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in every direction； hither and thither； to guard against all
treachery。 Armed with this sword； I shall inspire myself with the
trust that is born of boldness。 （Starting） What ho！ who goes there？ or
is it an idle sound I fear？ Everything seems a danger to venturous
spirits； when their feet begin to tread an enemy's country。 Still I
trust my mother； and at the same time mistrust her for persuading me
to come hither under truce。 Well； there is help at hand； for the
altar's hearth is close and there are people in the palace。 Come；
let me sheath my sword in its dark scabbard and ask these maidens
standing near the house； who they are。
Ladies of another land； tell me from what country ye come to the
halls of Hellas。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Phoenicia is my native land where I was born and bred； and
Agenor's children's children sent me hither as a first…fruits of the
spoils of war foy Phoebus； but when the noble son of Oedipus was about
to escort me to the hallowed oracle and the altars of Loxias； came
Argives meantime against his city。 Now tell me in return who thou
art that comes to this fortress of the Theban realm with its seven
gates。
POLYNEICES
My father was Oedipus； the son of Laius； my mother Jocasta；
daughter of Menoeceus； and I am called Polyneices by the folk of
Thebes。
CHORUS （chanting）
O kinsman of Agenor's race； my royal masters who sent me hither at
thy feet； prince； I throw myself； according to the custom of my
home。 At last art thou come to thy native land； at last！ Hail to thee！
all hail！ Come forth； my honoured mistress； open wide the doors。
Dost hear； O mother of this chief？ Why art thou delaying to leave
the sheltering roof to fold thy son in thy embrace？
（JOCASTA enters from the palace。）
JOCASTA （chanting）
Maidens； I hear you call in your Phoenician tongue； and my old
feet drag their tottering steps to meet my son。 O my son； my son； at
last after many a long day I see thee face to face； throw thy arms
about thy mother's bosom； reach hither thy cheek to me and thy dark
locks of clustering hair； o'ershadowing my neck therewith。 Hail to
thee！ all hail！ scarce now restored to thy mother's arms； when hope
and expectation both were dead。 What can I say to thee？ how recall
in every way； by word； by deed； the bliss of days long past；
expressing my joy in the mazy measures of the dance？ Ah！ my son；
thou didst leave thy father's halls desolate； when thy brother's
despite drove thee thence in exile。 Truly thou wert missed alike by
thy friends and Thebes。 This was why I cut off my silvered locks and
let them fall for grief with many a tear； not clad in robes of
white； my son； but instead thereof taking for my wear these sorry
sable tatters； while within the palace that aged one with sightless
orbs； ever nursing the sorrow of a double regret for the pair of
brethren estranged from their home； rushed to lay hands upon himself
with the sword or by the noose suspended o'er his chamber…roof；
moaning his curses on his sons； and now he buries himself in darkness；
weeping ever and lamenting。 And thou； my child；…I hear thou hast taken
an alien to wife and art begetting children to thy joy in thy home；
they tell me thou art courting a foreign alliance； a ceaseless woe
to me thy mother and to Laius thy ancestor； to have this woeful
marriage foisted on us。 'Twas no hand of mine that lit for thee the
marriage…torch； as custom ordains and as a happy mother ought； no part
had Ismenus at thy wedding in supplying the luxurious bath； and
there was silence through the streets of Thebes； what time thy young
bride entered her home。 Curses on them！ whether it be the sword or
strife or thy sire that is to blame； or heaven's visitation that
hath burst so riotously upon the house of Oedipus； for on me is come
all the anguish of these troubles。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Wondrous dear to woman is the child of her travail； and all her
race hath some affection for its babes。
POLYNEICES
Mother； I have come amongst enemies wisely or foolishly； but all
men needs must love their native land； whoso saith otherwise is
pleased to say so but his thoughts are turned elsewhere。 So fearful
was I and in such terror； lest my brother might slay me by treachery
that I made my way through the city sword in hand； casting my eyes all
round me。 My only hope is the truce and thy plighted word which
induced me to enter my paternal walls； and many a tear I shed by the
way； seeing after a weary while my home and the altars of the gods；
the training ground； scene of my childhood； and Dirce's founts from
which I was unjustly driven to sojourn in a strange city； with tears
ever gushing from mine eyes。 Yea； and to add to my grief I see thee
with hair cut short and clad in sable robe； woe is me for my sorrows！
How terrible； dear mother； is hatred 'twixt those once near and
dear； how hard it makes all reconciliation！ What doth my aged sire
within the house； his light all darkness now？ what of my sisters
twain？ Ah！ they； I know； bewail my bitter exile。
JOCASTA
Some god with fell intent is plaguing the race of Oedipus。 Thus it
all began； I broke God's law and bore a son； and in an evil hour
married thy father and thou wert born。 But why repeat these horrors？
what Heaven sends we have to bear。 I am afraid to ask thee what I fain
would； for fear of wounding thy feelings； yet I long to。
POLYNEICES
Nay； question me； leave naught unsaid； for thy will； mother； is my
pleasure too。
JOCASTA
Well then； first I ask thee what I long to have answered。 What
means exile from one's country？ is it a great evil？
POLYNEICES
The greatest； harder to bear than tell。
JOCASTA
What is it like？ what is it galls the exile？
POLYNEICES
One thing most of all； he cannot speak his mind。
JOCASTA
This is a slave's lot thou describest； to refrain from uttering
what one thinks。
POLYNEICES
The follies of his rulers must be bear。
JOCASTA
That too is bitter； to join in the folly of fools。
POLYNEICES
Yet to gain our ends we must submit against our nature。
JOCASTA
Hope； they say； is the exile's food。
POLYNEICES
Aye； hope that looks so fair； but she is ever in the future。
JOCASTA
But doth not time expose her futility？
POLYNEICES
She hath a certain winsome charm in misfortune。
JOCASTA
Whence hadst thou means to live； ere thy marriage found it for
thee？
POLYNEICES
One while I had enough for the day； and then maybe I had it not。
JOCASTA
Did not thy father's friends and whilom guests assist thee？
POLYNEICES
Seek to be prosperous； once let fortune lour； and the aid supplied
by friends is naught。
JOCASTA
Did not thy noble breeding exalt thy horn for thee？
POLYNEICES
Poverty is a curse； breeding would not find me food。
JOCASTA
Man's dearest trea