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cornlands； where gushing Dirce's fair rivers of water pour o'er
verdant fruitful fields； here was born the Bromian god by her whom
Zeus made a mother； round whom the ivy twined its wreaths while he was
yet a babe； swathing him amid the covert of its green foliage as child
of happy destiny； to be a theme for Bacchic revelry among the maids
and wives inspired in Thebes。
antistrophe
There lay Ares' murderous dragon； a savage warder； watching with
roving eye the watered glens and quickening streams； him did Cadmus
slay with a jagged stone； when he came thither to draw him lustral
water； smiting that fell head with a blow of his death…dealing arm；
but by the counsel of Pallas； motherless goddess； he cast the teeth
upon the earth into deep furrows； whence sprang to sight mail…clad
host above the surface of the soil； but grim slaughter once again
united them to the earth they loved； bedewing with blood the ground
that had disclosed them to the sunlit breath of heaven。
epode
Thee too； Epaphus； child of Zeus； sprung from Io our ancestress；
call on in my foreign tongue； all hail to thee！ hear my prayer uttered
in accents strange； and visit this land； 'twas in thy honour thy
descendants settled here； and those goddesses of twofold name；
Persephone and kindly Demeter or Earth the queen of all； that
feedeth every mouth； won it for themselves； send to the help of this
land those torch…bearing queens； for to gods all things are easy。
ETEOCLES （to an attendant）
Go； fetch Creon son of Menoeceus； the brother of jocasta my
mother； tell him I fain would confer with him on matters affecting our
public and private weal； before we set out to battle and the
arraying of our host。 But lo！ he comes and saves thee the trouble of
going； I see him on his way to my palace。
（CREON enters。）
CREON
To and fro have I been； king Eteocles； in my desire to see thee；
and have gone all round the gates and sentinels of Thebes in quest
of thee。
ETEOCLES
Why； and I was anxious to see thee； Creon； for I found the terms
of peace far from satisfactory； when I came to confer with Polyneices。
CREON
I hear that he has wider aims than Thebes； relying on his alliance
with the daughter of Adrastus and his army。 Well； we must leave this
dependent on the gods； meantime I am come to tell thee our chief
obstacle。
ETEOCLES
What is that？ I do not understand what thou sayest。
CREON
There is come one that was captured by the Argives。
ETEOCLES
What news does he bring from their camp？
CREON
He says the Argive army intend at once to draw a ring of troops
round the city of Thebes； about its towers。
ETEOCLES
In that case the city of Cadmus must lead out its troops。
CREON
Whither？ art thou so young that thine eyes see not what they
should？
ETEOCLES
Across yon trenches for immediate action。
CREON
Our Theban forces are small； while theirs are numberless。
ETEOCLES
I well know they are reputed brave。
CREON
No mean repute have those Argives among Hellenes。
ETEOCLES
Never fear！ I will soon fill the plain with their dead。
CREON
I could wish it so； but I see great difficulties in this。
ETEOCLES
Trust me； I will not keep my host within the walls。
CREON
Still victory is entirely a matter of good counsel。
ETEOCLES
Art anxious then that I should have recourse to any other scheme？
CREON
Aye to every scheme； before running the risk once for all。
ETEOCLES
Suppose we fall on them by night from ambuscade？
CREON
Good！ provided in the event of defeat thou canst secure thy return
hither。
ETEOCLES
Night equalizes risks； though it rather favours daring。
CREON
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 ci