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Beware the onset！ closing on the gates；
He peals his vaunting and appalling cry！
ETEOCLES
Yet first our Pallas Onca…wardress she；
Planting her foot hard by her gate…shall stand；
The Maid against the ruffian； and repel
His force； as from her brood the mother…bird
Beats back the wintered serpent's venom'd fang。
And next； by her； is Oenops' gallant son；
Hyperbius； chosen to confront this foe；
Ready to seek his fate at Fortune's shrine！
In form； in valour； and in skill of arms；
None shall gainsay him。 See how wisely well
Hermes hath set the brave against the strong！
Confronted shall they stand； the shield of each
Bearing the image of opposing gods：
One holds aloft his Typhon breathing fire；
But； on the other's shield； in symbol sits
Zeus； calm and strong； and fans his bolt to flame…
Zeus； seen of all； yet seen of none to fail！
Howbeit； weak is trust reposed in Heaven…
Yet are we upon Zeus' victorious side；
The foe； with those he worsted…if in sooth
Zeus against Typhon held the upper hand；
And if Hyperbius （as well may hap
When two such foes such diverse emblems bear）
Have Zeus upon his shield； a saving sign。
（HYPERBIUS goes out。）
CHORUS （chanting）
High faith is mine that he whose shield
Bears； against Zeus； the thing of hate。
The giant Typhon； thus revealed；
A monster loathed of gods eterne
And mortal men…this doom shall earn
A shattered skull； before the gate！
THE SPY
Heaven send it so！ A fifth assailant now
Is set against our fifth； the northern； gate；
Fronting the death…mound where Amphion lies
The child of Zeus。 This foeman vows his faith；
Upon a mystic spear…head which he deems
More holy than a godhead and more sure
To find its mark than any glance of eye；
That； will they； nill they； he will storm and sack
The hold of the Cadmeans。 Such his oath…
His； the bold warrior； yet of childish years；
A bud of beauty's foremost flower； the son
Of Zeus and of the mountain maid。 I mark
How the soft down is waxing on his cheek；
Thick and close…growing in its tender prime…
In name； not mood； is he a maiden's child…
Parthenopaeus； large and bright his eyes
But fierce the wrath wherewith he fronts the gate：
Yet not unheralded he takes his stand
Before the portal； on his brazen shield；
The rounded screen and shelter of his form；
I saw him show the ravening Sphinx； the fiend
That shamed our city…how it glared and moved；
Clamped on the buckler； wrought in high relief！
And in its claws did a Cadmean bear…
Nor heretofore； for any single prey；
Sped she aloft； through such a storm of darts
As now awaits her。 So our foe is here…
Like； as I deem； to ply no stinted trade
In blood and broil； but traffick as is meet
In fierce exchange for his long wayfaring！
ETEOCLES
Ah； may they meet the doom they think to bring…
They and their impious vaunts…from those on high！
So should they sink； hurled down to deepest death！
This foe； at least； by thee Arcadian styled；
Is faced by one who bears no braggart sign；
But his hand sees to smite； where blows avail…
Actor； own brother to Hyperbius！
He will not let a boast without a blow
Stream through our gates and nourish our despair；
Nor give him way who on his hostile shield
Bears the brute image of the loathly Sphinx！
Blocked at the gate； she will rebuke the man
Who strives to thrust her forward； when she feels
Thick crash of blows； up to the city wall。
With Heaven's goodwill； my forecast shall be true。
（ACTOR goes out。）
CHORUS （chanting）
Home to my heart the vaunting goes；
And； quick with terror； on my head
Rises my hair； at sound of those
Who wildly； impiously rave！
If gods there be； to them I plead…
Give them to darkness and the grave。
THE Spy
Fronting the sixth gate stands another foe；
Wisest of warriors； bravest among seers…
Such must I name Amphiaraus： he；
Set steadfast at the Homoloid gate；
Berates strong Tydeus with reviling words…
The man of blood； the bane of state and home
To Argos； arch…allurer to all ill；
Evoker of the Fury…fiend of hell；
Death's minister； and counsellor of wrong
Unto Adrastus in this fatal field。
Ay； and with eyes upturned and mien of scorn
He chides thy brother Polyneices to
At his desert； and once and yet again
Dwells hard and meaningly upon his name
Where it saith glory yet importeth feud。
Yea； such thou art in act； and such thy grace
In sight of Heaven； and such in aftertime
Thy fame； for lips and ears of mortal men！
〃He strove to sack the city of his sires
And temples of her gods； and brought on her
An alien armament of foreign foes。
The fountain of maternal blood outpoured
What power can staunck？ even so； thy fatherland
Once by thine ardent malice stormed and ta'en；
Shall ne'er join force with thee。〃 For me； I know
It doth remain to let my blood enrich
The border of this land that loves me not…
Blood of a prophet； in a foreign grave！
Now； for the battle！ I foreknow my doom；
Yet it shall be with honour。 So he spake；
The prophet； holding up his targe of bronze
Wrought without blazon； to the ears of men
Who stood around and heeded not his word。
For on no bruit and rumour of great deeds；
But on their doing； is his spirit set；
And in his heart he reaps a furrow rich；
Wherefrom the foison of good counsel springs。
Against him； send brave heart and hand of might；
For the god…lover is man's fiercest foe。
ETEOCLES
Out on the chance that couples mortal men；
Linking the just and impious in one！
In every issue； the one curse is this…
Companionship with men of evil heart！
A baneful harvest； let none gather it！
The field of sin is rank； and brings forth death
At whiles a righteous man who goes aboard
With reckless mates； a horde of villainy；
Dies by one death with that detested crew；
At whiles the just man； joined with citizens
Ruthless to strangers； recking nought of Heaven；
Trapped； against nature； in one net with them；
Dies by God's thrust and all…including blow。
So will this prophet die； even Oecleus' child；
Sage； just； and brave； and loyal towards Heaven；
Potent in prophecy； but mated here
With men of sin； too boastful to be wise！
Long is their road； and they return no more；
And； at their taking…off； by hard of Zeus；
The prophet too shall ta