Euripides The Phoenician Women 427

Jocasta

How did you persuade an army to follow you here?

Polyneices

Adrastus swore an oath to his two sons-in-law, Tydeus and myself; for he is my relative by marriage that he would restore us both to our country, me first.

So many Danaan and Mycenaean chiefs have joined me, doing me a bitter though needful service, for it is against my own city I am marching. Now I call the gods to witness, that it is not willingly I have raised the spear against my willing friends.

430

But it belongs to you, mother, to dissolve this unhappy feud, and, by reconciling loving brothers, to end the trouble for me and you and the whole city. It has been said for a long time, but I will say it anyway: wealth is most valued by men,

435

and of all things in the world it has the greatest power. This I have come to secure at the head of my great army; for a man well-born but poor is worth nothing.

440

Chorus Leader

And see, Eteocles comes here to discuss the truce. It is your task, mother Jocasta, to speak

such words as may reconcile your sons.

445

Eteocles

Mother, I am here; I have come to do you a favor. What am I to do? Let some one begin the conference; for I stopped marshalling the citizens in pairs of companies around the walls, so that I might hear your

arbitration between us, by which you persuaded me to admit this man under truce within the walls.

450

Jocasta

Wait; haste does not carry justice with it; but slow deliberation often attains a wise result. Restrain the fierceness of your look and panting rage;

for this is not the Gorgon’s severed head but your own brother whom you see has come. You too, Polyneices, turn and face your brother; for if you look at him, you will speak and listen to him the better.

455

I want to give you both one piece of good counsel; when a man that is angry with his friend confronts him face to face, he ought only to keep in view the object of his coming, forgetting all previous quarrels.

460

My son Polyneices, speak first, for you have come at the head of a Danaid army, alleging wrongful treatment; may some god be the judge and reconciler of the troubles.

465

Chor.

Zur Friedenshandlung naht sich dort Eteokles auch:

Dein Werk, o Mutter, ist es nun, ein gutes Wort

Zu reden, das zum Frieden stimmt der Sohne perz.

Eteokles.

Hier bin ich, Mutter; dir zu Liebe komm' ich her.

Was soll ich? Einer fange doch zu reden an!

440

Denn um die Mauern stellt' ich auf die Doppelreih'n,

Und hielt zuruck die Bürger, dein Schiedsrichterwort

Zu hören, wozu diesen du (so hast du mich

Beredet!) friedlich eingelassen in die Stadt.

Jokaste.

Halt! Uebereilung thut ja nie, was billig ist:

445

Gelaßne Reden schaffen meist das Klügere.

Weg mit dem düstern Auge, mit des Zornes Wuth!

Kein abgeschlagnes Gorgohaupt erblickst du ja;

Den Bruder siehst du, der zu dir gekommen ist.

Und wende du auch dein Gesicht dem Bruder zu,

450

Polyneikes; wenn dein klarer Blick den seinen trifft,

So sprichst du besser, und verstehst auch besser ihn.

Wohlmeinend, Kinder, geb' ich euch den weisen Rath:

Sobald der Freund, der seinem Freunde schwer gezürnt,

Mit ihm zusammentreffend, Aug' in Auge sieht;

455

So muß er darauf achten nur, weshalb er kam,

Und nicht des Bösen denken, das zuvor geschah.

Dein Wort, mein Sohn Polyneikes, sei das erste nun:

Du zogst heran mit einem Danaidenheer,

Unrecht erleidend, wie du sagst; o mige hier

460

Ein Gott entscheiden und des Streits Versöhner sein!

Polyneikes.