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the kingdom like a coward； a traitor to my father and brother and
city； and wheresoe'er I live； I shall appear a dastard。 Nay； by Zeus
and all his stars； by Ares； god of blood； who 'stablished the
warrior…crop that sprung one day from earth as princes of this land；
that shall not be！ but go I will； and standing on the topmost
battlements； will deal my own death…blow over the dragon's deep dark
den； the spot the seer described； and will set my country free。 I have
spoken。 Now I go to make the city a present of my life； no mean
offering； to rid this kingdom of its affliction。 For if each were to
take and expend all the good within his power； contributing it to
his country's weal； our states would experience fewer troubles and
would for the future prosper。
（MENOECEUS goes out。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
Thou cam'st； O winged fiend； spawn of earth and hellish
viper…brood； to prey upon the sons of Cadmus； rife with death and
fraught with sorrow； half a monster； half a maid； a murderous prodigy；
with roving wings and ravening claws； that in days gone by didst catch
up youthful victims from the haunts of Dirce； with discordant note；
bringing a deadly curse； a woe of bloodshed to our native land。 A
murderous god he was who brought all this to pass。 In every house
was heard a cry of mothers wailing and of wailing maids； lamentation
and the voice of weeping； as each took up the chant of death from
street to street in turn。 Loud rang the mourners' wail； and one
great cry went up； whene'er that winged maiden bore some victim out of
sight from the city。
antistrophe
At last came Oedipus； the man of sorrow； on his mission from
Delphi to this land of Thebes； a joy to them then but afterwards cause
of grief； for； when he had read the riddle triumphantly； he formed
with his mother an unhallowed union； woe to him！ polluting the city；
and by his curses； luckless wight； he plunged his sons into a guilty
strife； causing them to wade through seas of blood。 All reverence do
we feel for him； who is gone to his death in his country's cause；
bequeathing to Creon a legacy of tears； but destined to crown with
victory our seven fenced towers。 May our motherhood be blessed with
such noble sons； O Pallas； kindly queen； who with well…aimed stone
didst spill the serpent's blood； rousing Cadmus as thou didst to brood
upon the task； whereof the issue was a demon's curse that swooped upon
this land and harried it。
（The FIRST MESSENGER enters。）
MESSENGER
Ho there！ who is at the palace…gates？ Open the door； summon
Jocasta forth。 Ho there！ once again I call； spite of this long delay
come forth； hearken； noble wife of Oedipus； cease thy lamentation
and thy tears of woe。
（JOCASTA enters from the palace in answer to his call。）
JOCASTA
Surely thou art not come； my friend； with the sad news of
Eteocles' death； beside whose shield thou hast ever marched； warding
from him the foeman's darts？ What tidings art thou here to bring me？
Is my son alive or dead？ Declare that to me。
MESSENGER
To rid thee of thy fear at once； he lives； that terror banish。
JOCASTA
Next； how is it with the seven towers that wall us in？
MESSENGER
They stand unshattered still； the city is not yet a prey。
JOCASTA
Have they been in jeopardy of the Argive spear？
MESSENGER
Aye； on the very brink； but our Theban warriors proved too
strong for Mycenae's might。
JOCASTA
One thing tell me； I implore； knowest thou aught of Polyneices； is
he yet alive？ for this too I long to learn。
MESSENGER
As yet thy sons are living； the pair of them。
JOCASTA
God bless thee！ How did you succeed in beating off from our
gates the Argive hosts； when thus beleaguered？ Tell me； that I may
go within and cheer the old blind man； since our city is still safe。
MESSENGER
After Creon's son； who gave up life for country； had taken his
stand on the turret's top and plunged a sword dark…hilted through
his throat to save this land； thy son told off seven companies with
their captains to the seven gates to keep watch on the Argive
warriors； and stationed cavalry to cover cavalry； and infantry to
support infantry； that assistance might be close at hand for any
weak point in the walls。 Then from our lofty towers we saw the
Argive host with their white shields leaving Teumessus； and； when near
the trench； they charged up to our Theban city at the double。 In one
loud burst from their ranks and from our battlements rang out the
battle…cry and trumpet…call。 First to the Neistian gate；
Parthenopaeus； son of the huntress maid； led a company bristling
with serried shields； himself with his own peculiar badge in the
centre of his targe； Atalanta slaying the Aetolian boar with an
arrow shot from far。 To the gates of Proetus came the prophet
Amphiaraus； bringing the victims on a chariot； no vaunting blazon he
carried； but weapons chastely plain。 Next； prince Hippomedon came
marching to the Ogygian port with this device upon his boss； Argus the
all…seeing with his spangled eyes upon the watch whereof some open
with the rising stars； while others he closes when they set； as one
could see after he was slain。 At the Homoloian gates Tydeus was
posting himself； a lion's skin with shaggy mane upon his buckler；
while in his right hand he bore a torch； like Titan Prometheus； to
fire the town。 Thy own son Polyneices led the battle 'gainst the
Fountain gate； upon his shield for blazon were the steeds of Potniae
galloping at frantic speed； revolving by some clever contrivance on
pivots inside the buckler close to the handle； so as to appear
distraught。 At Electra's gate famed Capaneus brought up his company；
bold as Ares for the fray； this device his buckler bore upon its
iron back； an earth…born giant carrying on his shoulders a whole
city which he had wrenched from its base； hint to us of the fate in
store for Thebes。 Adrastus was stationed at the seventh gate； a
hundred vipers filled his shield with graven work； as he bore on his
left arm that proud Argive badge； the hydra； and serpents were
carrying off in their jaws the sons of Thebes from within their very
walls。 Now I was enabled to see each of them； as I carried the
watch…word along the line to the leaders of our companies。 To begin
with； we fought with bows and thonged javelins； with slings that shoot
from far and showers of crashing stones； and as we were conquering；
Tydeus and thy son on sudden cried aloud； 〃Ye sons of Argos； before
being riddled by their fire； why delay to fall upon the gates with
might and main； the whole of you； light…armed and horse and
charioteers？〃 No loitering then； soon as they heard that call； and
many a warrior fell with bloody cr