Polyneices:And so do you; once more I demand back my scepter and share of the land.
Πολυνείκης:καὶ σέ· δεύτερον δʼ ἀπαιτῶ σκῆπτρα καὶ μέρη χθονός.
Eteocles:I admit no demand; I will live in my own house.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:οὐκ ἀπαιτούμεσθʼ· ἐγὼ γὰρ τὸν ἐμὸν οἰκήσω δόμον.
Polyneices:And keep more than your share?
Πολυνείκης:τοῦ μέρους ἔχων τὸ πλεῖον;
Eteocles:Yes. Leave the country!
Ἐτεοκλῆς:φήμʼ· ἀπαλλάσσου δὲ γῆς.
Polyneices:O altars of my fathers’ gods—
Πολυνείκης:ὦ θεῶν βωμοὶ πατρῴων —
Eteocles:Which you are here to destroy.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:οὓς σὺ πορθήσων πάρει.
Polyneices:Hear me—
Πολυνείκης:κλύετέ μου —
Eteocles:Who would hear you after you have marched against your fatherland?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:τίς δʼ ἂν κλύοι σου πατρίδʼ ἐπεστρατευμένου;
Polyneices:And temples of the gods who ride on white horses—
Πολυνείκης:καὶ θεῶν τῶν λευκοπώλων δώματα —
Eteocles:And who hate you.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:οἳ στυγοῦσί σε.
Polyneices:I am being driven from my country—
Πολυνείκης:ἐξελαυνόμεσθα πατρίδος —
Eteocles:Yes, for you came to destroy it.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:καὶ γὰρ ἦλθες ἐξελῶν.
Polyneices:Unjustly, O gods!
Πολυνείκης:ἀδικίᾳ γʼ, ὦ θεοί.
Eteocles:Call on the gods at Mycenae, not here.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:Μυκήναις, μὴ ʼνθάδʼ ἀνακάλει θεούς.
Polyneices:You have become unholy—
Πολυνείκης:ἀνόσιος πέφυκας —
Eteocles:But I have not, like you, become my country’s enemy.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ἀλλʼ οὐ πατρίδος, ὡς σύ, πολέμιος.
Polyneices:By driving me out without my portion.
Πολυνείκης:ὅς μʼ ἄμοιρον ἐξελαύνεις.
Eteocles:I will kill you in addition.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:καὶ κατακτενῶ γε πρός.
Polyneices:O father, do you you hear what I am suffering?
Πολυνείκης:ὦ πάτερ, κλύεις ἃ πάσχω;
Eteocles:Yes, and he hears what you are doing.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:καὶ γὰρ οἷα δρᾷς κλύει.
Polyneices:And you, mother?
Πολυνείκης:καὶ σύ, μῆτερ;
Eteocles:It is not lawful for you to mention your mother.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ἀθέμιτόν σοι μητρὸς ὀνομάζειν κάρα.
Polyneices:O my city!
Πολυνείκης:ὦ πόλις.
Eteocles:Go to Argos, and invoke the waters of Lerna.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:μολὼν ἐς Ἄργος ἀνακάλει Λέρνης ὕδωρ.
Polyneices:I will; do not be troubled; but I thank you, mother.
Πολυνείκης:εἶμι, μὴ πόνει· σὲ δʼ αἰνῶ, μῆτερ.
Eteocles:Go forth from the land!
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ἔξιθι χθονός.
Polyneices:I will go; but let me see my father.
Πολυνείκης:ἔξιμεν· πατέρα δέ μοι δὸς εἰσιδεῖν.
Eteocles:You will not have your wish.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:οὐκ ἂν τύχοις.
Polyneices:At least then my maiden sisters.
Πολυνείκης:ἀλλὰ παρθένους ἀδελφάς.
Eteocles:You will not ever see them either.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:οὐδὲ τάσδʼ ὄψῃ ποτέ.
Polyneices:Ah, my sisters!
Πολυνείκης:ὦ κασίγνηται.
Eteocles:Why do you, their bitterest enemy, call on them?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:τί ταύτας ἀνακαλεῖς ἔχθιστος ὤν;
Polyneices:To you at least farewell, mother!
Πολυνείκης:μῆτερ, ἀλλά μοι σὺ χαῖρε.
Jocasta:Indeed I am faring well, my son!
Ἰοκάστη:χαρτὰ γοῦν πάσχω, τέκνον.
Polyneices:I am no longer your son.
Πολυνείκης:οὐκέτʼ εἰμὶ παῖς σός.
Jocasta:I was born to great sorrow.
Ἰοκάστη:ἐς πόλλʼ ἀθλία πέφυκʼ ἐγώ.
Polyneices:Because my brother treats me outrageously.
Πολυνείκης:ὅδε γὰρ εἰς ἡμᾶς ὑβρίζει.
Eteocles:I am treated just the same.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:καὶ γὰρ ἀνθυβρίζομαι.
Polyneices:Where will you be stationed before the towers?
Πολυνείκης:ποῦ ποτε στήσῃ πρὸ πύργων;
Eteocles:Why do you ask me this?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ὡς τί μʼ ἱστορεῖς τόδε;
Polyneices:I will set myself against you for your death.
Πολυνείκης:ἀντιτάξομαι κτενῶν σε.
Eteocles:I too have the same desire.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:κἀμὲ τοῦδʼ ἔρως ἔχει.
Jocasta:Woe is me! what will you do, my sons?
Ἰοκάστη:ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ· τί δράσετʼ, ὦ τέκνα;
Polyneices:The event will show.
Πολυνείκης:αὐτὸ σημανεῖ.
Jocasta:Oh, try to escape your father’s curse! Exit Jocasta.
Ἰοκάστη:πατρὸς οὐ φεύξεσθʼ Ἐρινῦς;
Eteocles:May destruction seize our whole house!
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ἐρρέτω πρόπας δόμος.
Polyneices:Soon my sword will be busy, plunged in gore. But I call my native land and the gods to witness, with what dishonor and bitter treatment I am being driven forth, as though I were a slave, not a son of Oedipus as much as he. If anything happens to you, my city, blame him, not me;
Πολυνείκης:ὡς τάχʼ οὐκέθʼ αἱματηρὸν τοὐμὸν ἀργήσει ξίφος.τὴν δὲ θρέψασάν με γαῖαν καὶ θεοὺς μαρτύρομαι,ὡς ἄτιμος οἰκτρὰ πάσχων ἐξελαύνομαι χθονός,δοῦλος ὥς, ἀλλʼ οὐχὶ ταὐτοῦ πατρὸς Οἰδίπου γεγώς·κἄν τί σοι, πόλις, γένηται, μὴ ἐμέ, τόνδε δʼ αἰτιῶ·
for I did not come willingly, and unwillingly I am driven from the land. And you, Phoebus, lord of highways, and my home, farewell, and my comrades, and statues of the gods, where sheep are sacrificed. For I do not know if I can ever again address you; though hope is not yet asleep, which makes me confident that with the gods’ helpI shall slay him and rule this land of Thebes. Exit Polyneices.
οὐχ ἑκὼν γὰρ ἦλθον, ἄκων δʼ ἐξελαύνομαι χθονός.καὶ σύ, Φοῖβʼ ἄναξ Ἀγυιεῦ, καὶ μέλαθρα, χαίρετε,ἥλικές θʼ οὑμοί, θεῶν τε δεξίμηλʼ ἀγάλματα.οὐ γὰρ οἶδʼ εἴ μοι προσειπεῖν αὖθις ἔσθʼ ὑμᾶς ποτε·ἐλπίδες δʼ οὔπω καθεύδουσʼ, αἷς πέποιθα σὺν θεοῖςτόνδʼ ἀποκτείνας κρατήσειν τῆσδε Θηβαίας χθονός.
Eteocles:Get out of the country! It was a true name our father gave you, when, prompted by some god, he called you Polyneices, man of many quarrels. Exit Eteocles.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ἔξιθʼ ἐκ χώρας· ἀληθῶς δʼ ὄνομα Πολυνείκη πατὴρἔθετό σοι θείᾳ προνοίᾳ νεικέων ἐπώνυμον.
Chorus:Cadmus of Tyre came to this land, and at his feet a four-footed,untamed heifer threw itself down, fulfilling an oracle, where the god’s prophecy told him to make his home in the plains rich with wheat,and where the lovely waters of Dirce pour over the fields, the green and deep-seeded fields; here Bromius’ mother gave birthfrom her union with Zeus; Bromius, round whom the ivy twined its wreaths while he was still a baby, covering him and blessing him in the shades of its green foliage,a Bacchic dance for the maids and wives inspired in Thebes.
Χορός:Κάδμος ἔμολε τάνδε γᾶνΤύριος, ᾧ τετρασκελὴςμόσχος ἀδάματον πέσημαδίκε τελεσφόρον διδοῦσαχρησμόν, οὗ κατοικίσαιπεδία νιν τὸ θέσφατονπυροφόρα δόμων ἔχρη,καλλιπόταμος ὕδατος ἵνα τενοτὶς ἐπέρχεται γύας,Δίρκας χλοηφόρουςκαὶ βαθυσπόρους γύας·Βρόμιον ἔνθα τέκετο μά-τηρ Διὸς γάμοισι,κισσὸς ὃν περιστεφὴςἕλικος εὐθὺς ἔτι βρέφοςχλοηφόροισιν ἔρνεσινκατασκίοισιν ὀλβίσας ἐνώτισεν,Βάκχιον χόρευμα παρθένοισι Θηβαΐαισικαὶ γυναιξὶν εὐίοις.
Chorus:There was Ares’ murderous dragon, a savage guard,watching with wandering eye the watery rivers and fresh streams. Cadmus destroyed it with a jagged stone, when he came there to draw lustral water; smiting the deadly headwith a blow of his beast-slaying arm; and by the counsel of [PalIas,] the motherless goddess, he cast the teeth upon the deep fields to fall to the earth,from which the earth brought forth a sight fully-armed, above the surface of the soil; but grim slaughter once again united them to the earth they loved, bedewing with blood the ground that hadshown them to the sunlit breath of heaven.
Χορός:ἔνθα φόνιος ἦν δράκωνἌρεος ὠμόφρων φύλαξνάματʼ ἔνυδρα καὶ ῥέεθραχλοερὰ δεργμάτων κόραισιπολυπλάνοις ἐπισκοπῶν·ὃν ἐπὶ χέρνιβας μολὼνΚάδμος ὄλεσε μαρμάρῳ·κρᾶτα φόνιον ὀλεσίθηροςὠλένας δικὼν βολαῖς,δίας ἀμάτορος ⟨δʼ⟩ἐς βαθυσπόρους γύαςγαπετεῖς δικὼν ὀδόν-τας [Παλλάδος] φραδαῖσιν·ἔνθεν ἐξανῆκε γᾶπάνοπλον ὄψιν ὑπὲρ ἄκρωνὅρων χθονός· σιδαρόφρωνδέ νιν φόνος πάλιν ξυνῆψε γᾷ φίλᾳ.αἵματος δʼ ἔδευσε γαῖαν, ἅ νιν εὐηλίοισιδεῖξεν αἰθέρος πνοαῖς.
Chorus:And you, Epaphus, born from Io, our first mother, and child of Zeus: you I summon in foreign cry,oh! in foreign prayers: come, come to this land; your descendants settled here; and the goddesses of twofold name, Persephone and the kindlygoddess Demeter the queen of all, Earth the nurse of all, won it for themselves; send to the help of this land those torch-bearing goddesses; for to gods all things are easy.
Χορός:καὶ σέ, τὸν προμάτοροςἸοῦς ποτʼ ἔκγονονἜπαφον, ὦ Διὸς γένεθλον,[ἐκάλεσʼ] ἐκάλεσα βαρβάρῳ βοᾷ,ἰώ, βαρβάροις λιταῖς·βᾶθι βᾶθι τάνδε γᾶν·— σοί νιν ἔκγονοι κτίσανκαὶ διώνυμοι θεαί,Περσέφασσα καὶ φίλαΔαμάτηρ θεά,πάντων ἄνασσα, πάντων δὲ Γᾶ τροφός,κτήσαντο — πέμπε πυρφόρουςθεάς, ἄμυνε τᾷδε γᾷ·πάντα δʼ εὐπετῆ θεοῖς.
Eteocles: to an attendantGo, bring Creon, son of Menoeceus, the brother of Jocasta my mother; tell him I want to consult with him on matters public and private, before we set out to battle and the arrangement of the army.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:χώρει σὺ καὶ κόμιζε τὸν ΜενοικέωςΚρέοντʼ, ἀδελφὸν μητρὸς Ἰοκάστης ἐμῆς,λέγων τάδʼ, ὡς οἰκεῖα καὶ κοινὰ χθονὸςθέλω πρὸς αὐτὸν συμβαλεῖν βουλεύματα,πρὶν ἐς μάχην τε καὶ δορὸς τάξιν μολεῖν.
But he is here, saving you the trouble; I see him on his way to my house.
καίτοι ποδῶν σῶν μόχθον ἐκλύει παρών·ὁρῶ γὰρ αὐτὸν πρὸς δόμους στείχοντʼ ἐμούς.
Creon:I have been everywhere, lord Eteocles, in my desire to see you, and have gone all round the gates and sentinels of Thebes hunting for you.
Κρέων:ἦ πόλλʼ ἐπῆλθον εἰσιδεῖν χρῄζων σʼ, ἄναξἘτεόκλεες, πέριξ δὲ Καδμείων πύλαςφυλακάς τʼ ἐπῆλθον σὸν δέμας θηρώμενος.
Eteocles:And I wanted to see you, Creon; for I found the terms of peace far from satisfactory, when I came to confer with Polyneices.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:καὶ μὴν ἐγὼ σʼ ἔχρῃζον εἰσιδεῖν, Κρέον·πολλῷ γὰρ ηὗρον ἐνδεεῖς διαλλαγάςὡς ἐς λόγους συνῆψα Πολυνείκει μολών.
Creon:I hear that he has wider aims than Thebes, relying on his alliance with Adrastus and his army. But we must leave this dependent on the gods;
Κρέων:ἤκουσα μεῖζον αὐτὸν ἢ Θήβας φρονεῖν,κήδει τʼ Ἀδράστου καὶ στρατῷ πεποιθότα.
I have come to tell you our chief obstacle.Eteocles:What is that? I do not understand what you say.
ἀλλʼ ἐς θεοὺς χρὴ ταῦτʼ ἀναρτήσαντʼ ἔχειν·ἃ δʼ ἐμποδὼν μάλιστα, ταῦθʼ ἥκω φράσων.Ἐτεοκλῆς:τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα; τὸν λόγον γὰρ ἀγνοῶ.
Creon:Someone has come who was captured from the Argives.
Κρέων:ἥκει τις αἰχμάλωτος Ἀργείων πάρα.
Eteocles:What news does he bring from there?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:λέγει δὲ δὴ τί τῶν ἐκεῖ νεώτερον;
Creon:He says the Argive army intend at once to wind about [the city of Thebes and its towers, with their army.]
Κρέων:μέλλειν [πέριξ πύργοισι Καδμείων πόλιν][ὅπλοις] ἑλίξειν αὐτίκʼ Ἀργείων στρατόν.
Eteocles:In that case the city of Cadmus must lead out its army.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ἐξοιστέον τἄρʼ ὅπλα Καδμείων πόλει.
Creon:Where? Are you so young that your eyes do not see what they should?
Κρέων:ποῖ; μῶν νεάζων οὐχ ὁρᾷς ἃ χρή σʼ ὁρᾶν;
Eteocles:Across those trenches, to fight at once.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ἐκτὸς τάφρων τῶνδʼ, ὡς μαχουμένους τάχα.
Creon:Our forces are small, while theirs are plentiful.
Κρέων:σμικρὸν τὸ πλῆθος τῆσδε γῆς, οἳ δʼ ἄφθονοι.
Eteocles:I know well they are brave in argument.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ἐγᾦδα κείνους τοῖς λόγοις ὄντας θρασεῖς.
Creon:Argos has some weight among the Hellenes.
Κρέων:ἔχει τινʼ ὄγκον τἄργος Ἑλλήνων πάρα.
Eteocles:Never fear! I will soon fill the plain with their dead.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:θάρσει· τάχʼ αὐτῶν πεδίον ἐμπλήσω φόνου.
Creon:I could wish it so; but I see great difficulties in this.
Κρέων:θέλοιμʼ ἄν· ἀλλὰ τοῦθʼ ὁρῶ πολλοῦ πόνου.
Eteocles:I will not keep my army within the walls.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ὡς οὐ καθέξω τειχέων ἔσω στρατόν.
Creon:And yet victory is entirely a matter of good counsel.
Κρέων:καὶ μὴν τὸ νικᾶν ἐστι πᾶν εὐβουλία.
Eteocles:Do you then want me to turn to some other way?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:βούλῃ τράπωμαι δῆθʼ ὁδοὺς ἄλλας τινάς;
Creon:Yes, to every one, before running the risk once for all.
Κρέων:πάσας γε, πρὶν κίνδυνον εἰς ἅπαξ μολεῖν.
Eteocles:Suppose we fall on them by night from ambush?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:εἰ νυκτὸς αὐτοῖς προσβάλοιμεν ἐκ λόχου;
Creon:Yes, if in the event of defeat you can return safely here.
Κρέων:εἴπερ σφαλείς γε δεῦρο σωθήσῃ πάλιν.
Eteocles:Night equalizes risks, though it rather favors daring.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ἴσον φέρει νύξ, τοῖς δὲ τολμῶσιν πλέον.
Creon:The darkness of night is a terrible time to suffer disaster.
Κρέων:ἐνδυστυχῆσαι δεινὸν εὐφρόνης κνέφας.
Eteocles:Well, shall I attack them as they sit at dinner?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ δεῖπνον οὖσι προσβάλω δόρυ;
Creon:That might cause them fright, but victory is what we need.
Κρέων:ἔκπληξις ἂν γένοιτο· νικῆσαι δὲ δεῖ.
Eteocles:Dirce’s ford is certainly deep enough to prevent their retreat.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:βαθύς γέ τοι Διρκαῖος ἀναχωρεῖν πόρος.
Creon:No plan so good as to keep well guarded.
Κρέων:ἅπαν κάκιον τοῦ φυλάσσεσθαι καλῶς.
Eteocles:What if we ride out against the army of Argos?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:τί δʼ, εἰ καθιππεύσαιμεν Ἀργείων στρατόν;
Creon:Their troops too are fenced all round with chariots.
Κρέων:κἀκεῖ πέφρακται λαὸς ἅρμασιν πέριξ.
Eteocles:What shall I do, then? Am I to surrender the city to the enemy?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:τί δῆτα δράσω; πολεμίοισι δῶ πόλιν;
Creon:No indeed! But out of your wisdom form some plan.
Κρέων:μὴ δῆτα· βουλεύου δʼ, ἐπείπερ εἶ σοφός.
Eteocles:What forethought is wiser than mine?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:τίς οὖν πρόνοια γίγνεται σοφωτέρα;
Creon:They have seven men, I hear—
Κρέων:ἕπτʼ ἄνδρας αὐτοῖς φασιν, ὡς ἤκουσʼ ἐγώ —
Eteocles:What is their appointed task? their might is small.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:τί προστετάχθαι δρᾶν; τὸ γὰρ σθένος βραχύ.
Creon:... To attack the seven gates.
Κρέων:λόχων ἀνάσσειν ἑπτὰ προσκεῖσθαι πύλαις.
Eteocles:What are we to do then? I will not wait till every chance is gone.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:τί δῆτα δρῶμεν; ἀπορίαν γὰρ οὐ μενῶ.
Creon:You also choose seven men to set against them at the gates.
Κρέων:ἕπτʼ ἄνδρας αὐτοῖς καὶ σὺ πρὸς πύλαις ἑλοῦ.
Eteocles:To lead our companies, or to fight single-handed?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:λόχων ἀνάσσειν ἢ μονοστόλου δορός;
Creon:To lead; choose the very bravest ones.
Κρέων:λόχων, προκρίνας οἵπερ ἀλκιμώτατοι.
Eteocles:I understand; to repel attempts at scaling our walls.
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ξυνῆκʼ· ἀμύνειν τειχέων προσαμβάσεις.
Creon:With others to share the command, for one man doesn’t see everything.
Κρέων:καὶ ξυστρατήγους ⟨γʼ⟩· εἷς δʼ ἀνὴρ οὐ πάνθʼ ὁρᾷ.
Eteocles:Selecting them for courage or thoughtful prudence?
Ἐτεοκλῆς:θάρσει προκρίνας ἢ φρενῶν εὐβουλίᾳ;
Creon:Both; for one is nothing without the other.
Κρέων:ἀμφότερον· ἀπολειφθὲν γὰρ οὐδὲν θάτερον.
Eteocles:It shall be done; I will go to our seven towers and post captains at the gates, as you say,pitting them man for man against the enemy. To tell each one’s name is a great waste of time, when the enemy are camped beneath our very walls. But I will go, that my hands may no longer hang idle. And may I find my brother face to face,meet him in battle and kill him with my spear [and kill him, for coming to waste my country!] But if I suffer any misfortune, you must see to the marriage between Antigone, my sister and Haemon, your son; and now, as I take my leave,I ratify their previous betrothal. You are my mother’s brother, no need to speak at length. Take care of her as she deserves, both for your own sake and mine. As for my father, he has been guilty of folly against himself in putting out his eyes; I have small praise for him;
Ἐτεοκλῆς:ἔσται τάδʼ· ἐλθὼν ἑπτάπυργον ἐς πόλιντάξω λοχαγοὺς πρὸς πύλαισιν, ὡς λέγεις,ἴσους ἴσοισι πολεμίοισιν ἀντιθείς.ὄνομα δʼ ἑκάστου διατριβὴ πολλὴ λέγειν,ἐχθρῶν ὑπʼ αὐτοῖς τείχεσιν καθημένων.ἀλλʼ εἶμʼ, ὅπως ἂν μὴ καταργῶμεν χέρα.καί μοι γένοιτʼ ἀδελφὸν ἀντήρη λαβεῖνκαὶ ξυσταθέντα διὰ μάχης ἑλεῖν δορί.[κτανεῖν θʼ, ὃς ἦλθε πατρίδα πορθήσων ἐμήν.]γάμους δʼ ἀδελφῆς Ἀντιγόνης παιδός τε σοῦΑἵμονος, ἐάν τι τῆς τύχης ἐγὼ σφαλῶ,σοὶ χρὴ μέλεσθαι· τὴν δόσιν δʼ ἐχέγγυοντὴν πρόσθε ποιῶ νῦν ἐπʼ ἐξόδοις ἐμαῖς.μητρὸς δʼ ἀδελφὸς εἶ· τί δεῖ μακρηγορεῖν;τρέφʼ ἀξίως νιν σοῦ τε τήν τʼ ἐμὴν χάριν.πατὴρ δʼ ἐς αὑτὸν ἀμαθίαν ὀφλισκάνει,ὄψιν τυφλώσας· οὐκ ἄγαν σφʼ ἐπῄνεσα·
by his curses it may be that he will slay us too.
ἡμᾶς δʼ ἀραῖσιν, ἢν τύχῃ, κατακτενεῖ.
One thing we still have to do: ask Teiresias, the seer, if he has anything to say of heaven’s will. I will send your son Menoeceus, who bears your father’s name,to fetch Teiresias here, Creon; for he will readily converse with you, but I have before now so scorned his prophetic art to his face, that he has reasons to reproach me. This commandment, Creon, I lay upon the city and you:
ἓν δʼ ἐστὶν ἡμῖν ἀργόν, εἴ τι θέσφατονοἰωνόμαντις Τειρεσίας ἔχει φράσαι,τοῦδʼ ἐκπυθέσθαι ταῦτʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ παῖδα σὸνΜενοικέα, σοῦ πατρὸς αὐτεπώνυμον,λαβόντα πέμψω δεῦρο Τειρεσίαν, Κρέον·σοὶ μὲν γὰρ ἡδὺς ἐς λόγους ἀφίξεται,ἐγὼ δὲ τέχνην μαντικὴν ἐμεμψάμηνἤδη πρὸς αὐτόν, ὥστε μοι μομφὰς ἔχειν.πόλει δὲ καὶ σοὶ ταῦτʼ ἐπισκήπτω, Κρέον·
if my cause should prevail, never give Polyneices’ corpse a grave in Theban soil, and let the one who buries him die, even if it is a friend. [This I say to you; and this to my servants] Bring out my weapons and armor,so that I may start at once for the appointed combat, with justice to lead to victory. We will pray to Caution, the most useful goddess, to save our city. Exit Eteocles.
ἤνπερ κρατήσῃ τἀμά, Πολυνείκους νέκυνμήποτε ταφῆναι τῇδε Θηβαίᾳ χθονί,θνῄσκειν δὲ τὸν θάψαντα, κἂν φίλων τις ᾖ.[σοὶ μὲν τάδʼ εἶπον· προσπόλοις δʼ ἐμοῖς λέγω·]ἐκφέρετε τεύχη πάνοπλά τʼ ἀμφιβλήματα,ὡς εἰς ἀγῶνα τὸν προκείμενον δορὸςὁρμώμεθʼ ἤδη ξὺν δίκῃ νικηφόρῳ.τῇ δʼ Εὐλαβείᾳ, χρησιμωτάτῃ θεῶν,προσευχόμεσθα τήνδε διασῷσαι πόλιν.
Chorus:O Ares, god of much suffering! Why, why are you possessed by a love of blood anddeath, out of harmony with the festivals of Bromius? Not for young girls crowned in the lovely dance do you toss your curls, singing to the flute’s breath a song to charm the dancers’ feet; no, with warriors clad in armor you inspire the Argive army with a lustfor Theban blood, leading your revels that are held without music. Nor do you rush with wild waving of the thyrsus, clad in fawnskin, but with chariots and horses you go to the waters of Ismenus, inspiring the Argiveswith hatred for the Spartans, arraying in bronze armor against these stone-built walls a band of warriors and their shields.Truly Strife is a goddess to fear, who devised these troubles for the princes of this land,for the much-suffering sons of Labdacus.
Χορός:ὦ πολύμοχθος Ἄρης, τί ποθʼ αἵματικαὶ θανάτῳ κατέχῃ Βρομίου παράμουσος ἑορταῖς;οὐκ ἐπὶ καλλιχόροις στεφάνοισι νεάνιδος ὥραςβόστρυχον ἀμπετάσας λωτοῦ κατὰ πνεύματα μέλπῃμοῦσαν, ἐν ᾇ χάριτες χοροποιοί,ἀλλὰ σὺν ὁπλοφόροις στρατὸν Ἀργείων ἐπιπνεύσαςαἵματι Θήβαςκῶμον ἀναυλότατον προχορεύεις.οὐδʼ ὑπὸ θυρσομανεῖ νεβρίδων μέτα δίνᾳ,ἅρμασι καὶ ψαλίων τετραβάμοσι μωνυχοπώλωνἱππείαις ἐπὶ χεύμασι βαίνωνἸσμηνοῖο θοάζεις, Ἀργείοις ἐπιπνεύσαςΣπαρτῶν γένναν,ἀσπιδοφέρμονα θίασον ἐνόπλιον,ἀντίπαλον κατὰ λάινα τείχεαχαλκῷ κοσμήσας.ἦ δεινά τις Ἔρις θεός, ἃ τάδεμήσατο πήματα γᾶς βασιλεῦσιν,Λαβδακίδαις πολυμόχθοις.
Chorus:O snow-capped Cithaeron, dear to Artemis, holy vale of leaves, crowded with wild animals, would that you had never reared the one exposed to die, Oedipus, Jocasta’s child, when as a baby he was cast forth from his home,marked with a golden brooch; and would that the Sphinx, that winged maid, monster from the hills, had never come as a grief to our land with her inharmonious songs, she that once drew near our walls and snatched the sons of Cadmus away in her taloned feet to the untrodden light of heaven,sent by Hades from hell to plague the men of Thebes; once more unhappy strife is coming into bloom between the sons of Oedipus in home and city. For never can wrong be right,nor can there be good in unlawful children, their mother’s birth pangs, their father’s pollution; she came to the bed of her son....
Χορός:ὦ ζαθέων πετάλων πολυθηρότα-τον νάπος, Ἀρτέμιδος χιονοτρόφον ὄμμα Κιθαιρών,μήποτε τὸν θανάτῳ προτεθέντα, λόχευμʼ Ἰοκάστας,ὤφελες Οἰδιπόδαν θρέψαι, βρέφος ἔκβολον οἴκων,χρυσοδέτοις περόναις ἐπίσαμον·μηδὲ τὸ παρθένιον πτερόν, οὔρειον τέρας, ἐλθεῖνπένθεα γαίαςΣφιγγὸς ἀμουσοτάταισι σὺν ᾠδαῖς,ἅ ποτε Καδμογενῆ τετραβάμοσι χαλαῖςτείχεσι χριμπτομένα φέρεν αἰθέρος εἰς ἄβατον φῶςγένναν, ἃν ὁ κατὰ χθονὸς ἍιδαςΚαδμείοις ἐπιπέμπει· δυσδαίμων δʼ ἔρις ἄλλαθάλλει παίδωνΟἰδιπόδα κατὰ δώματα καὶ πόλιν.οὐ γὰρ ὃ μὴ καλὸν οὔποτʼ ἔφυ καλόν,οὐδʼ οἱ μὴ νόμιμοιπαῖδες ματρὶ λόχευμα, μίασμα πατρός·ἣ δὲ συναίμονος ἐς λέχος ἦλθεν.…
Chorus:O Earth, you once bore—as I heard, I heard the story told by foreigners once in my own home—you borea race which sprang of the teeth of a snake with blood-red crest, that fed on beasts, to be the glory and reproach of Thebes.
Χορός:ἔτεκες, ὦ Γαῖʼ, ἔτεκές ποτε,βάρβαρον ὡς ἀκοὰν ἐδάην ἐδάην ποτʼ ἐν οἴκοις,τὰν ἀπὸ θηροτρόφου φοινικολόφοιο δράκοντοςγένναν ὀδοντοφυῆ, Θήβαις κάλλιστον ὄνειδος·
In days gone by the sons of heaven came to the wedding of Harmonia, and the walls and towers of Thebes rose to the sound of Amphion’s lyre,in the midst between the double streams where Dirce waters the grass-green field before Ismenus; and Io, our horned ancestress, was mother of the kings of Thebes;thus our city, through an endless succession of various blessings, has set herself upon the heights, crowned with the glory of war.
Ἁρμονίας δέ ποτʼ εἰς ὑμεναίουςἤλυθον οὐρανίδαι, φόρμιγγί τε τείχεα Θήβαςτᾶς Ἀμφιονίας τε λύρας ὕπο πύργος ἀνέσταδιδύμων ποταμῶν πόρον ἀμφὶ μέσον,Δίρκα χλοεροτρόφον ᾇ πεδίονπρόπαρ Ἰσμηνοῦ καταδεύει·Ἰώ θʼ, ἁ κερόεσσα προμάτωρ,Καδμείων βασιλῆας ἐγείνατο,μυριάδας δʼ ἀγαθῶν ἑτέροις ἑτέ-ρας μεταμειβομένα πόλις ἅδʼ ἐπʼ ἄκροις ἕστακʼἈρηΐοις στεφάνοισιν.
Teiresias:led in by his daughter. Lead on, my daughter; for you are an eyeto my blind feet, as a star is to sailors; lead my steps on to level ground; then go before, so that I do not stumble, for your father has no strength; keep safe for me in your maiden hand the auguries I took when I observed omens from birds,seated in my holy prophet’s chair. Tell me, Menoeceus, son of Creon, how much further toward the city is it, to your father? For my knees grow weary, I have come a long way and can scarcely go on.
Τειρεσίας:ἡγοῦ πάροιθε, θύγατερ· ὡς τυφλῷ ποδὶὀφθαλμὸς εἶ σύ, ναυβάταισιν ἄστρον ὥς·δεῦρʼ ἐς τὸ λευρὸν πέδον ἴχνος τιθεῖσʼ ἐμόν,πρόβαινε, μὴ σφαλῶμεν· ἀσθενὴς πατήρ·κλήρους τέ μοι φύλασσε παρθένῳ χερί,οὓς ἔλαβον οἰωνίσματʼ ὀρνίθων μαθὼνθάκοισιν ἐν ἱεροῖσιν, οὗ μαντεύομαι.τέκνον Μενοικεῦ, παῖ Κρέοντος, εἰπέ μοιπόση τις ἡ ʼπίλοιπος ἄστεως ὁδὸςπρὸς πατέρα τὸν σόν· ὡς ἐμὸν κάμνει γόνυ,πυκνὴν δὲ βαίνων ἤλυσιν μόλις περῶ.
Creon:Take heart, Teiresias, for you have reached your harbor and are near your friends; take him by the hand, my child; for just as every chariot has to wait for outside help to lighten it, so does the step of old age.
Κρέων:θάρσει· πέλας γάρ, Τειρεσία, φίλοισι σοῖςἐξώρμισαι σὸν πόδα· λαβοῦ δʼ αὐτοῦ, τέκνον·ὡς πᾶσʼ ἀπήνη πούς τε πρεσβύτου φιλεῖχειρὸς θυραίας ἀναμένειν κουφίσματα.
Teiresias:Enough; I have arrived; why, Creon, do you summon me so urgently?
Τειρεσίας:εἶἑν, πάρεσμεν· τί με καλεῖς σπουδῇ, Κρέον;
Creon:I have not forgotten that; but first collect your strength and regain your breath, shaking off the fatigue of your journey.
Κρέων:οὔπω λελήσμεθʼ· ἀλλὰ σύλλεξαι σθένοςκαὶ πνεῦμʼ ἄθροισον, αἶπος ἐκβαλὼν ὁδοῦ.
Teiresias:I am indeed worn out, for I arrived here only yesterday from the court of the Erechtheidae; they too were at war, fighting with Eumolpus.I gave the victory to Cecrops’ sons, and I received this golden crown, as you see, the first-fruits of the enemy’s spoils.
Τειρεσίας:κόπῳ παρεῖμαι γοῦν Ἐρεχθειδῶν ἄποδεῦρʼ ἐκκομισθεὶς τῆς πάροιθεν ἡμέρας·κἀκεῖ γὰρ ἦν τις πόλεμος Εὐμόλπου δορός,οὗ καλλινίκους Κεκροπίδας ἔθηκʼ ἐγώ·καὶ τόνδε χρυσοῦν στέφανον, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἔχωλαβὼν ἀπαρχὰς πολεμίων σκυλευμάτων.
Creon:I take your crown of victory as an omen. We, as you know, are exposed to the wavesof war with the Danaids, and great is the struggle for Thebes. Eteocles, our king, is already gone in full armor to meet Mycenae’s champions; and he has bidden me inquire of you our best course to save the city.
Κρέων:οἰωνὸν ἐθέμην καλλίνικα σὰ στέφη·ἐν γὰρ κλύδωνι κείμεθʼ, ὥσπερ οἶσθα σύ,δορὸς Δαναϊδῶν, καὶ μέγας Θήβαις ἀγών.βασιλεὺς μὲν οὖν βέβηκε κοσμηθεὶς ὅπλοιςἤδη πρὸς ἀλκὴν Ἐτεοκλῆς Μυκηνίδα·ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐπέσταλκʼ ἐκμαθεῖν σέθεν πάρα,τί δρῶντες ἂν μάλιστα σώσαιμεν πόλιν.
Teiresias:For Eteocles I would have closed my lips and refrained from all response, but to you I will speak, since it is your wish to learn. This country, Creon, has been long afflicted, ever since Laius became a father against the will of the gods, begetting hapless Oedipus to be his own mother’s husband.
Τειρεσίας:Ἐτεοκλέους μὲν οὕνεκʼ ἂν κλῄσας στόμαχρησμοὺς ἐπέσχον· σοὶ δʼ, ἐπεὶ χρῄζεις μαθεῖν,λέξω. νοσεῖ γὰρ ἥδε γῆ πάλαι, Κρέον,ἐξ οὗ ʼτεκνώθη Λάιος βίᾳ θεῶνπόσιν τʼ ἔφυσε μητρὶ μέλεον Οἰδίπουν·
That bloody destruction of his eyes was planned by the gods as an example to Hellas; and the sons of Oedipus went foolishly astray in wishing to throw over it the veil of time—as if they could outrun the gods! For by robbing their father of his due honorand allowing him no freedom, they exasperated the poor sufferer; so he, suffering and disgraced as well, breathed dreadful curses against them. And I, because I left nothing undone or unsaid, incurred the hatred of the sons of Oedipus.
αἵ θʼ αἱματωποὶ δεργμάτων διαφθοραὶθεῶν σόφισμα κἀπίδειξις Ἑλλάδι.ἃ συγκαλύψαι παῖδες Οἰδίπου χρόνῳχρῄζοντες, ὡς δὴ θεοὺς ὑπεκδραμούμενοι,ἥμαρτον ἀμαθῶς· οὔτε γὰρ γέρα πατρὶοὔτʼ ἔξοδον διδόντες, ἄνδρα δυστυχῆἐξηγρίωσαν· ἐκ δʼ ἔπνευσʼ αὐτοῖς ἀρὰςδεινάς, νοσῶν τε καὶ πρὸς ἠτιμασμένος.ἁγὼ τί ⟨οὐ⟩ δρῶν, ποῖα δʼ οὐ λέγων ἔπηἐς ἔχθος ἦλθον παισὶ τοῖσιν Οἰδίπου;
But death inflicted by each other’s hands awaits them, Creon; and the many heaps of the slain, some from Argive, some from Theban spears, shall cause bitter lamentation in the land of Thebes. Alas for you, poor city, you are being involved in their ruin,unless I can persuade one man. The best course was to prevent any child of Oedipus becoming either citizen or king in this land, on the ground that they were under a ban and would overthrow the city. But since evil has the mastery of good, there isone other means of safety; but—for it is unsafe for me to tell, and painful too for those whose fortune it is to supply their city with the saving cure—I will go away. Farewell; among the restI will endure what is to come, if I must; for what else can I do?
ἐγγὺς δὲ θάνατος αὐτόχειρ αὐτοῖς, Κρέον·πολλοὶ δὲ νεκροὶ περὶ νεκροῖς πεπτωκότεςἈργεῖα καὶ Καδμεῖα μείξαντες βέληπικροὺς γόους δώσουσι Θηβαίᾳ χθονί.σύ τʼ ὦ τάλαινα συγκατασκάπτῃ πόλι,εἰ μὴ λόγοισι τοῖς ἐμοῖς τὶς πείσεται.ἐκεῖνο μὲν γὰρ πρῶτον ἦν, τῶν Οἰδίπουμηδένα πολίτην μηδʼ ἄνακτʼ εἶναι χθονός,ὡς δαιμονῶντας κἀνατρέψοντας πόλιν.ἐπεὶ δὲ κρεῖσσον τὸ κακόν ἐστι τἀγαθοῦ,μίʼ ἔστιν ἄλλη μηχανὴ σωτηρίας.ἀλλʼ — οὐ γὰρ εἰπεῖν οὔτʼ ἐμοὶ τόδʼ ἀσφαλὲςπικρόν τε τοῖσι τὴν τύχην κεκτημένοιςπόλει παρασχεῖν φάρμακον σωτηρίας —ἄπειμι. χαίρεθʼ· εἷς γὰρ ὢν πολλῶν μέτατὸ μέλλον, εἰ χρή, πείσομαι· τί γὰρ πάθω;
Creon:Stay here, old man.
Κρέων:ἐπίσχες αὐτοῦ, πρέσβυ.
Teiresias:Do not catch hold of me.
Τειρεσίας:μὴ ʼπιλαμβάνου.
Creon:Wait; why do you try to escape?
Κρέων:μεῖνον, τί φεύγεις;
Teiresias:It is your fortune that tries to escape you, not I.
Τειρεσίας:ἡ τύχη σʼ, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγώ.
Creon:Tell me what can save Thebes and her citizens.
Κρέων:φράσον πολίταις καὶ πόλει σωτηρίαν.
Teiresias:Though you want this now, you will not want it soon.
Τειρεσίας:βούλῃ σὺ μέντοι κοὐχὶ βουλήσῃ τάχα.
Creon:Not wish to save my country? how can that be?
Κρέων:καὶ πῶς πατρῴαν γαῖαν οὐ σῷσαι θέλω;
Teiresias:Do you really wish to hear it, eagerly?
Τειρεσίας:θέλεις ἀκοῦσαι δῆτα καὶ σπουδὴν ἔχεις;
Creon:Yes; for where should I show greater zeal?
Κρέων:ἐς γὰρ τί μᾶλλον δεῖ προθυμίαν ἔχειν;
Teiresias:Then you will presently hear my prophetic words. But first I would know for certainwhere Menoeceus is, who led me here.
Τειρεσίας:κλύοις ἂν ἤδη τῶν ἐμῶν θεσπισμάτων.πρῶτον δʼ ἐκεῖνο βούλομαι σαφῶς μαθεῖν,ποῦ ʼστιν Μενοικεύς, ὅς με δεῦρʼ ἐπήγαγεν;
Creon:Here, not far away, but at your side.
Κρέων:ὅδʼ οὐ μακρὰν ἄπεστι, πλησίον δὲ σοῦ.
Teiresias:Let him go far from my prophecies.
Τειρεσίας:ἀπελθέτω νυν θεσφάτων ἐμῶν ἑκάς.
Creon:He is my own son and will be silent as he ought.
Κρέων:ἐμὸς πεφυκὼς παῖς ἃ δεῖ σιγήσεται.
Teiresias:Do you want me to tell you in his presence?
Τειρεσίας:βούλῃ παρόντος δῆτά σοι τούτου φράσω;
Creon:Yes, for he will rejoice to hear the means of safety.
Κρέων:κλύων γὰρ ἂν τέρποιτο τῆς σωτηρίας.
Teiresias:Then hear the intent of my oracle; [if you observe it, you will save the city of Cadmus] you must sacrifice Menoeceus, your son here, for your country, since you yourself are calling on fate.
Τειρεσίας:ἄκουε δή νυν θεσφάτων ἐμῶν ὁδόν·[ἃ δρῶντες ἂν σώσαιτε Καδμείων πόλιν]σφάξαι Μενοικέα τόνδε δεῖ σʼ ὑπὲρ πάτρας,σὸν παῖδʼ, ἐπειδὴ τὴν τύχην αὐτὸς καλεῖς.
Creon:What do you mean? What is this you have said, old man?
Κρέων:τί φῄς; τίνʼ εἶπας τόνδε μῦθον, ὦ γέρον;
Teiresias:I have said what is, and you must do it.
Τειρεσίας:ἅπερ πέφυκε, ταῦτα κἀνάγκη σὲ δρᾶν.
Creon:O great evil, spoken so briefly!
Κρέων:ὦ πολλὰ λέξας ἐν βραχεῖ χρόνῳ κακά.
Teiresias:Evil to you, but to your country great salvation.
Τειρεσίας:σοί γʼ, ἀλλὰ πατρίδι μεγάλα καὶ σωτήρια.
Creon:I did not hear; I never listened; I renounce my city!
Κρέων:οὐκ ἔκλυον, οὐκ ἤκουσα· χαιρέτω πόλις.
Teiresias:The man is no longer himself; he is drawing back.
Τειρεσίας:ἁνὴρ ὅδʼ οὐκέθʼ αὑτός· ἐκνεύει πάλιν.
Creon:Go in peace; it is not your prophecy I need.
Κρέων:χαίρων ἴθʼ· οὐ γὰρ σῶν με δεῖ μαντευμάτων.
Teiresias:Is truth dead, because you are unfortunate?
Τειρεσίας:ἀπόλωλεν ἡ ἀλήθειʼ, ἐπεὶ σὺ δυστυχεῖς;
Creon:By your knees and gray hair—
Κρέων:ὦ πρός σε γονάτων καὶ γερασμίου τριχὸς —
Teiresias:Why implore me? You are demanding evils that are hard to prevent.
Τειρεσίας:τί προσπίτνεις με; δυσφύλακτʼ αἰτῇ κακά.
Creon:Be silent; do not tell the city your news.
Κρέων:σίγα· πόλει δὲ τούσδε μὴ λέξῃς λόγους.
Teiresias:You bid me to act unjustly; I cannot be silent.
Τειρεσίας:ἀδικεῖν κελεύεις μʼ· οὐ σιωπήσαιμεν ἄν.
Creon:What will you do to me? Kill my child?
Κρέων:τί δή με δράσεις; παῖδά μου κατακτενεῖς;
Teiresias:That is for others to decide; it is for me to speak.
Τειρεσίας:ἄλλοις μελήσει ταῦτʼ, ἐμοὶ δʼ εἰρήσεται.
Creon:How did this curse come on me and my son?
Κρέων:ἐκ τοῦ δʼ ἐμοὶ τόδʼ ἦλθε καὶ τέκνῳ κακόν;
Teiresias:You do right to ask me and to test what I have said. In the chamber where the earth-born dragon kept watch over Dirce’s springs, he must be offered as a sacrifice and shed his blood on the ground, a libation of Cadmus, because of the ancient wrath of Ares,who now avenges the slaughter of his earth-born snake. If you do this, you shall win Ares as an ally. If the earth receives fruit for fruit and human blood for blood, you shall find her kind to you again, who oncesent up to us a crop of Sown-men with golden helmets; for one of those born from the dragon’s teeth must die.
Τειρεσίας:ὀρθῶς μʼ ἐρωτᾷς κεἰς ἀγῶνʼ ἔρχῃ λόγων.δεῖ τόνδε θαλάμαις, οὗ δράκων ὁ γηγενὴςἐγένετο Δίρκης ναμάτων ἐπίσκοπος,σφαγέντα φόνιον αἷμα γῇ δοῦναι χοὰςΚάδμου, παλαιῶν Ἄρεος ἐκ μηνιμάτων,ὃς γηγενεῖ δράκοντι τιμωρεῖ φόνον.καὶ ταῦτα δρῶντες σύμμαχον κτήσεσθʼ Ἄρη.χθὼν δʼ ἀντὶ καρποῦ καρπὸν ἀντί θʼ αἵματοςαἷμʼ ἢν λάβῃ βρότειον, ἕξετʼ εὐμενῆγῆν, ἥ ποθʼ ἡμῖν χρυσοπήληκα στάχυνσπαρτῶν ἀνῆκεν· ἐκ γένους δὲ δεῖ θανεῖντοῦδʼ, ὃς δράκοντος γένυος ἐκπέφυκε παῖς.
Now you are our only survivor of the Sown race, pure-blooded both on your mother’s and your father’s side, you and your sons. Haemon’s marriageholds him back from the slaughter, for he is no longer single; even if he has not consummated his marriage, yet he is betrothed. But this tender youth, consecrated to his city, might by dying rescue his country; and bitter will he make the return of Adrastus and his Argives,flinging over their eyes a black spirit of death, and he will glorify Thebes. Choose one of these two destinies: either save the city or your son.
σὺ δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἡμῖν λοιπὸς εἶ σπαρτῶν γένουςἀκέραιος, ἔκ τε μητρὸς ἀρσένων τʼ ἄπο,οἱ σοί τε παῖδες. Αἵμονος μὲν οὖν γάμοισφαγὰς ἀπείργουσʼ. οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ᾔθεος·κεἰ μὴ γὰρ εὐνῆς ἥψατʼ, ἀλλʼ ἔχει λέχος.οὗτος δὲ πῶλος τῇδʼ ἀνειμένος πόλειθανὼν πατρῴαν γαῖαν ἐκσώσειεν ἄν.πικρὸν δʼ Ἀδράστῳ νόστον Ἀργείοισί τεθήσει, μέλαιναν κῆρʼ ἐπʼ ὄμμασιν βαλών,κλεινάς τε Θήβας. τοῖνδʼ ἑλοῦ δυοῖν πότμοιντὸν ἕτερον· ἢ γὰρ παῖδα σῷσον ἢ πόλιν.
Now you have all that I had to say. Daughter, lead me home. The man who practices the prophet’s artis a fool; for if he happens to give an adverse answer, he makes himself disliked by those for whom he takes the omens; while if he pities and deceives those who are consulting him, he wrongs the gods. Phoebus should have been man’s only prophet, for he fears no one. Exit Teiresias.
τὰ μὲν παρʼ ἡμῶν πάντʼ ἔχεις· ἡγοῦ, τέκνον,πρὸς οἶκον. ὅστις δʼ ἐμπύρῳ χρῆται τέχνῃ,μάταιος· ἢν μὲν ἐχθρὰ σημήνας τύχῃ,πικρὸς καθέστηχʼ οἷς ἂν οἰωνοσκοπῇ·ψευδῆ δʼ ὑπʼ οἴκτου τοῖσι χρωμένοις λέγωνἀδικεῖ τὰ τῶν θεῶν. Φοῖβον ἀνθρώποις μόνονχρῆν θεσπιῳδεῖν, ὃς δέδοικεν οὐδένα.
Chorus Leader:Creon, why are you so silent, without a word? I too am no less amazed.
Χορός:Κρέον, τί σιγᾷς γῆρυν ἄφθογγον σχάσας;κἀμοὶ γὰρ οὐδὲν ἧσσον ἔκπληξις πάρα.
Creon:What can one say? It is clear what my words must be. For I will never come to such misfortune as to devote my son to death for the city;
Κρέων:τί δʼ ἄν τις εἴποι; δῆλον οἵ γʼ ἐμοὶ λόγοι.ἐγὼ γὰρ οὔποτʼ ἐς τόδʼ εἶμι συμφορᾶς,ὥστε σφαγέντα παῖδα προσθεῖναι πόλει.
for all men love their children, and no one would give his own son to die. Let no man praise me, and kill my child at the same time. I myself, for I am in the prime of life, am ready to die to save my country.
πᾶσιν γὰρ ἀνθρώποισι φιλότεκνος βίος,οὐδʼ ἂν τὸν αὑτοῦ παῖδά τις δοίη κτανεῖν.μή μʼ εὐλογείτω τἀμά τις κτείνων τέκνα.αὐτὸς δʼ — ἐν ὡραίῳ γὰρ ἕσταμεν βίου —θνῄσκειν ἕτοιμος πατρίδος ἐκλυτήριον.
But come, my son, before the whole city learns this, fly with all haste away from this land, regardless of these prophets’ reckless warnings; for he will tell all this to our rulers and generals [going to the seven gates and the captains];
ἀλλʼ εἶα, τέκνον, πρὶν μαθεῖν πᾶσαν πόλιν,ἀκόλαστʼ ἐάσας μάντεων θεσπίσματα,φεῦγʼ ὡς τάχιστα τῆσδʼ ἀπαλλαχθεὶς χθονός·λέξει γὰρ ἀρχαῖς καὶ στρατηλάταις τάδε,[πύλας ἐφʼ ἑπτὰ καὶ λοχαγέτας μολών·]
now if we can forestall him, you are saved, but if you are too late, we are ruined and you will die.
κἂν μὲν φθάσωμεν, ἔστι σοι σωτηρία·ἢν δʼ ὑστερήσῃς, οἰχόμεσθα, κατθανῇ.
Menoeceus:Where can I escape? To what city? To which of our guest-friends?
Μενοικεύς:ποῖ δῆτα φεύγω; τίνα πόλιν; τίνα ξένων;
Creon:Where you will be furthest removed from this land.
Κρέων:ὅπου χθονὸς τῆσδʼ ἐκποδὼν μάλιστʼ ἔσῃ.
Menoeceus:It is for you to name a place, for me to carry out your bidding.
Μενοικεύς:οὐκοῦν σὲ φράζειν εἰκός, ἐκπονεῖν δʼ ἐμέ.
Creon:After passing Delphi—
Κρέων:Δελφοὺς περάσας —
Menoeceus:Where must I go, father?
Μενοικεύς:ποῖ με χρή, πάτερ, μολεῖν;
Creon:To Aetolia.
Κρέων:Αἰτωλίδʼ ἐς γῆν.
Menoeceus:And where must I go from there?
Μενοικεύς:ἐκ δὲ τῆσδε ποῖ περῶ;
Creon:To the land of Thesprotia.
Κρέων:Θεσπρωτὸν οὖδας.
Menoeceus:To Dodona’s holy threshold?
Μενοικεύς:σεμνὰ Δωδώνης βάθρα;
Creon:You understand.
Κρέων:ἔγνως.
Menoeceus:What protection will I find there?
Μενοικεύς:τί δὴ τόδʼ ἔρυμά μοι γενήσεται;
Creon:The god will send you on your way.
Κρέων:πόμπιμος ὁ δαίμων.
Menoeceus:How shall I find the means?
Μενοικεύς:χρημάτων δὲ τίς πόρος;
Creon:I will supply you with money.
Κρέων:ἐγὼ πορεύσω χρυσόν.
Menoeceus:A good plan of yours, father. Go now; for I will come to your sister, Jocasta, at whose breast I was suckled when bereft of my mother, a lonely orphan, [to give her greeting and then I will save my life].
Μενοικεύς:εὖ λέγεις, πάτερ.χώρει νυν· ὡς σὴν πρὸς κασιγνήτην μολών,ἧς πρῶτα μαστὸν εἵλκυσʼ, Ἰοκάστην λέγω,μητρὸς στερηθεὶς ὀρφανός τʼ ἀποζυγείς —[προσηγορήσων εἶμι καὶ σῴσων βίον.]
Come, come! be going; it isn’t your part to hinder me. Exit Creon.How cleverly, ladies, I banished my father’s fears by crafty words to gain my end; for he is trying to get me away, depriving the city of its chance and surrendering me to cowardice. Though an old man may be pardoned,yet in my case there is no pardon for betraying the country that gave me birth. Know this, I will go and save the city, and give my life up for this land. For it is shameful: those whom no oracles bindand who have not come under divine necessity, stand there, shoulder to shoulder, with no fear of death, and fight for their country before her towers; while I leave the land like a coward, a traitor to my father and brother and city;wherever I live, I shall seem base.
ἀλλʼ εἶα, χώρει· μὴ τὸ σὸν κωλυέτω. —γυναῖκες, ὡς εὖ πατρὸς ἐξεῖλον φόβον,κλέψας λόγοισιν, ὥσθʼ ἃ βούλομαι τυχεῖν·ὅς μʼ ἐκκομίζει, πόλιν ἀποστερῶν τύχης,καὶ δειλίᾳ δίδωσι. καὶ συγγνωστὰ μὲνγέροντι, τοὐμὸν δʼ οὐχὶ συγγνώμην ἔχει,προδότην γενέσθαι πατρίδος ἥ μʼ ἐγείνατο.ὡς οὖν ἂν εἰδῆτʼ, εἶμι καὶ σῴσω πόλινψυχήν τε δώσω τῆσδʼ ὑπερθανεῖν χθονός.αἰσχρὸν γάρ· οἱ μὲν θεσφάτων ἐλεύθεροικοὐκ εἰς ἀνάγκην δαιμόνων ἀφιγμένοιστάντες παρʼ ἀσπίδʼ οὐκ ὀκνήσουσιν θανεῖν,πύργων πάροιθε μαχόμενοι πάτρας ὕπερ·ἐγὼ δέ, πατέρα καὶ κασίγνητον προδοὺςπόλιν τʼ ἐμαυτοῦ, δειλὸς ὣς ἔξω χθονὸςἄπειμʼ· ὅπου δʼ ἂν ζῶ, κακὸς φανήσομαι.
No, by Zeus and all his stars, by Ares, god of blood, who established the Sown-men that sprung one day from earth as lords of this land! I will go, and standing on the topmost battlements,will sacrifice myself over the dragon’s deep, dark den, the spot the seer described, and will set my country free. I have spoken. Now I go to make the city a present of my life, no mean offering, to rid this kingdom of its affliction.
μὰ τὸν μετʼ ἄστρων Ζῆνʼ Ἄρη τε φοίνιον,ὃς τοὺς ὑπερτείλαντας ἐκ γαίας ποτὲΣπαρτοὺς ἄνακτας τῆσδε γῆς ἱδρύσατο.ἀλλʼ εἶμι καὶ στὰς ἐξ ἐπάλξεων ἄκρωνσφάξας ἐμαυτὸν σηκὸν ἐς μελαμβαθῆδράκοντος, ἔνθʼ ὁ μάντις ἐξηγήσατο,ἐλευθερώσω γαῖαν· εἴρηται λόγος.στείχω δέ, θανάτου δῶρον οὐκ αἰσχρὸν πόλειδώσων, νόσου δὲ τήνδʼ ἀπαλλάξω χθόνα.
For if each were to take and expend all the good within his power, contributing it to the common good of his country, our states would experience fewer troubles and would prosper for the future. Exit Menoeceus.
εἰ γὰρ λαβὼν ἕκαστος ὅ τι δύναιτό τιςχρηστὸν διέλθοι τοῦτο κἀς κοινὸν φέροιπατρίδι, κακῶν ἂν αἱ πόλεις ἐλασσόνωνπειρώμεναι τὸ λοιπὸν εὐτυχοῖεν ἄν.
Chorus:You came, you came, O winged creature, born of earthand hellish viper, to prey upon the sons of Cadmus, full of death, full of sorrow, half a maiden, a murderous monster, with roving wingsand ravening claws; you once caught up youths from the haunts of Dirce, with discordant song,and you brought, you brought a murderous grief, a deadly curse to our native land. A deadly god he was who brought all this to pass. Mourning of mothers, mourning of maidens,filled the houses with groans; a lamenting cry, a lamenting song, one after another wailed out, in turn throughout the city. The roar of the groaningwas like thunder, whenever the winged maiden bore a man out of sight from the city.
Χορός:ἔβας ἔβας,ὦ πτεροῦσσα, γᾶς λόχευμανερτέρου τʼ Ἐχίδνας,Καδμείων ἁρπαγά,πολύφθορος πολύστονοςμειξοπάρθενος,δάιον τέρας,φοιτάσι πτεροῖςχαλαῖσί τʼ ὠμοσίτοις·Διρκαίων ἅ ποτʼ ἐκτόπων νέους πεδαίρουσʼἄλυρον ἀμφὶ μοῦσανὀλομέναν τʼ Ἐρινὺνἔφερες ἔφερες ἄχεα πατρίδιφόνια· φόνιος ἐκ θεῶνὃς τάδʼ ἦν ὁ πράξας.ἰάλεμοι δὲ ματέρων,ἰάλεμοι δὲ παρθένωνἐστέναζον οἴκοις·ἰηιήιον βοάν,ἰηιήιον μέλος,ἄλλος ἄλλʼ ἐπωτότυζεδιαδοχαῖς ἀνὰ πτόλιν.βροντᾷ δὲ στεναγμὸςἀχά τʼ ἦν ὅμοιος,ὁπότε πόλεος ἀφανίσειενἁ πτεροῦσσα παρθένος τινʼ ἀνδρῶν.
Chorus:At last came Oedipus, the man of sorrow, sent from Delphito this land of Thebes, a joy to us then, but afterwards a cause of grief; for, when he guessed the riddle triumphantly, he formed with his mother an unhallowed union, woe to him!polluting the city; and striking down his sons by his curses, he handed them over to loathsome strife, through blood, the wretched man.We admire him, we admire him,who has gone to his death in his country’s cause, leaving tears to Creon, but bringing a crown of victory to our seven fenced towers.
Χορός:χρόνῳ δʼ ἔβαΠυθίαις ἀποστολαῖσινΟἰδίπους ὁ τλάμωνΘηβαίαν τάνδε γᾶντότʼ ἀσμένοις, πάλιν δʼ ἄχη·ματρὶ γὰρ γάμουςδυσγάμους τάλαςκαλλίνικος ὢναἰνιγμάτων συνάπτει,μιαίνει δὲ πτόλιν·διʼ αἱμάτων δʼ ἀμείβειμυσαρὸν εἰς ἀγῶνακαταβαλὼν ἀραῖσιτέκεα μέλεος. ἀγάμεθʼ ἀγάμεθʼ,ὃς ἐπὶ θάνατον οἴχεταιγᾶς ὑπὲρ πατρῴας,Κρέοντι μὲν λιπὼν γόους,τὰ δʼ ἑπτάπυργα κλῇθρα γᾶςκαλλίνικα θήσων.
May we be mothers in this way, may we have such fair children, dear PalIas, you who with well-aimed stone spilled the serpent’s blood, rousing Cadmus to brood upon the task,from which a demon’s curse swooped upon this land and ravaged it.
γενοίμεθʼ ὧδε ματέρεςγενοίμεθʼ εὔτεκνοι, φίλαΠαλλάς, ἃ δράκοντος αἷμαλιθόβολον κατειργάσω,Καδμείαν μέριμνανὁρμήσασʼ ἐπʼ ἔργον,ὅθεν ἐπέσυτο τάνδε γαῖανἁρπαγαῖσι δαιμόνων τις ἄτα.
Messenger:Ho there! Who is at the palace-gates? Open the door, summon Jocasta forth. Ho there! once again I call; in spite of this long delay,come forth; listen, noble wife of Oedipus, cease your lamentation and your tears of woe.
Ἄγγελος:ὠή, τίς ἐν πύλαισι δωμάτων κυρεῖ;ἀνοίγετʼ· ἐκπορεύετʼ Ἰοκάστην δόμων.ὠὴ μάλʼ αὖθις· διὰ μακροῦ μέν, ἀλλʼ ὅμωςἔξελθʼ, ἄκουσον, Οἰδίπου κλεινὴ δάμαρ,λήξασʼ ὀδυρμῶν πενθίμων τε δακρύων.
Jocasta:Surely you have not come, dear friend, with the sad news of Eteocles’ death, beside whose shield you have always marched, warding off from him the enemy’s darts?
Ἰοκάστη:ὦ φίλτατʼ, οὔ που ξυμφορὰν ἥκεις φέρωνἘτεοκλέους θανόντος, οὗ παρʼ ἀσπίδαβέβηκας αἰεὶ πολεμίων εἴργων βέλη;
[What tidings are you here to bring me?] Is my son alive or dead? Tell me.
[τί μοί ποθʼ ἥκεις καινὸν ἀγγελῶν ἔπος;]τέθνηκεν ἢ ζῇ παῖς ἐμός; σήμαινέ μοι.
Messenger:He is alive, do not fear that, so that I may rid you of your terror.
Ἄγγελος:ζῇ, μὴ τρέσῃς τόδʼ, ὥς ⟨σʼ⟩ ἀπαλλάξω φόβου.
Jocasta:Well? How is it with the seven towers that wall us in?
Ἰοκάστη:τί δʼ; ἑπτάπυργοι πῶς ἔχουσι περιβολαί;
Messenger:They stand unshattered; the city is not plundered.
Ἄγγελος:ἑστᾶσʼ ἄθραυστοι, κοὐκ ἀνήρπασται πόλις.
Jocasta:Have they been in jeopardy of the Argive spear?
Ἰοκάστη:ἦλθον δὲ πρὸς κίνδυνον Ἀργείου δορός;
Messenger:Yes, on the very brink; but our Theban warriors proved stronger than Mycenae’s might.
Ἄγγελος:ἀκμήν γʼ ἐπʼ αὐτήν· ἀλλʼ ὁ Καδμείων Ἄρηςκρείσσων κατέστη τοῦ Μυκηναίου δορός.
Jocasta:One thing tell me, by the gods, if you know anything of Polyneices; for this too is my concern, if he is alive.
Ἰοκάστη:ἓν εἰπὲ πρὸς θεῶν, εἴ τι Πολυνείκους πέριοἶσθʼ· ὡς μέλει μοι καὶ τόδʼ, εἰ λεύσσει φάος.
Messenger:As yet your sons are living, the pair of them.
Ἄγγελος:ζῇ σοι ξυνωρὶς ἐς τόδʼ ἡμέρας τέκνων.
Jocasta:God bless you! How did you succeed in beating off from our gates the Argive army, when beleaguered? Tell me, so that I may go within and cheer the old blind man, since our city is still safe.
Ἰοκάστη:εὐδαιμονοίης. πῶς γὰρ Ἀργείων δόρυπυλῶν ἀπεστήσασθε πυργηρούμενοι;λέξον, γέροντα τυφλὸν ὡς κατὰ στέγαςἐλθοῦσα τέρψω, τῆσδε γῆς σεσῳσμένης.
Messenger:After Creon’s son, who gave up his life for his country, had taken his stand on the turret’s top and plunged a dark-hilted sword through his throat to save this land, your son told off seven companies with their captains to the seven gates to keep watch on the Argive warriors,and stationed cavalry to cover cavalry, and infantry to support infantry, so that assistance might be close at hand for any weak point in the walls. Then from our lofty towers we saw the Argive army with their white shields leavingTeumesus, and, when near the trench, they charged up to our Theban city at a run. In one loud burst from their ranks and from our walls rang out the battle-cry and trumpet-call.
Ἄγγελος:ἐπεὶ Κρέοντος παῖς ὁ γῆς ὑπερθανὼνπύργων ἐπʼ ἄκρων στὰς μελάνδετον ξίφοςλαιμῶν διῆκε τῇδε γῇ σωτήριον,λόχους ἔνειμεν ἑπτὰ καὶ λοχαγέταςπύλας ἐφʼ ἑπτά, φύλακας Ἀργείου δορός,σὸς παῖς, ἐφέδρους ⟨δʼ⟩ ἱππότας μὲν ἱππόταιςἔταξʼ, ὁπλίτας δʼ ἀσπιδηφόροις ἔπι,ὡς τῷ νοσοῦντι τειχέων εἴη δορὸςἀλκὴ διʼ ὀλίγου. περγάμων δʼ ἀπʼ ὀρθίωνλεύκασπιν εἰσορῶμεν Ἀργείων στρατὸνΤευμησὸν ἐκλιπόντα, καὶ τάφρου πέλαςδρόμῳ ξυνῆψαν ἄστυ Καδμείας χθονός.παιὰν δὲ καὶ σάλπιγγες ἐκελάδουν ὁμοῦἐκεῖθεν ἔκ τε τειχέων ἡμῶν πάρα.
First to the Neitian gate, Parthenopaeus, son of the huntress,led a company bristling with thick rows of shields, and he had his own device in the centre of his shield: Atalanta slaying the Aetolian boar with an arrow shot from far. To the gates of Proetuscame the prophet Amphiaraus, bringing the victims on a chariot; he had no boastful sign, but weapons chastely plain.
καὶ πρῶτα μὲν προσῆγε Νηίταις πύλαιςλόχον πυκναῖσιν ἀσπίσιν πεφρικόταὁ τῆς κυναγοῦ Παρθενοπαῖος ἔκγονος,ἐπίσημʼ ἔχων οἰκεῖον ἐν μέσῳ σάκει,ἑκηβόλοις τόξοισιν Ἀταλάντην κάπρονχειρουμένην Αἰτωλόν. ἐς δὲ Προιτίδαςπύλας ἐχώρει σφάγιʼ ἔχων ἐφʼ ἅρματιὁ μάντις Ἀμφιάραος, οὐ σημεῖʼ ἔχωνὑβρισμένʼ, ἀλλὰ σωφρόνως ἄσημʼ ὅπλα.
Next lord Hippomedon came marching to the Ogygian gates with this device in the middle of his shield:Argus the all-seeing dappled with eyes on the watch, some open with the rising stars, others hiding when they set, as could be seen after he was slain.
Ὠγύγια δʼ ἐς πυλώμαθʼ Ἱππομέδων ἄναξἔστειχʼ ἔχων σημεῖον ἐν μέσῳ σάκειστικτοῖς Πανόπτην ὄμμασιν δεδορκότα,τὰ μὲν σὺν ἄστρων ἐπιτολαῖσιν ὄμματαβλέποντα, τὰ δὲ κρύπτοντα δυνόντων μέτα,ὡς ὕστερον θανόντος εἰσορᾶν παρῆν.
At the Homoloian gates Tydeus had his post,a lion’s skin with shaggy mane upon his shield, while the Titan Prometheus bore a torch in his right hand, to fire the town.
Ὁμολωίσιν δὲ τάξιν εἶχε πρὸς πύλαιςΤυδεύς, λέοντος δέρος ἔχων ἐπʼ ἀσπίδιχαίτῃ πεφρικός· δεξιᾷ δὲ λαμπάδαΤιτὰν Προμηθεὺς ἔφερεν ὡς πρήσων πόλιν.
Your own Polyneices led the battle against the Fountain gate; upon his shield for a devicewere the colts of Potniae galloping at frantic speed, revolving by some clever contrivance on pivots by the handle, so as to appear distraught.
ὁ σὸς δὲ Κρηναίαισι Πολυνείκης πύλαιςἌρη προσῆγε· Ποτνιάδες δʼ ἐπʼ ἀσπίδιἐπίσημα πῶλοι δρομάδες ἐσκίρτων φόβῳ,εὖ πως στρόφιγξιν ἔνδοθεν κυκλούμεναιπόρπαχʼ ὑπʼ αὐτόν, ὥστε μαίνεσθαι δοκεῖν.
At Electra’s gate Capaneus brought up his company, bold as Ares for the battle;
ὁ δʼ οὐκ ἔλασσον Ἄρεος ἐς μάχην φρονῶνΚαπανεὺς προσῆγε λόχον ἐπʼ Ἠλέκτραις πύλαις·
this device his shield bore upon its iron back: an earth-born giant carrying on his shoulders a whole city which he had wrenched from its base, a hint to us of the fate in store for Thebes.
σιδηρονώτοις δʼ ἀσπίδος τύποις ἐπῆνγίγας ἐπʼ ὤμοις γηγενὴς ὅλην πόλινφέρων μοχλοῖσιν ἐξανασπάσας βάθρων,ὑπόνοιαν ἡμῖν οἷα πείσεται πόλις.
Adrastus was at the seventh gate;a hundred vipers engraved on his shield, [as he bore on his left arm the hydra] the boast of Argos, and serpents were carrying off in their jaws the sons of Thebes from within our very walls. Now I was able to see each of them,as I carried the watch-word along to the leaders of our companies.
ταῖς δʼ ἑβδόμαις Ἄδραστος ἐν πύλαισιν ἦν,ἑκατὸν ἐχίδναις ἀσπίδʼ ἐκπληρῶν γραφῇ,[ὕδρας ἔχων λαιοῖσιν ἐν βραχίοσιν]Ἀργεῖον αὔχημʼ· ἐκ δὲ τειχέων μέσωνδράκοντες ἔφερον τέκνα Καδμείων γνάθοις.παρῆν δʼ ἑκάστου τῶνδέ μοι θεάματαξύνθημα παρφέροντι ποιμέσιν λόχων.
To begin with, we fought with bows and thonged javelins, with slings that shoot from far and crashing stones; and as we were conquering, Tydeus and your son suddenly cried aloud:
καὶ πρῶτα μὲν τόξοισι καὶ μεσαγκύλοιςἐμαρνάμεσθα σφενδόναις θʼ ἑκηβόλοιςπετρῶν τʼ ἀραγμοῖς· ὡς δʼ ἐνικῶμεν μάχῃ,ἔκλαγξε Τυδεὺς καὶ σὸς ἐξαίφνης γόνος·
“You sons of Danaus, before you are torn to pieces by their attack, why delay to fall upon the gates with all your might, light-armed and cavalry and charioteers?” No loitering then, soon as they heard that call; and many fell with bloody head,and many of us you could have seen thrown to the earth like tumblers before the walls, breathing their last, bedewing the dry ground with streams of blood.
ὦ τέκνα Δαναῶν, πρὶν κατεξάνθαι βολαῖς,τί μέλλετʼ ἄρδην πάντες ἐμπίπτειν πύλαις,γυμνῆτες ἱππῆς ἁρμάτων τʼ ἐπιστάται;ἠχῆς δʼ ὅπως ἤκουσαν, οὔτις ἀργὸς ἦν·πολλοὶ δʼ ἔπιπτον κρᾶτας αἱματούμενοι,ἡμῶν τʼ ἐς οὖδας εἶδες ἂν πρὸ τειχέωνπυκνοὺς κυβιστητῆρας ἐκπεπνευκότας·ξηρὰν δʼ ἔδευον γαῖαν αἵματος ῥοαῖς.
Then Atalanta’s son, who was not an Argive but an Arcadian, hurling himself like a hurricane at the gates, called forfire and picks to raze the town; but Periclymenus, son of the ocean-god, stayed his wild career, heaving on his head a wagon-load of stone, the coping from the battlements; and it shattered his head with yellow hair andcrashed through the seams of the skull, dabbling with blood his fresh cheek; and he will never go back alive to his mother with her lovely bow, the maid of Maenalus.
ὁ δʼ Ἀρκάς, οὐκ Ἀργεῖος, Ἀταλάντης γόνοςτυφὼς πύλαισιν ὥς τις ἐμπεσὼν βοᾷπῦρ καὶ δικέλλας, ὡς κατασκάψων πόλιν·ἀλλʼ ἔσχε μαργῶντʼ αὐτὸν ἐναλίου θεοῦΠερικλύμενος παῖς λᾶαν ἐμβαλὼν κάρᾳἁμαξοπληθῆ, γεῖσʼ ἐπάλξεων ἄπο·ξανθὸν δὲ κρᾶτα διεπάλυνε καὶ ῥαφὰςἔρρηξεν ὀστέων, ἄρτι δʼ οἰνωπὸν γένυνκαθῃμάτωσεν· οὐδʼ ἀποίσεται βίοντῇ καλλιτόξῳ μητρὶ Μαινάλου κόρῃ.
Your son then, seeing these gates secure, went on to the next, and I followed him.
ἐπεὶ δὲ τάσδʼ ἐσεῖδεν εὐτυχεῖς πύλας,ἄλλας ἐπῄει παῖς σός, εἱπόμην δʼ ἐγώ.
I saw Tydeus and his thick rows of targeteers hurling their Aetolian spears into the opening at the top of the turrets, so that our men fled and left the battlements; but your son rallied them once more, as a huntsman cheers his hounds,and stationed them at the towers again. And then we hastened to other gates, after stopping the affliction there. As for the madness of Capaneus, how can I describe it? He was going about with a long scaling-ladder, and boastingthat even the holy fire of Zeus would not hold him back from giving the city to utter destruction. And even as he spoke, he climbed up beneath the hail of stones, crouched under the shelter of his shield, rung by smooth rung going up the ladder.
ὁρῶ δὲ Τυδέα καὶ παρασπιστὰς πυκνοὺςΑἰτωλίσιν λόγχαισιν εἰς ἄκρον στόμαπύργων ἀκοντίζοντας, ὥστʼ ἐπάλξεωνλιπεῖν ἐρίπνας φυγάδας· ἀλλά νιν πάλινκυναγὸς ὡσεὶ παῖς σὸς ἐξαθροίζεται,πύργοις δʼ ἐπέστησʼ αὖθις. ἐς δʼ ἄλλας πύλαςἠπειγόμεσθα, τοῦτο παύσαντες νοσοῦν.Καπανεὺς δὲ πῶς εἴποιμʼ ἂν ὡς ἐμαίνετο;μακραύχενος γὰρ κλίμακος προσαμβάσειςἔχων ἐχώρει, καὶ τοσόνδʼ ἐκόμπασε,μηδʼ ἂν τὸ σεμνὸν πῦρ νιν εἰργαθεῖν Διὸςτὸ μὴ οὐ κατʼ ἄκρων περγάμων ἑλεῖν πόλιν.καὶ ταῦθʼ ἅμʼ ἠγόρευε καὶ πετρούμενοςἀνεῖρφʼ ὑπʼ αὐτὴν ἀσπίδʼ εἱλίξας δέμας,κλίμακος ἀμείβων ξέστʼ ἐνηλάτων βάθρα.