the phoenissae-第6章
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ETEOCLES
Night equalizes risks； though it rather favours daring。
CREON
The darkness of night is a terrible time to suffer disaster。
ETEOCLES
Well； shall I fall upon them as they sit at meat？
CREON
That might cause them fright； but victory is what we want。
ETEOCLES
Dirce's ford is deep enough to prevent their retreat。
CREON
No plan so good as to keep well guarded。
ETEOCLES
What if our cavalry make a sortie against the host of Argos？
CREON
Their troops too are fenced all round with chariots。
ETEOCLES
What then can I do？ am I to surrender the city to the foe？
CREON
Nay； nay！ but of thy wisdom form some plan。
ETEOCLES
Pray； what scheme is wiser than mine？
CREON
They have seven chiefs； I hear。
ETEOCLES
What is their appointed task？ their might can be but feeble。
CREON
To lead the several companies and storm our seven gates。
ETEOCLES
What are we to do？ I will not wait till every chance is gone。
CREON
Choose seven chiefs thyself to set against them at the gates。
ETEOCLES
To lead our companies； or to fight single…handed？
CREON
Choose our very bravest men to lead the troops。
ETEOCLES
I understand； to repel attempts at scaling our walls。
CREON
With others to share the command； for one man sees not everything。
ETEOCLES
Selecting them for courage or thoughtful prudence？
CREON
For both； for one is naught without the other。
ETEOCLES
It shall be done； I will away to our seven towers and post
captains at the gates； as thou advisest； pitting them man for man
against the foe。 To tell thee each one's name were grievous waste of
time； when the foe is camped beneath our very walls。 But I will go；
that my hands may no longer hang idle。 May I meet my brother face to
face； and encounter him hand to hand； e'en to the death； for coming to
waste my country！ But if I suffer any mischance； thou must see to
the marriage 'twixt Antigone my sister and Haemon； thy son； and now；
as I go forth to battle； I ratify their previous espousal。 Thou art my
mother's brother； so why need I say more？ take care of her； as she
deserves； both for thy own sake and mine。 As for my sire he hath
been guilty of folly against himself in putting out his eyes； small
praise have I for him； by his curses maybe he will slay us too。 One
thing only have we still to do； to ask Teiresias； the seer； if he
has aught to tell of heaven's will。 Thy son Menoeceus； who bears thy
father's name； will I send to fetch Teiresias hither； Creon； for
with the he will readily converse； though I have ere now so scorned
his art prophetic to his face； that he has reasons to reproach me。
This commandment； Creon； I lay upon the city and thee； should my cause
prevail； never give Polyneices' corpse a grave in Theban soil； and
if so be some friend should bury him； let death reward the man。 Thus
far to thee； and to my servants thus； bring forth my arms and coat
of mail； that I may start at once for the appointed combat； with right
to lead to victory。 To save our city we will pray to Caution； the best
goddess to serve our end。
（ETEOCLES and his retinue go out。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
O Ares； god of toil and trouble！ why； why art thou possessed by
love of blood and death； out of harmony with the festivals of Bromius？
'Tis for no crowns of dancers fair that thou dost toss thy youthful
curls to the breeze； singing the while to the lute's soft breath a
strain to charm the dancers' feet； but with warriors clad in mail thou
dost lead thy sombre revelry； breathing into Argive breasts lust for
Theban blood； with no wild waving of the thyrsus； clad in fawnskin
thou dancest； but with chariots and bitted steeds wheelest thy charger
strong of hoof。 O'er the waters of Ismenus in wild career thou art
urging thy horses； inspiring Argive breasts with hate of the
earth…born race； arraying in brazen harness against these
stone…built walls a host of warriors armed with shields。 Truly
Strife is a goddess to fear； who devised these troubles for the
princes of this land； for the much…enduring sons of Labdacus。
antistrophe
O Cithaeron； apple of the eye of Artemis； holy vale of leaves；
amid whose snows full many a beast lies couched； would thou hadst
never reared the child exposed to die； Oedipus the fruit of
Jocasta's womb； when as a babe he was cast forth from his home； marked
with golden brooch； and would the Sphinx； that winged maid； fell
monster from the hills； had never come to curse our land with
inharmonious strains； she that erst drew nigh our walls and snatched
the sons of Cadmus away in her taloned feet to the pathless fields
of light； a fiend sent by Hades from hell to plague the men of Thebes；
once more unhappy strife is bursting out between the sons of Oedipus
in city and home。 For never can wrong be right； nor children of
unnatural parentage come as a glory to the mother that bears them； but
as a stain on the marriage of him who is father and brother at once。
epode
O earth； thou once didst bear；…so long ago I heard the story
told by foreigners in my own home；…a 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。 In days gone by the sons of heaven came to the
wedding of Harmonia； and the walls of Thebes arose to the sound of the
lyre and her towers stood up as Amphion played； in the midst between
the double streams of Dirce； that watereth the green meadows
fronting the Ismenus； and Io； our horned ancestress was mother of
the kings of Thebes； thus our city through an endless succession of
divers blessings has set herself upon the highest pinnacle of
martial glory。
（TEIRESIAS enters； led by his daughter。 They are accompanied by
MENOECEUS。）
TEIRESIAS
Lead on； my daughter； for thou art as an eye to my blind feet；
as certain as a star to mariners； lead my steps on to level ground；
then go before； that we stumble not； for thy father has no strength；
keep safe for me in thy maiden hand the auguries I took in the days
I observed the flight and cries of birds seated in my holy prophet's
chair。 Tell me； young Menoeceus； son of Creon； how much further toward
the city is it ere reach thy father？ for my knees grow weary； and I
can scarce keep up this hurried pace。
CREON
Take heart； Teiresias； for thou hast reached thy moorings and
art near thy friends； take him by the hand； my child； for just as
every carriage has to wait for outside help to steady it； so too
hath the step of age。
TEIRESIAS
Enough； I have arrived； why； Creon； dost thou summon me so
urgently？
CREON
I have not forgotten that； but first collect thyself and regain
breath； shaking off the fatigue of thy journey。
TEIRESIAS
I am indeed worn out； having arrived here only yesterday from
the court of the Erechtheidae； for they too were at war； fighting with
Eumolpus； in which contest I insured the victory of Cecrops' sons； and
I received the golden crown； which thou seest me wearing； as
first…fruits of the enemy's spoil。
CREON
I take thy crown of victory as an omen。 We； as thou knowest； are
exposed to the billows of an Argive war； and great is the struggle for
Thebes。 Eteocles； our king； is already gone in full harness to meet
Mycenae's champions； and hath bidden me inquire of thee our best
course to save the city。
TEIRESIAS
For Eteocles I would have closed my lips and refrained from all
response； but to thee I will speak； since 'tis thy wish to learn。 This
country； Creon； has been long afflicted； ever since Laius became a
fathe
