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Eteocles； my child； it is not all evil that attends old age；
sometimes its experience can offer sager counsel than can youth。 Oh
why； my son； art thou so set upon Ambition； that worst of deities？
Forbear； that goddess knows not justice； many are the homes and cities
once prosperous that she hath entered and left after the ruin of her
votaries； she it is thou madly followest。 Better far； my son； prize
Equality that ever linketh friend to friend； city to city； and
allies to each other； for Equality is man's natural law； but the
less is always in opposition to the greater； ushering in the dayspring
of dislike。 For it is Equality that hath set up for man measures and
divisions of weights and hath distinguished numbers； night's sightless
orb； and radiant sun proceed upon their yearly course on equal
terms； and neither of them is envious when it has to yield。 Though sun
and gloom then both are servants in man's interests； wilt not thou
be content with thy fair share of thy heritage and give the same to
him？ if not； why where is justice？ Why prize beyond its worth the
monarch's power； injustice in prosperity？ why think so much of the
admiring glances turned on rank？ Nay； 'tis vanity。 Or wouldst thou
by heaping riches in thy halls； heap up toil therewith？ what advantage
is it？ 'tis but a name； for the wise find that enough which suffices
for their wants。 Man indeed hath no possessions of his own； we do
but hold a stewardship of the gods' property； and when they will； they
take it back again。 Riches make no settled home； but are as
transient as the day。 Come； suppose I put before thee two
alternatives； whether thou wilt rule or save thy city？ Wilt thou say
〃Rule〃？
Again； if Polyneices win the day and his Argive warriors rout
the ranks of Thebes； thou wilt see this city conquered and many a
captive maid brutally dishonoured by the foe； so will that wealth thou
art so bent on getting become a grievous bane to Thebes； but still
ambition fills thee。 This I say to thee； and this to thee； Polyneices；
Adrastus hath conferred a foolish favour on thee； and thou too hast
shown little sense in coming to lay thy city waste。 Suppose thou
conquer this land （which Heaven forefend！） tell me； I conjure thee；
how wilt thou rear a trophy to Zeus？ how wilt thou begin the sacrifice
after thy country's conquest or inscribe the spoils at the streams
of Inachus with 〃Polyneices gave Thebes to the flames and dedicated
these shields to the gods〃？ Oh！ never； my son； be it thine to win such
fame from Hellas！ If； on the other hand； thou art worsted and thy
brother's cause prevail； how shalt thou return to Argos； leaving
countless dead behind？ Some one will be sure to say； 〃Out on thee！
Adrastus； for the evil bridegroom thou hast brought unto thy house；
thanks to one maid's marriage； ruin is come on us。〃
Towards two evils； my son； art thou hasting；…loss of influence
there and ruin in the midst of thy efforts here。 Oh！ my children；
lay aside your violence； two men's follies； once they meet； result
in very deadly evil。
LEADER
O heaven； avert these troubles and reconcile the sons of Oedipus
in some way！
ETEOCLES
Mother； the season for parley is past； the time we still delay
is idle waste； thy good wishes are of no avail； for we shall never
be reconciled except upon the terms already named； namely； that I
should keep the sceptre and be king of this land： wherefore cease
these tedious warnings and let me be。 （Turning to POLYNEICES） And as
for thee； outside the walls； or die！
POLYNEICES
Who will slay me？ who is so invulnerable as to plunge his sword in
my body without reaping the self…same fate？
ETEOCLES
Thou art near him； aye； very near； dost see my arm？
POLYNEICES
I see it； but wealth is cowardly； a craven too fond of life。
ETEOCLES
Was it then to meet a dastard thou camest with all that host to
war？
POLYNEICES
In a general caution is better than foolhardiness。
ETEOCLES
Relying on the truce； which saves thy life； thou turnest boaster。
POLYNEICES
Once more I ask thee to restore my sceptre and share in the
kingdom。
ETEOCLES
I have naught to restore； 'tis my own house； and I will dwell
therein。
POLYNEICES
What！ and keep more than thy share？
ETEOCLES
Yes； I will。 Begone！
POLYNEICES
O altars of my fathers' gods！…
ETEOCLES
Which thou art here to raze。
POLYNEICES
Hear me。
ETEOCLES
Who would hear thee after thou hast marched against thy
fatherland？
POLYNEICES
O temples of those gods that ride on snow…white steeds！
ETEOCLES
They hate thee。
POLYNEICES
I am being driven from my country。
ETEOCLES
Because thou camest to drive others thence。
POLYNEICES
Unjustly； O ye gods！
ETEOCLES
Call on the gods at Mycenae； not here。
POLYNEICES
Thou hast outraged right…
ETEOCLES
But I have not like thee become my country's foe。
POLYNEICES
By driving me forth without my portion。
ETEOCLES
And further I will slay thee。
POLYNEICES
O father； dost thou hear what I am suffering？
ETEOCLES
Yea； and he hears what thou art doing。
POLYNEICES
Thou too； mother mine？
ETEOCLES
Thou hast no right to mention thy mother。
POLYNEICES
O my city！
ETEOCLES
Get thee to Argos； and invoke the waters of Lerna。
POLYNEICES
I will； trouble not thyself； all thanks to thee though； mother
mine…
ETEOCLES
Forth from the land！
POLYNEICES
I go； yet grant me to behold my father。
ETEOCLES
Thou shalt not have thy wish。
POLYNEICES
At least then my tender sisters。
ETEOCLES
No！ them too thou shalt never see。
POLYNEICES
Ah； sisters mine！
ETEOCLES
Why dost thou； their bitterest foe； call on them？
POLYNEICES
Mother dear； to thee at least farewell！
JOCASTA
A joyous faring mine in sooth； my son！
POLYNEICES
Thy son no more！
JOCASTA
Born to sorrow； endless sorrow； I！
POLYNEICES
'Tis because my brother treats me despitefully。
ETEOCLES
I am treated just the same。
POLYNEICES
Where wilt thou be stationed before the towers？
ETEOCLES
Why ask me this？
POLYNEICES
I will array myself against thee for thy death。
ETEOCLES
I too have the same desire。
JOCASTA
Woe is me！ what will ye do； my sons？
POLYNEICES
The event will show。
JOCASTA
Oh； fly your father's curse！
（JOCASTA enters the palace。）
ETEOCLES
Destruction seize our whole house！
POLYNEICES
Soon shall my sword be busy； plunged in gore。 But I call my native
land and heaven too to witness； with what contumely and bitter
treatment I am being driven forth； as though I were a slave； not a son
of Oedipus as much as he。 If aught happ