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Eteocles
to an attendant
Go, bring Creon, son of Menoeceus, the brother of Jocasta my mother; tell him I want to consult with him on matters public and private, before we set out to battle and the arrangement of the army.
690
But he is here, saving you the trouble; I see him on his way to my house.
695
Go, bring Creon, son of Menoeceus, the brother of Jocasta my mother; tell him I want to consult with him on matters public and private, before we set out to battle and the arrangement of the army.
690
But he is here, saving you the trouble; I see him on his way to my house.
695
Creon
I have been everywhere, lord Eteocles, in my desire to see you, and have gone all round the gates and sentinels of
Thebes
hunting for you.
I have been everywhere, lord Eteocles, in my desire to see you, and have gone all round the gates and sentinels of
Thebes
hunting for you.
Eteocles
And I wanted to see you, Creon; for I found the terms of peace far from satisfactory, when I came to confer with Polyneices.
700
And I wanted to see you, Creon; for I found the terms of peace far from satisfactory, when I came to confer with Polyneices.
700
Creon
I hear that he has wider aims than
Thebes
, relying on his alliance with Adrastus and his army. But we must leave this dependent on the gods;
I have come to tell you our chief obstacle.
705
I hear that he has wider aims than
Thebes
, relying on his alliance with Adrastus and his army. But we must leave this dependent on the gods;
I have come to tell you our chief obstacle.
705
Eteocles
What is that? I do not understand what you say.
What is that? I do not understand what you say.
Creon
Someone has come who was captured from the Argives.
Someone has come who was captured from the Argives.
Eteocles
What news does he bring from there?
What news does he bring from there?
Creon
Eteocles
In that case the city of Cadmus must lead out its army.
In that case the city of Cadmus must lead out its army.
Creon
Where? Are you so young that your eyes do not see what they should?
Where? Are you so young that your eyes do not see what they should?
Eteocles
Across those trenches, to fight at once.
Across those trenches, to fight at once.
Creon
Our forces are small, while theirs are plentiful.
715
Our forces are small, while theirs are plentiful.
715
Eteocles
I know well they are brave in argument.
I know well they are brave in argument.
Creon
Argos
has some weight among the Hellenes.
Argos
has some weight among the Hellenes.
Eteocles
Never fear! I will soon fill the plain with their dead.
Never fear! I will soon fill the plain with their dead.
Creon
I could wish it so; but I see great difficulties in this.
I could wish it so; but I see great difficulties in this.
Eteocles
I will not keep my army within the walls.
720
I will not keep my army within the walls.
720
Creon
And yet victory is entirely a matter of good counsel.
And yet victory is entirely a matter of good counsel.
Eteocles
Do you then want me to turn to some other way?
Do you then want me to turn to some other way?
Creon
Yes, to every one, before running the risk once for all.
Yes, to every one, before running the risk once for all.
Eteocles
Suppose we fall on them by night from ambush?
Suppose we fall on them by night from ambush?
Creon
Yes, if in the event of defeat you can return safely here.
725
Yes, if in the event of defeat you can return safely here.
725
Eteocles
Night equalizes risks, though it rather favors daring.
Night equalizes risks, though it rather favors daring.
Creon
The darkness of night is a terrible time to suffer disaster.
The darkness of night is a terrible time to suffer disaster.
Eteocles
Well, shall I attack them as they sit at dinner?
Well, shall I attack them as they sit at dinner?
Creon
That might cause them fright, but victory is what we need.
That might cause them fright, but victory is what we need.
Eteocles
Dirce’s ford is certainly deep enough to prevent their retreat.
730
Dirce’s ford is certainly deep enough to prevent their retreat.
730
Creon
No plan so good as to keep well guarded.
No plan so good as to keep well guarded.
Eteocles
What if we ride out against the army of
Argos
?
What if we ride out against the army of
Argos
?
Creon
Their troops too are fenced all round with chariots.
Their troops too are fenced all round with chariots.
Eteocles
What shall I do, then? Am I to surrender the city to the enemy?
What shall I do, then? Am I to surrender the city to the enemy?
Creon
No indeed! But out of your wisdom form some plan.
735
No indeed! But out of your wisdom form some plan.
735
Eteocles
What forethought is wiser than mine?
737
What forethought is wiser than mine?
Creon
They have seven men, I hear—
They have seven men, I hear—
Eteocles
What is their appointed task? their might is small.
What is their appointed task? their might is small.
Creon
. . . To attack the seven gates.
. . . To attack the seven gates.
Eteocles
What are we to do then? I will not wait till every chance is gone.
740
What are we to do then? I will not wait till every chance is gone.
740
Creon
You also choose seven men to set against them at the gates.
You also choose seven men to set against them at the gates.
Eteocles
To lead our companies, or to fight single-handed?
To lead our companies, or to fight single-handed?
Creon
To lead; choose the very bravest ones.
To lead; choose the very bravest ones.
Eteocles
I understand; to repel attempts at scaling our walls.
I understand; to repel attempts at scaling our walls.
Creon
With others to share the command, for one man doesn’t see everything.
745
With others to share the command, for one man doesn’t see everything.
745
Eteocles
Selecting them for courage or thoughtful prudence?
Selecting them for courage or thoughtful prudence?
Creon
Both; for one is nothing without the other.
Both; for one is nothing without the other.
Eteocles
It shall be done; I will go to our seven towers and post captains at the gates, as you say,
pitting them man for man against the enemy. To tell each one’s name is a great waste of time, when the enemy are camped beneath our very walls. But I will go, that my hands may no longer hang idle. And may I find my brother face to face,
750
meet him in battle and kill him with my spear
and kill him, for coming to waste my country! But if I suffer any misfortune, you must see to the marriage between Antigone, my sister and Haemon, your son; and now, as I take my leave,
755
I ratify their previous betrothal. You are my mother’s brother, no need to speak at length. Take care of her as she deserves, both for your own sake and mine. As for my father, he has been guilty of folly against himself in putting out his eyes; I have small praise for him;
760
by his curses it may be that he will slay us too.
765
One thing we still have to do: ask Teiresias, the seer, if he has anything to say of heaven’s will. I will send your son Menoeceus, who bears your father’s name,
to fetch Teiresias here, Creon; for he will readily converse with you, but I have before now so scorned his prophetic art to his face, that he has reasons to reproach me. This commandment, Creon, I lay upon the city and you:
770
if my cause should prevail, never give Polyneices’ corpse a grave in Theban soil, and let the one who buries him die, even if it is a friend.
This I say to you; and this to my servants Bring out my weapons and armor,
775
so that I may start at once for the appointed combat, with justice to lead to victory. We will pray to Caution, the most useful goddess, to save our city.
Exit Eteocles.
780
It shall be done; I will go to our seven towers and post captains at the gates, as you say,
pitting them man for man against the enemy. To tell each one’s name is a great waste of time, when the enemy are camped beneath our very walls. But I will go, that my hands may no longer hang idle. And may I find my brother face to face,
750
meet him in battle and kill him with my spear
and kill him, for coming to waste my country! But if I suffer any misfortune, you must see to the marriage between Antigone, my sister and Haemon, your son; and now, as I take my leave,
755
I ratify their previous betrothal. You are my mother’s brother, no need to speak at length. Take care of her as she deserves, both for your own sake and mine. As for my father, he has been guilty of folly against himself in putting out his eyes; I have small praise for him;
760
by his curses it may be that he will slay us too.
765
One thing we still have to do: ask Teiresias, the seer, if he has anything to say of heaven’s will. I will send your son Menoeceus, who bears your father’s name,
to fetch Teiresias here, Creon; for he will readily converse with you, but I have before now so scorned his prophetic art to his face, that he has reasons to reproach me. This commandment, Creon, I lay upon the city and you:
770
if my cause should prevail, never give Polyneices’ corpse a grave in Theban soil, and let the one who buries him die, even if it is a friend.
This I say to you; and this to my servants Bring out my weapons and armor,
775
so that I may start at once for the appointed combat, with justice to lead to victory. We will pray to Caution, the most useful goddess, to save our city.
Exit Eteocles.
780
The Phoenician Women. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.