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child of Oedipus becoming either citizen or king in this land； since
they were under a ban and would overthrow the city。 But as evil has
the mastery of good； there is still one other way of safety； but
this it were unsafe for me to tell； and painful too for those whose
high fortune it is to supply their city witb the saving cure。
Farewell！ I will away； amongst the rest must I endure my doom； if need
be； for what will become of me？
CREON
Stay here； old man。
TEIRESIAS
Hold me not。
CREON
Abide； why dost thou seek to fly？
TEIRESIAS
'Tis thy fortune that flies thee； not I。
CREON
Tell me what can save Thebes and her citizens。
TEIRESIAS
Though this be now thy wish； it will soon cease to be。
CREON
Not wish to save my country？ how can that be？
TEIRESIAS
Art thou still eager to be told？
CREON
Yea； for wherein should I show greater zeal？
TEIRESIAS
Then straightway shalt thou hear my words prophetic。 But first
would fain know for certain where Menoeceus is； who led me hither。
CREON
Here； not far away； but at thy side。
TEIRESIAS
Let him retire far from my prophetic voice。
CREON
He is my own son and will preserve due silence。
TEIRESIAS
Wilt thou then that I tell thee in his presence？
CREON
Yea； for he will rejoice to hear the means of safety。
TEIRESIAS
Then hear the purport of my oracle； the which if ye observe ye
shall save the city of Cadmus。 Thou must sacrifice Menoeceus thy son
here for thy country； since thine own lips demand the voice of fate。
CREON
What mean'st thou？ what is this thou hast said； old man？
TEIRESIAS
To that which is to be thou also must conform。
CREON
O the eternity of woe thy minute's tale proclaims！
TEIRESIAS
Yes to thee； but to thy country great salvation。
CREON
I shut my ears； I never listened； to city now farewell！
TEIRESIAS
Ha！ the man is changed； he is drawing back。
CREON
Go in peace； it is not thy prophecy I need。
TEIRESIAS
Is truth dead； because thou art curst with woe？
CREON
By thy knees and honoured locks I implore thee！
TEIRESIAS
Why implore me？ thou art craving a calamity hard to guard against。
CREON
Keep silence； tell not the city thy news。
TEIRESIAS
Thou biddest me act unjustly； I will not hold my peace。
CREON
What wilt thou then do to me？ slay my child？
TEIRESIAS
That is for others to decide； I have but to speak。
CREON
Whence came this curse on me and my son？
TEIRESIAS
Thou dost right to ask me and to test what I have said。 In
yonder lair； where the earth…born dragon kept watch and ward o'er
Dirce's springs； must this youth be offered and shed his life…blood on
the ground by reason of Ares' ancient grudge against Cadmus； who
thus avenges the slaughter of his earth…born snake。 If ye do this；
ye shall win Ares as an ally； and if the earth receive crop for crop
and human blood for blood； ye shall find her kind again； that erst
to your sorrow reared from that dragon's seed a crop of warriors
with golden casques； for needs must one sprung from the dragon's teeth
be slain。 Now thou art our only survivor of the seed of that sown
race； whose lineage is pure alike on mother's and on father's side；
thou and these thy sons。 Haemon's marriage debars him from being the
victim； for he is no longer single； for even if he have not
consummated his marriage； yet is he betrothed； but this tender
youth； consecrated to the city's service； might by dying rescue his
country； and bitter will he make the return of Adrastus and his
Argives； flinging o'er their eyes death's dark pall； and will
glorify Thebes。 Choose thee one of these alternatives； either save the
city or thy son。
Now hast thou all I have to say。 Daughter； lead me home。 A fool；
the man who practises the diviner's art； for if he should announce
an adverse answer； he makes himself disliked by those who seek to him；
while； if from pity he deceives those who are consulting him； he
sins against Heaven。 Phoebus should have been man's only prophet；
for he fears no man。
（His daughter leads TEIRESIAS out。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Why so silent； Creon； why are thy lips hushed and dumb？ I too am
no less stricken with dismay。
CREON
Why； what could one say？ 'Tis clear what my words must be。 For
will never plunge myself so deeply into misfortune as to devote my son
to death for the city； for love of children binds all men to life； and
none would resign his own son to die。 Let no man praise me into
slaying my children。 I am ready to die myself…for I am ripe in
years…to set my country free。 But thou； my son； ere the whole city
learn this； up and fly with all haste away from this land；
regardless of these prophets' unbridled utterances； for he will go
to the seven gates and the captains there and tell all this to our
governors and leaders； now if we can forestall him； thou mayst be
saved； but if thou art too late； we are undone and thou wilt die。
MENOECEUS
Whither can I fly？ to what city？ to which of our guest…friends？
CREON
Fly where thou wilt be furthest removed from this land。
MENOECEUS
'Tis for thee to name a place； for me to carry out thy bidding。
CREON
After passing Delphi…
MENOECEUS
Whither must I go； father？
CREON
To Aetolia。
MENOECEUS
Whither thence？
CREON
To the land of Thesprotia。
MENOECEUS
To Dodona's hallowed threshold？
CREON
Thou followest me。
MENOECEUS
What protection shall I find me there？
CREON
The god will send thee on thy way。
MENOECEUS
How shall I find the means？
CREON
I will supply thee with money。
MENOECEUS
A good plan of thine； father。 So go； for I will to thy sister；
Jocasta； at whose breast I was suckled as a babe when reft of my
mother and left a lonely orphan； to give her kindly greeting and
then will I seek my safety。 Come； come！ be going； that there be no
hindrance on thy part。
（CREON departs。）
How cleverly； ladies； I banished my father's fears by crafty words
to gain my end； for he is trying to convey me hence； depriving the
city of its chance and surrendering me to cowardice。 Though an old man
may be pardoned； yet in my case there is no excuse for betraying the
country that gave me birth。 So I will go and save the city； be assured
thereof； and give my life up for this land。 For this were shame；
that they whom no oracles bind and who have not come under Fate's iron
law； should stand there； shoulder to shoulder； with never a fear of
death； and fight for their country before her towers； while I escape
the kingdom like a coward； a traitor to my father and brother and
city； and wheresoe'er I live； I shall a