρενί.
τούτου δὲ σάρκας οὐδὲ κοιλογάστορες
λύκοι σπάσονται· μὴ δοκησάτω τινί.
τάφον γὰρ αὐτῷ καὶ κατασκαφὰς ἐγώ,
γυνή περ οὖσα, τῷδε μηχανήσομαι,
κόλπῳ φέρουσα βυσσίνου πεπλώματος.
καὐτὴ καλύψω, μηδέ τῳ δόξῃ πάλιν·
θάρσει, παρέσται μηχανὴ δραστήριος.

[¶133] Herald:
I forbid you to act thus in violation of the city.

> Greek: Κῆρυξ:
αὐδῶ πόλιν σε μὴ βιάζεσθαι τάδε.

[¶134] Antigone:
I forbid you to make useless proclamations to me.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
αὐδῶ σὲ μὴ περισσὰ κηρύσσειν ἐμοί.

[¶135] Herald:
And yet a citizenry that has escaped evil can be harsh.

> Greek: Κῆρυξ:
τραχύς γε μέντοι δῆμος ἐκφυγὼν κακά.

[¶136] Antigone:
Let it be harsh! This man will not be unburied.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
τράχυνʼ· ἄθαπτος δʼ οὗτος οὐ γενήσεται.

[¶137] Herald:
What! Will you honor with burial a man whom the city detests?

> Greek: Κῆρυξ:
ἀλλʼ ὃν πόλις στυγεῖ, σὺ τιμήσεις τάφῳ,;

[¶138] Antigone:
For a long time now the gods have ceased to hold him in honor.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἤδη τὰ τοῦδε διατετίμηται θεοῖς.

[¶139] Herald:
No, he was honored until he put this land in jeopardy.

> Greek: Κῆρυξ:
οὔ, πρίν γε χώραν τήνδε κινδύνῳ βαλεῖν.

[¶140] Antigone:
He suffered evil and gave evil in return.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
παθὼν κακῶς κακοῖσιν ἀντημείβετο.

[¶141] Herald:
But this act was against all the citizens, not only one man.

> Greek: Κῆρυξ:
ἀλλʼ εἰς ἅπαντας ἀνθʼ ἑνὸς τόδʼ ἔργον ἦν.

[¶142] Antigone:
Discord is the last of the gods to close an argument. I will bury him. Put an end to your big talk.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἔρις περαίνει μῦθον ὑστάτη θεῶν.

[¶143] Herald:
Well then, follow your own rash plan, but I forbid it. Exit.

> Greek: ἐγὼ δὲ θάψω τόνδε· μὴ μακρηγόρει.

[¶144] Chorus:
Ah, misery!
O Erinyes, far-famed destroyers of families, goddesses of death who have thus laid ruin to the family of Oedipus, digging it up from the roots! What will happen to me? What should I do? What plan shall I devise? How can I have the heart neither to weep for you
nor escort you to your tomb? But I am afraid and turn away in terror of the citizens. You, at least, Eteocles, will have many mourners, while he, wretched man, departs without lamentation
and has a dirge sung only by one sister. Now who could comply with that?

> Greek: Κῆρυξ:
ἀλλʼ αὐτόβουλος ἴσθʼ, ἀπεννέπω δʼ ἐγώ.
Χορός:
φεῦ φεῦ.
ὦ μεγάλαυχοι καὶ φθερσιγενεῖς
Κῆρες Ἐρινύες, αἵτʼ Οἰδιπόδα
γένος ὠλέσατε πρυμνόθεν οὕτως,
τί πάθω; τί δὲ δρῶ; τί δὲ μήσωμαι;
πῶς τολμήσω μήτε σὲ κλαίειν
μήτε προπέμπειν ἐπὶ τύμβον·
ἀλλὰ φοβοῦμαι κἀποτρέπομαι
δεῖμα πολιτῶν.
σύ γε μὴν πολλῶν πενθητήρων
τεύξει· κεῖνος δʼ ὁ τάλας ἄγοος
μονόκλαυτον ἔχων θρῆνον ἀδελφῆς
εἶσιν· τίς ἂν οὖν τὰ πίθοιτο;

[¶145] First Half-Chorus:
Let the city take action or not take action against those who lament for Polynices. We, at all events, will go and
bury him with her, following the funeral procession. For this grief is shared by all our race, and the city approves as just different things at different times.

> Greek: Ἡμιχόριον Α:
δράτω ⟨τι⟩ πόλις καὶ μὴ δράτω
τοὺς κλαίοντας Πολυνείκη.
ἡμεῖς μὲν ἴμεν καὶ συνθάψομεν
αἵδε προπομποί. καὶ γὰρ γενεᾷ
κοινὸν τόδʼ ἄχος, καὶ πόλις ἄλλως
ἄλλοτʼ ἐπαινεῖ τὰ δίκαια.

[¶146] Second Half-Chorus:
We will go with this other corpse, as the city and justice, too, approves.

> Greek: Ἡμιχόριον Β:
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἅμα τῷδʼ, ὥσπερ τε πόλις
καὶ τὸ δίκαιον ξυνεπαινεῖ.

[¶147] For after the blessed gods and powerful Zeus, he it was who saved the city of the Cadmeans from being capsized and flooded by a wave of foreign men—he beyond all others. Exeunt omnes.

> Greek: μετὰ γὰρ μάκαρας καὶ Διὸς ἰσχὺν
ὅδε Καδμείων ἤρυξε πόλιν
μὴ ʼνατραπῆναι μηδʼ ἀλλοδαπῷ
κύματι φωτῶν
κατακλυσθῆναι τὰ μάλιστα.