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POLYNEICES
Poverty is a curse； breeding would not find me food。
JOCASTA
Man's dearest treasure then； it seems； is his country。
POLYNEICES
No words of thine could tell how dear。
JOCASTA
How was it thou didst go to Argos？ what was thy scheme？
POLYNEICES
I know not； the deity summoned me thither in accordance with my
destiny。
JOCASTA
He doubtless had some wise design； but how didst thou win thy
wife？
POLYNEICES
Loxias had given Adrastus an oracle。
JOCASTA
What was it？ what meanest thou？ I cannot guess。
POLYNEICES
That he should wed his daughters to a boar and a lion。
JOCASTA
What hadst thou； my son； to do with the name of beasts？
POLYNEICES
It was night when I reached the porch of Adrastus。
JOCASTA
In search of a resting…place； or wandering thither in thy exile？
POLYNEICES
Yes； I wandered thither； and so did another like me。
JOCASTA
Who was he？ he too it seems was in evil plight。
POLYNEICES
Tydeus； son of Oeneus； was his name。
JOCASTA
But why did Adrastus liken you to wild beasts？
POLYNEICES
Because we came to blows about our bed。
JOCASTA
Was it then that the son of Talaus understood the oracle？
POLYNEICES
Yes； and he gave to us his daughters twain。
JOCASTA
Art thou blest or curst in thy marriage？
POLYNEICES
As yet I have no fault to find with it。
JOCASTA
How didst thou persuade an army to follow thee hither？
POLYNEICES
To me and to Tydeus who is my kinsman by marriage； Adrastus
sware an oath； even to the husbands of his daughters twain； that he
would restore us both to our country； but me the first。 So many a
chief from Argos and Mycenae has joined me； doing me a bitter though
needful service； for 'tis against my own city I am marching。 Now I
call heaven to witness； that it is not willingly I have raised my
arm against parents whom I love full well。 But to thee； mother； it
belongs to dissolve this unhappy feud； and； by reconciling brothers in
love； to end my troubles and thine and this whole city's。 'Tis an
old…world maxim； but I will cite it for all that： 〃Men set most
store by wealth； and of all things in this world it hath the
greatest power。〃 This am I come to secure at the head of my
countless host； for good birth is naught if poverty go with it。
LEADER
Lo！ Eteocles comes hither to discuss the truce。 Thine the task；
mother Jocasta； to speak such words as may reconcile thy sons。
（ETEOCLES and his retinue enter。）
ETEOCLES
Mother； I am here； but it was only to pleasure thee I came。 What
am to do？ Let some one begin the conference； for I stopped marshalling
the citizens in double lines around the walls； that I might hear thy
arbitration。 between us； for it is under this truce that thou hast
persuaded me to admit this fellow within the walls。
JOCASTA
Stay a moment； haste never carries justice with it； but slow
deliberation oft attains a wise result。 Restrain the fierceness of thy
look； that panting rage； for this is not the Gorgon's severed head but
thy own brother whom thou seest here。 Thou too； Polyneices； turn and
face thy brother； for if thou and he stand face to face； thou wilt
adopt a kindlier tone and lend a readier ear to him。 I fain would give
you both one piece of wholesome counsel； when a man that is angered
with his friend confronts him face to face； he ought only to keep in
view the object of his coming； forgetting all previous quarrels。
Polyneices my son； speak first； for thou art come at the head of a
Danaid host； alleging wrongful treatment； and may some god judge
betwixt us and reconcile the trouble。
POLYNEICES
The words of truth are simple； and justice needs no subtle
interpretations； for it hath a fitness in itself； but the words of
injustice； being rotten in themselves； require clever treatment。 I
provided for his interests and mine in our father's palace； being
anxious to avoid the curse which Oedipus once uttered against us； of
my own free…will I left the land； allowing him to rule our country for
one full year； on condition that I should then take the sceptre in
turn； instead of plunging into deadly enmity and thereby doing
others hurt or suffering it myself； as is now the case。 But he；
after consenting to this and calling the gods to witness his oath； has
performed none of his promises； but is still keeping the sovereignty
in his own hands together with my share of our heritage。 Even now am I
ready to take my own and dismiss my army from this land； receiving
my house in turn to dwell therein； and once more restore it to him for
a like period instead of ravaging our country and planting
scaling…ladders against the towers； as I shall attempt to do if I do
not get my rights。 Wherefore I call the gods to witness that spite
of my just dealing in everything I am being unjustly robbed of my
country by most godless fraud。 Here； mother； have I stated the several
points on their own merits； without collecting words to fence them in；
but urging a fair case； I think； alike in the judgment of skilled or
simple folk。
LEADER
To me at least； albeit I was not born and bred in Hellas； thy
words seem full of sense。
ETEOCLES
If all were at one in their ideas of honour and wisdom； there
would have been no strife to make men disagree； but； as it is；
fairness and equality have no existence in this world beyond the name；
there is really no such thing。 For instance； mother； I will tell
thee this without any concealment； I would ascend to the rising of the
stars and the sun or dive beneath the earth； were I able so to do；
to win a monarch's power； the chief of things divine。 Therefore；
mother； I will never yield this blessing to another； but keep it for
myself； for it were a coward's act to lose the greater and to win
the less。 Besides； I blush to think that he should gain his object
by coming with arms in his hand and ravaging the land； for this were
foul disgrace to glorious Thebes； if I should yield my sceptre up to
him for fear of Argive might。 He ought not； mother； to have
attempted reconcilement by armed force； for words compass everything
that even the sword of an enemy might effect。 Still； if on any other
terms he cares to dwell here； he may； but the sceptre will I never
willingly let go。 Shall I become his slave； when I can be his
master？ Never！ Wherefore come fire； come sword！ harness your steeds；
fill the plains with chariots； for I will not forego my throne for
him。 For if we must do wrong； to do so for a kingdom were the
fairest cause； but in all else virtue should be our aim。
LEADER
Fair words are only called for when the deeds they crown are fair；
otherwise they lose their charm and offend justice。
JOCASTA
Eteocles； my child； it is not all evil that attends old age；
sometimes its experience can offer