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Eteocles
Mother, it is no longer a contest of words; the time we still delay is idle waste; your good wishes accomplish nothing;
for we can never be reconciled except upon the terms already named, that I should keep the scepter and be king of this land. Cease these tedious warnings and let me be.
Turning to Polyneices And as for you, get outside the walls, or die!
590
Mother, it is no longer a contest of words; the time we still delay is idle waste; your good wishes accomplish nothing;
for we can never be reconciled except upon the terms already named, that I should keep the scepter and be king of this land. Cease these tedious warnings and let me be.
Turning to Polyneices And as for you, get outside the walls, or die!
590
Polyneices
Who will kill me? Who is so invulnerable as to plunge a murderous sword
in my body without getting for himself the same fate?
595
Who will kill me? Who is so invulnerable as to plunge a murderous sword
in my body without getting for himself the same fate?
595
Eteocles
He is near, not far away. Do you see my hands?
He is near, not far away. Do you see my hands?
Polyneices
I see them; but wealth is cowardly, a craven too fond of life.
I see them; but wealth is cowardly, a craven too fond of life.
Eteocles
Then did you come to battle with so many against a man worth nothing?
Then did you come to battle with so many against a man worth nothing?
Polyneices
Yes, for a steadfast general is better than a bold one.
Yes, for a steadfast general is better than a bold one.
Eteocles
Relying on the truce, which saves your life, you turn boaster.
600
Relying on the truce, which saves your life, you turn boaster.
600
Polyneices
And so do you; once more I demand back my scepter and share of the land.
And so do you; once more I demand back my scepter and share of the land.
Eteocles
I admit no demand; I will live in my own house.
I admit no demand; I will live in my own house.
Polyneices
And keep more than your share?
And keep more than your share?
Eteocles
Yes. Leave the country!
Yes. Leave the country!
Polyneices
O altars of my fathers’ gods—
O altars of my fathers’ gods—
Eteocles
Which you are here to destroy.
Which you are here to destroy.
Polyneices
Hear me—
605
Hear me—
605
Eteocles
Who would hear you after you have marched against your fatherland?
Who would hear you after you have marched against your fatherland?
Polyneices
And temples of the gods who ride on white horses—
And temples of the gods who ride on white horses—
Eteocles
And who hate you.
And who hate you.
Polyneices
I am being driven from my country—
I am being driven from my country—
Eteocles
Yes, for you came to destroy it.
Yes, for you came to destroy it.
Polyneices
Unjustly, O gods!
Unjustly, O gods!
Eteocles
Call on the gods at
Mycenae
, not here.
Call on the gods at
Mycenae
, not here.
Polyneices
You have become unholy—
You have become unholy—
Eteocles
But I have not, like you, become my country’s enemy.
But I have not, like you, become my country’s enemy.
Polyneices
By driving me out without my portion.
610
By driving me out without my portion.
610
Eteocles
I will kill you in addition.
I will kill you in addition.
Polyneices
O father, do you you hear what I am suffering?
O father, do you you hear what I am suffering?
Eteocles
Yes, and he hears what you are doing.
Yes, and he hears what you are doing.
Polyneices
And you, mother?
And you, mother?
Eteocles
It is not lawful for you to mention your mother.
It is not lawful for you to mention your mother.
Polyneices
O my city!
O my city!
Eteocles
The Phoenician Women. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.