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charioteers？〃 No loitering then； soon as they heard that call； and
many a warrior fell with bloody crown； and not a few of us thou
couldst have seen thrown to the earth like tumblers before the
walls； after they had given up the ghost； bedewing the thirsty
ground with streams of gore。 Then Atalanta's son； who was not an
Argive but an Arcadian； hurling himself like a hurricane at the gates；
called for fire and picks to raze the town； but Periclymenus； son of
the ocean…god； stayed his wild career； heaving on his head a
waggon…load of stone； even the coping torn from the battlements； and
it shattered his head with the hair and crashed through the sutures of
the skull； dabbling with blood his cheek just showing manhood's flush；
and never shall he go back alive to his fair archer…mother； the maid
of Maenalus。
Thy son then； seeing these gates secure； went on to the next；
and I with him。 There I saw Tydeus and his serried ranks of targeteers
hurling their Aetolian spears into the opening at the top of the
turrets； with such good aim that our men fled and left the beetling
battlements： but thy son rallied them once more； as a huntsman
cheers his hounds； and made them man the towers again。 And then away
we hastened to other gates； after stopping the panic there。 As for the
madness of Capaneus； how am I to describe it？ There was he； carrying
with him a long scaling…ladder and loudly boasting that even the awful
lightning of Zeus would not stay him from giving the city to utter
destruction； and even as he spoke； he crept up beneath the hail of
stones； gathered under the shelter of his shield； mounting from rung
to rung on the smooth ladder； but； just as he was scaling the
parapet of the wall； Zeus smote him with a thunderbolt； loud the earth
re…echoed； and fear seized every heart； for his limbs were hurled from
the ladder far apart as from a sling； his head toward the sky； his
blood toward earth； while his legs and arms went spinning round like
Ixion's wheel； till his charred corpse fell to the ground。 But when
Adrastus saw that Zeus was leagued against his army； he drew the
Argive troops outside the trench and halted them。 Meantime our
horse； marking the lucky omen of Zeus； began driving forth their
chariots； and our men…at…arms charged into the thick of the Argives；
and everything combined to their discomfiture； men were falling and
hurled headlong from chariots； wheels flew off； axles crashed
together； while ever higher grew the heaps of slain； so for to…day
at least have we prevented the destruction of our country's
bulwarks； but whether fortune will hereafter smile upon this land；
that rests with Heaven； for； even as it is； it owes its safety to some
deity。
Victory is fair； and if the gods are growing kinder； it would be
well with me。
JOCASTA
Heaven and fortune smile； for my sons are yet alive and my country
hath escaped ruin。 But Creon seems to have reaped the bitter fruit
of my marriage with Oedipus； by losing his son to his sorrow； a
piece of luck…for Thebes； but bitter grief to him。 Prithee to thy tale
again and say what my two sons next intend。
MESSENGER
Forbear to question further； all is well with thee so far。
JOCASTA
Thy words but rouse my suspicions； I cannot leave it thus。
MESSENGER
Hast thou any further wish than thy sons' safety？
JOCASTA
Yea； I would learn whether in the sequel I am also blest。
MESSENGER
Let me go； thy son is left without his squire。
JOCASTA
There is some evil thou art hiding； veiling it in darkness。
MESSENGER
Maybe； I would not add ill news to the good thou hast heard。
JOCASTA
Thou must； unless thou take wings and fly away。
MESSENGER
Ah！ why didst thou not let me go after announcing my good news；
instead of forcing me to disclose evil？ Those two sons of thine are
resolved on deeds of shameful recklessness； a single combat apart from
the host； addressing to Argives and Thebans alike words I would they
had never uttered。 Eteocles； taking his stand on a lofty tower；
after ordering silence to be proclaimed to the army； began on this
wise； 〃Ye captains of Hellas； chieftains of Argos here assembled；
and ye folk of Cadmus； barter not your lives for Polyneices or for me！
For I myself excuse you from this risk； and will engage my brother
in single combat； and if I slay him； will possess my palace without
rival； but if I am worsted I will bequeath the city to him。 Ye men
of Argos； give up the struggle and return to your land； nor lose
your lives here； of the earth…sown folk as well there are dead
enough in those already slain。〃
So he； then thy son Polyneices rushed from the array and
assented to his proposal； and all the Argives and the people of Cadmus
shouted their approval； as though they deemed it just。 On these
terms the armies made a truce； and in the space betwixt them took an
oath of each other for their leaders to abide by。 Forthwith in
brazen mail those two sons of aged Oedipus were casing themselves； and
lords of Thebes with friendly care equipped the captain of this
land； while Argive chieftains armed the other。 There they stood in
dazzling sheen； neither blenching； all eagerness to hurl their
lances each at the other。 Then came their friends to their side； first
one； then another； with words of encouragement； to wit：
〃Polyneices； it rests with thee to set up an image of Zeus as a
trophy； and crown Argos with fair renown。〃
Others hailed Eteocles： 〃Now art thou fighting for thy city；
now； if victorious； thou hast the sceptre in thy power。〃
So spake they； cheering them to the fray。
Meantime the seers were sacrificing sheep and noting the tongues
and forks of fire； the damp reek which is a bad omen； and the tapering
flame； which gives decisions on two points； being both a sign of
victory and defeat。 But； if thou hast any power or subtle speech or
charmed spell； go； stay thy children from this fell affray； for
great is the risk they run。 The issue thereof will be grievous
sorrow for thee； if to…day thou art reft of both thy sons。
（The MESSENGER departs in haste as ANTIGONE comes out of the palace。）
JOCASTA
Antigone； my daughter； come forth before the palace； this
heaven…sent crisis is no time for thee to be dancing or amusing
thyself with girlish pursuits。 But thou and thy mother must prevent
two gallant youths； thy own brothers； from plunging into death and
falling by each other's hand。
ANTIGONE
Mother mine； what new terror art thou proclaiming to thy dear ones
before the palace？
JOCASTA
Daughter； thy brothers are in danger of their life。
ANTIGONE
What mean'st thou？
JOCASTA
They have resolved on single combat。
ANTIGONE
O horror！ what hast thou to tell； mother？
JOCASTA
No welcome news； follow me。
ANTIGONE
Whither away from my maiden…bower？
JOCASTA
To the army。
ANTIGONE
I can