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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
father in heaven's despite； begetting hapless Oedipus to be his own
mother's husband。 That bloody outrage on his eyes was planned by
heaven as an ensample to Hellas； and the sons of Oedipus made a
gross mistake in wishing to throw over it the veil of time； as if
forsooth they could outrun the gods' decree； for by robbing their
father of his due honour and allowing him no freedom； they enraged
their luckless sire； so he； stung by suffering and disgrace as well；
vented awful curses against them； and I； because I left nothing undone
or unsaid to prevent this； incurred the hatred of the sons of Oedipus。
But death inflicted by each other's hands awaits them； Creon； and
the many heaps of slain； some from Argive； some from Theban
missiles； shall cause bitter lamentation in the land of Thebes。
Alas！ for thee； poor city； thou art 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； since
they were under a ban and would overthrow the city。 But as evil has
the mastery of good； there is still one other way of safety； but
this it were unsafe for me to tell； and painful too for those whose
high fortune it is to supply their city witb the saving cure。
Farewell！ I will away； amongst the rest must I endure my doom； if need
be； for what will become of me？
CREON
Stay here； old man。
TEIRESIAS
Hold me not。
CREON
Abide； why dost thou seek to fly？
TEIRESIAS
'Tis thy fortune that flies thee； not I。
CREON
Tell me what can save Thebes and her citizens。
TEIRESIAS
Though this be now thy wish； it will soon cease to be。
CREON
Not wish to save my country？ how can that be？
TEIRESIAS
Art thou still eager to be told？
CREON
Yea； for wherein should I show greater zeal？
TEIRESIAS
Then straightway shalt thou hear my words prophetic。 But first
would fain know for certain where Menoeceus is； who led me hither。
CREON
Here； not far away； but at thy side。
TEIRESIAS
Let him retire far from my prophetic voice。
CREON
He is my own son and will preserve due silence。
TEIRESIAS
Wilt thou then that I tell thee in his presence？
CREON
Yea； for he will rejoice to hear the means of safety。
TEIRESIAS
Then hear the purport of my oracle； the which if ye observe ye
shall save the city of Cadmus。 Thou must sacrifice Menoeceus thy son
here for thy country； since thine own lips demand the voice of fate。
CREON
What mean'st thou？ what is this thou hast said； old man？
TEIRESIAS
To that which is to be thou also must conform。
CREON
O the eternity of woe thy minute's tale proclaims！
TEIRESIAS
Yes to thee； but to thy country great salvation。
CREON
I shut my ears； I never listened； to city now farewell！
TEIRESIAS
Ha！ the man is changed； he is drawing back。
CREON
Go in peace； it is not thy prophecy I need。
TEIRESIAS
Is truth dead； because thou art curst with woe？
CREON
By thy knees and honoured locks I implore thee！
TEIRESIAS
Why implore me？ thou art craving a calamity hard to guard against。
CREON
Keep silence； tell not the city thy news。
TEIRESIAS
Thou biddest me act unjustly； I will not hold my peace。
CREON
What wilt thou then do to me？ slay my child？
TEIRESIAS
That is for others to decide； I have but to speak。
CREON
Whence came this curse on me and my son？
TEIRESIAS
Thou dost right to ask me and to test what I have said。 In
yonder lair； where the earth…born dragon kept watch and ward o'er
Dirce's springs； must this youth be offered and shed his life…blood on
the ground by reason of Ares' ancient grudge against Cadmus； who
thus avenges the slaughter of his earth…born snake。 If ye do this；
ye shall win Ares as an ally； and if the earth receive crop for crop
and human blood for blood； ye shall find her kind again； that erst
to your sorrow reared from that dragon's seed a crop of warriors
with golden casques； for needs must one sprung from the dragon's teeth
be slain。 Now thou art our only survivor of the seed of that sown
race； whose lineage is pure alike on mother's and on father's side；
thou and these thy sons。 Haemon's marriage debars him from being the
victim； for he is no longer single； for even if he have not
consummated his marriage； yet is he betrothed； but this tender
youth； consecrated to the city's service； might by dying rescue his
country； and bitter will he make the return of Adrastus and his
Argives； flinging o'er their eyes death's dark pall； and will
glorify Thebes。 Choose thee one of these alternatives； either save the
city or thy son。
Now hast thou all I have to say。 Daughter； lead me home。 A fool；
the man who practises the diviner's art； for if he should announce
an adverse answer； he makes himself disliked by those who seek to him；
while； if from pity he deceives those who are consulting him； he
sins against Heaven。 Phoebus should have been man's only prophet；
for he fears no man。
（His daughter leads TEIRESIAS out。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Why so silent； Creon； why are thy lips hushed and dumb？ I too am
no less stricken with dismay。
CREON
Why； what could one say？ 'Tis clear what my words must be。 For
will never plunge myself so deeply into misfortune as to devote my son
to death for the city； for love of children binds all men to life； and
none would resign his own son to die。 Let no man praise me into
slaying my children。 I am ready to die myself…for I am ripe in
years…to set my country free。 But thou； my son； ere the whole city
learn this； up and fly with all haste away from this land；
regardless of these prophets' unbridled utterances； for he will go
to the seven gates and