Euripides, The Phoenician Women, ed. Gilbert Murray, 690

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Scene

← Previous Next →

Ἐτεοκλῆς

χώρει σὺ καὶ κόμιζε τὸν Μενοικέως
690

Κρέοντʼ, ἀδελφὸν μητρὸς Ἰοκάστης ἐμῆς,

λέγων τάδʼ, ὡς οἰκεῖα καὶ κοινὰ χθονὸς

θέλω πρὸς αὐτὸν συμβαλεῖν βουλεύματα,

πρὶν ἐς μάχην τε καὶ δορὸς τάξιν μολεῖν.

καίτοι ποδῶν σῶν μόχθον ἐκλύει παρών·
695

ὁρῶ γὰρ αὐτὸν πρὸς δόμους στείχοντʼ ἐμούς.

Κρέων

ἦ πόλλʼ ἐπῆλθον εἰσιδεῖν χρῄζων σʼ, ἄναξ

Ἐτεόκλεες, πέριξ δὲ Καδμείων πύλας

φυλακάς τʼ ἐπῆλθον σὸν δέμας θηρώμενος.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

καὶ μὴν ἐγὼ σʼ ἔχρῃζον εἰσιδεῖν, Κρέον·
700

πολλῷ γὰρ ηὗρον ἐνδεεῖς διαλλαγάς

ὡς ἐς λόγους συνῆψα Πολυνείκει μολών.

Κρέων

ἤκουσα μεῖζον αὐτὸν ἢ Θήβας φρονεῖν,

κήδει τʼ Ἀδράστου καὶ στρατῷ πεποιθότα.

ἀλλʼ ἐς θεοὺς χρὴ ταῦτʼ ἀναρτήσαντʼ ἔχειν·
705

ἃ δʼ ἐμποδὼν μάλιστα, ταῦθʼ ἥκω φράσων.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα; τὸν λόγον γὰρ ἀγνοῶ.

Κρέων

ἥκει τις αἰχμάλωτος Ἀργείων πάρα.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

λέγει δὲ δὴ τί τῶν ἐκεῖ νεώτερον;

Κρέων

μέλλειν πέριξ πύργοισι Καδμείων πόλιν
710

ὅπλοις ἑλίξειν αὐτίκʼ Ἀργείων στρατόν.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ἐξοιστέον τἄρʼ ὅπλα Καδμείων πόλει.

Κρέων

ποῖ; μῶν νεάζων οὐχ ὁρᾷς ἃ χρή σʼ ὁρᾶν;

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ἐκτὸς τάφρων τῶνδʼ, ὡς μαχουμένους τάχα.

Κρέων

σμικρὸν τὸ πλῆθος τῆσδε γῆς, οἳ δʼ ἄφθονοι.
715

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ἐγᾦδα κείνους τοῖς λόγοις ὄντας θρασεῖς.

Κρέων

ἔχει τινʼ ὄγκον τἄργος Ἑλλήνων πάρα.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

θάρσει· τάχʼ αὐτῶν πεδίον ἐμπλήσω φόνου.

Κρέων

θέλοιμʼ ἄν· ἀλλὰ τοῦθʼ ὁρῶ πολλοῦ πόνου.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ὡς οὐ καθέξω τειχέων ἔσω στρατόν.
720

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν τὸ νικᾶν ἐστι πᾶν εὐβουλία.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

βούλῃ τράπωμαι δῆθʼ ὁδοὺς ἄλλας τινάς;

Κρέων

πάσας γε, πρὶν κίνδυνον εἰς ἅπαξ μολεῖν.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

εἰ νυκτὸς αὐτοῖς προσβάλοιμεν ἐκ λόχου;

Κρέων

εἴπερ σφαλείς γε δεῦρο σωθήσῃ πάλιν.
725

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ἴσον φέρει νύξ, τοῖς δὲ τολμῶσιν πλέον.

Κρέων

ἐνδυστυχῆσαι δεινὸν εὐφρόνης κνέφας.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ δεῖπνον οὖσι προσβάλω δόρυ;

Κρέων

ἔκπληξις ἂν γένοιτο· νικῆσαι δὲ δεῖ.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

βαθύς γέ τοι Διρκαῖος ἀναχωρεῖν πόρος.
730

Κρέων

ἅπαν κάκιον τοῦ φυλάσσεσθαι καλῶς.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

τί δʼ, εἰ καθιππεύσαιμεν Ἀργείων στρατόν;

Κρέων

κἀκεῖ πέφρακται λαὸς ἅρμασιν πέριξ.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

τί δῆτα δράσω; πολεμίοισι δῶ πόλιν;

Κρέων

μὴ δῆτα· βουλεύου δʼ, ἐπείπερ εἶ σοφός.
735

Ἐτεοκλῆς

τίς οὖν πρόνοια γίγνεται σοφωτέρα;

The Phoenician Women. Euripides. ed. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Φοίνισσαι (Greek) (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. III. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1920-1978))

Translations (3)

The Phoenician Maidens Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. II. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1891. (Modernized by Perseus.)) — 690 focus

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

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.

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

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

Eteocles

What is that? I do not understand what you say.

Creon

Someone has come who was captured from the Argives.

Eteocles

What news does he bring from there?

Creon

He says the Argive army intend at once to wind about the city of Thebes and its towers, with their army.
710

Eteocles

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?

Eteocles

Across those trenches, to fight at once.

Creon

Our forces are small, while theirs are plentiful.
715

Eteocles

I know well they are brave in argument.

Creon

Argos has some weight among the Hellenes.

Eteocles

Never fear! I will soon fill the plain with their dead.

Creon

I could wish it so; but I see great difficulties in this.

Eteocles

I will not keep my army within the walls.
720

Creon

And yet victory is entirely a matter of good counsel.

Eteocles

Do you then want me to turn to some other way?

Creon

Yes, to every one, before running the risk once for all.

Eteocles

Suppose we fall on them by night from ambush?

Creon

Yes, if in the event of defeat you can return safely here.
725

Eteocles

Night equalizes risks, though it rather favors daring.

Creon

The darkness of night is a terrible time to suffer disaster.

Eteocles

Well, shall I attack them as they sit at dinner?

Creon

That might cause them fright, but victory is what we need.

Eteocles

Dirce’s ford is certainly deep enough to prevent their retreat.
730

Creon

No plan so good as to keep well guarded.

Eteocles

What if we ride out against the army of Argos ?

Creon

Their troops too are fenced all round with chariots.

Eteocles

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

Eteocles

What forethought is wiser than mine?

The Phoenician Virgins (OCR draft) Experimental (The Phoenician Virgins. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

No corresponding passage available

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1841; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 1, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1841. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.) — 690 focus

Du geh' und rufe mir sogleich den Kreon her,

Den Sohn Mendkeus', der Jokaste's Bruder ist;

Sag' ihm, ich wolle noch mit ihm zu Rathe gehn,
680

Was unserm Hause frommen mög' und diesem Land,

Bevor ich auszieh' in den Kampf, in's Schlachtgewühl.:

Doch selbst erspart er deines Weges Mühe dir;

Ich sehe dort ihn, meinem Hause naht er sich.

Kreon.

Ich schweifte lang' um; dich zu sehn verlangte mich,
685

Konig Eteokles; an den Thoren dieser Stadt,

Bei allen Wachen schweift' ich um, und suchte dich.

Eteokles.

Auch ich, o Kreon, habe dich zu sehn gewunscht;

Denn wohl erkannt' ich, Einigung ist keine mehr,

Als ich mit Polyneikes im Gespräch verkehrt.
690

Kreon.

Ich hörte, höher streb' er, als nach Thebe's Land;

Denn auf Adrastos bau' er, auf des Schwähers Heer.

Doch dieses sei den Göttern heimgestellt von uns:

Was uns zunächst obliege, komm' ich kundzuthun.

Eteokles.

Und dieses wåre? Was du sagst, versteh' ich nicht.
695

Kreon.

Ein Kriegsgefangner fand sich ein von Argos Heer.

Eteokles.

Und welches Neue meldet er von jenen dort?

Kreon.

Sie wollen, sagt er, ungesäumt des Kadmos Stadt

Ringsher umschließen mit gedrängter Heeresmacht.¹

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Κρέων ἦ πόλλʼ ἐπῆλθον εἰσιδεῖν χρῄζων σʼ, ἄναξ Ἐτεόκλεες, πέριξ δὲ Καδμείων πύλας φυλακάς τʼ ἐπῆλθον σὸν δέμας θηρώμενος.

Ἐτεοκλῆς καὶ μὴν ἐγὼ σʼ ἔχρῃζον εἰσιδεῖν, Κρέον· 700 πολλῷ γὰρ ηὗρον ἐνδεεῖς διαλλαγάς ὡς ἐς λόγους συνῆψα Πολυνείκει μολών.

Ἐτεοκλῆς τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα; τὸν λόγον γὰρ ἀγνοῶ.

Κρέων ἥκει τις αἰχμάλωτος Ἀργείων πάρα.

Ἐτεοκλῆς λέγει δὲ δὴ τί τῶν ἐκεῖ νεώτερον;

Κρέων μέλλειν πέριξ πύργοισι Καδμείων πόλιν 710 ὅπλοις ἑλίξειν αὐτίκʼ Ἀργείων στρατόν.

Ἐτεοκλῆς ἐξοιστέον τἄρʼ ὅπλα Καδμείων πόλει.

Κρέων ποῖ; μῶν νεάζων οὐχ ὁρᾷς ἃ χρή σʼ ὁρᾶν;

Ἐτεοκλῆς ἐκτὸς τάφρων τῶνδʼ, ὡς μαχουμένους τάχα.

Κρέων σμικρὸν τὸ πλῆθος τῆσδε γῆς, οἳ δʼ ἄφθονοι. 715

Ἐτεοκλῆς ἐγᾦδα κείνους τοῖς λόγοις ὄντας θρασεῖς.

Κρέων ἔχει τινʼ ὄγκον τἄργος Ἑλλήνων πάρα.

Ἐτεοκλῆς θάρσει· τάχʼ αὐτῶν πεδίον ἐμπλήσω φόνου.

Κρέων θέλοιμʼ ἄν· ἀλλὰ τοῦθʼ ὁρῶ πολλοῦ πόνου.

Ἐτεοκλῆς ὡς οὐ καθέξω τειχέων ἔσω στρατόν. 720

Κρέων καὶ μὴν τὸ νικᾶν ἐστι πᾶν εὐβουλία.

Ἐτεοκλῆς βούλῃ τράπωμαι δῆθʼ ὁδοὺς ἄλλας τινάς;

Κρέων πάσας γε, πρὶν κίνδυνον εἰς ἅπαξ μολεῖν.

Ἐτεοκλῆς εἰ νυκτὸς αὐτοῖς προσβάλοιμεν ἐκ λόχου;

Κρέων εἴπερ σφαλείς γε δεῦρο σωθήσῃ πάλιν. 725

Ἐτεοκλῆς ἴσον φέρει νύξ, τοῖς δὲ τολμῶσιν πλέον.

Κρέων ἐνδυστυχῆσαι δεινὸν εὐφρόνης κνέφας.

Ἐτεοκλῆς ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ δεῖπνον οὖσι προσβάλω δόρυ;

Κρέων ἔκπληξις ἂν γένοιτο· νικῆσαι δὲ δεῖ.

Ἐτεοκλῆς βαθύς γέ τοι Διρκαῖος ἀναχωρεῖν πόρος. 730

Κρέων ἅπαν κάκιον τοῦ φυλάσσεσθαι καλῶς.

Ἐτεοκλῆς τί δʼ, εἰ καθιππεύσαιμεν Ἀργείων στρατόν;

Κρέων κἀκεῖ πέφρακται λαὸς ἅρμασιν πέριξ.

Ἐτεοκλῆς τί δῆτα δράσω; πολεμίοισι δῶ πόλιν;

Κρέων μὴ δῆτα· βουλεύου δʼ, ἐπείπερ εἶ σοφός. 735

Ἐτεοκλῆς τίς οὖν πρόνοια γίγνεται σοφωτέρα;

Current edition Perseus

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.

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

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

Eteocles What is that? I do not understand what you say.

Creon Someone has come who was captured from the Argives.

Eteocles What news does he bring from there?

Creon He says the Argive army intend at once to wind about the city of Thebes and its towers, with their army. 710

Eteocles 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?

Eteocles Across those trenches, to fight at once.

Creon Our forces are small, while theirs are plentiful. 715

Eteocles I know well they are brave in argument.

Creon Argos has some weight among the Hellenes.

Eteocles Never fear! I will soon fill the plain with their dead.

Creon I could wish it so; but I see great difficulties in this.

Eteocles I will not keep my army within the walls. 720

Creon And yet victory is entirely a matter of good counsel.

Eteocles Do you then want me to turn to some other way?

Creon Yes, to every one, before running the risk once for all.

Eteocles Suppose we fall on them by night from ambush?

Creon Yes, if in the event of defeat you can return safely here. 725

Eteocles Night equalizes risks, though it rather favors daring.

Creon The darkness of night is a terrible time to suffer disaster.

Eteocles Well, shall I attack them as they sit at dinner?

Creon That might cause them fright, but victory is what we need.

Eteocles Dirce’s ford is certainly deep enough to prevent their retreat. 730

Creon No plan so good as to keep well guarded.

Eteocles What if we ride out against the army of Argos ?

Creon Their troops too are fenced all round with chariots.

Eteocles 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

Eteocles What forethought is wiser than mine?

Kreon. Ich schweifte lang' um; dich zu sehn verlangte mich, 685 Konig Eteokles; an den Thoren dieser Stadt, Bei allen Wachen schweift' ich um, und suchte dich.

Eteokles. Auch ich, o Kreon, habe dich zu sehn gewunscht; Denn wohl erkannt' ich, Einigung ist keine mehr, Als ich mit Polyneikes im Gespräch verkehrt. 690

Kreon. Ich hörte, höher streb' er, als nach Thebe's Land; Denn auf Adrastos bau' er, auf des Schwähers Heer. Doch dieses sei den Göttern heimgestellt von uns: Was uns zunächst obliege, komm' ich kundzuthun.

Eteokles. Und dieses wåre? Was du sagst, versteh' ich nicht. 695

Kreon. Ein Kriegsgefangner fand sich ein von Argos Heer.

Eteokles. Und welches Neue meldet er von jenen dort?

Kreon. Sie wollen, sagt er, ungesäumt des Kadmos Stadt Ringsher umschließen mit gedrängter Heeresmacht. 1

Eteokles. So zieh' ich aus den Thoren mit dem Heere denn. 700

Kreon. Wohin? Du siehst nicht, Jungling, was du sehen solust!

Eteokles. Aus diesen Gråben unverweilt in offnen Kampf.

Kreon. Klein ist die Schaar der Unsern, groß der Feinde Zahl.

Eteokles. Ich weiß es wohl, in Worten sind sie tapfer dort.

Kreon. Doch angesehn ist Argos Nam' in Hellas Volk. 705

Eteokles. Getrost! Mit seinen Todten füll' ich bald die Flur.

Κρέων

ἦ πόλλʼ ἐπῆλθον εἰσιδεῖν χρῄζων σʼ, ἄναξ

Ἐτεόκλεες, πέριξ δὲ Καδμείων πύλας

φυλακάς τʼ ἐπῆλθον σὸν δέμας θηρώμενος.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

καὶ μὴν ἐγὼ σʼ ἔχρῃζον εἰσιδεῖν, Κρέον·
700

πολλῷ γὰρ ηὗρον ἐνδεεῖς διαλλαγάς

ὡς ἐς λόγους συνῆψα Πολυνείκει μολών.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα; τὸν λόγον γὰρ ἀγνοῶ.

Κρέων

ἥκει τις αἰχμάλωτος Ἀργείων πάρα.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

λέγει δὲ δὴ τί τῶν ἐκεῖ νεώτερον;

Κρέων

μέλλειν πέριξ πύργοισι Καδμείων πόλιν
710

ὅπλοις ἑλίξειν αὐτίκʼ Ἀργείων στρατόν.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ἐξοιστέον τἄρʼ ὅπλα Καδμείων πόλει.

Κρέων

ποῖ; μῶν νεάζων οὐχ ὁρᾷς ἃ χρή σʼ ὁρᾶν;

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ἐκτὸς τάφρων τῶνδʼ, ὡς μαχουμένους τάχα.

Κρέων

σμικρὸν τὸ πλῆθος τῆσδε γῆς, οἳ δʼ ἄφθονοι.
715

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ἐγᾦδα κείνους τοῖς λόγοις ὄντας θρασεῖς.

Κρέων

ἔχει τινʼ ὄγκον τἄργος Ἑλλήνων πάρα.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

θάρσει· τάχʼ αὐτῶν πεδίον ἐμπλήσω φόνου.

Κρέων

θέλοιμʼ ἄν· ἀλλὰ τοῦθʼ ὁρῶ πολλοῦ πόνου.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ὡς οὐ καθέξω τειχέων ἔσω στρατόν.
720

Κρέων

καὶ μὴν τὸ νικᾶν ἐστι πᾶν εὐβουλία.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

βούλῃ τράπωμαι δῆθʼ ὁδοὺς ἄλλας τινάς;

Κρέων

πάσας γε, πρὶν κίνδυνον εἰς ἅπαξ μολεῖν.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

εἰ νυκτὸς αὐτοῖς προσβάλοιμεν ἐκ λόχου;

Κρέων

εἴπερ σφαλείς γε δεῦρο σωθήσῃ πάλιν.
725

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ἴσον φέρει νύξ, τοῖς δὲ τολμῶσιν πλέον.

Κρέων

ἐνδυστυχῆσαι δεινὸν εὐφρόνης κνέφας.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ δεῖπνον οὖσι προσβάλω δόρυ;

Κρέων

ἔκπληξις ἂν γένοιτο· νικῆσαι δὲ δεῖ.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

βαθύς γέ τοι Διρκαῖος ἀναχωρεῖν πόρος.
730

Κρέων

ἅπαν κάκιον τοῦ φυλάσσεσθαι καλῶς.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

τί δʼ, εἰ καθιππεύσαιμεν Ἀργείων στρατόν;

Κρέων

κἀκεῖ πέφρακται λαὸς ἅρμασιν πέριξ.

Ἐτεοκλῆς

τί δῆτα δράσω; πολεμίοισι δῶ πόλιν;

Κρέων

μὴ δῆτα· βουλεύου δʼ, ἐπείπερ εἶ σοφός.
735

Ἐτεοκλῆς

τίς οὖν πρόνοια γίγνεται σοφωτέρα;

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.

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

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

Eteocles

What is that? I do not understand what you say.

Creon

Someone has come who was captured from the Argives.

Eteocles

What news does he bring from there?

Creon

He says the Argive army intend at once to wind about the city of Thebes and its towers, with their army.
710

Eteocles

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?

Eteocles

Across those trenches, to fight at once.

Creon

Our forces are small, while theirs are plentiful.
715

Eteocles

I know well they are brave in argument.

Creon

Argos has some weight among the Hellenes.

Eteocles

Never fear! I will soon fill the plain with their dead.

Creon

I could wish it so; but I see great difficulties in this.

Eteocles

I will not keep my army within the walls.
720

Creon

And yet victory is entirely a matter of good counsel.

Eteocles

Do you then want me to turn to some other way?

Creon

Yes, to every one, before running the risk once for all.

Eteocles

Suppose we fall on them by night from ambush?

Creon

Yes, if in the event of defeat you can return safely here.
725

Eteocles

Night equalizes risks, though it rather favors daring.

Creon

The darkness of night is a terrible time to suffer disaster.

Eteocles

Well, shall I attack them as they sit at dinner?

Creon

That might cause them fright, but victory is what we need.

Eteocles

Dirce’s ford is certainly deep enough to prevent their retreat.
730

Creon

No plan so good as to keep well guarded.

Eteocles

What if we ride out against the army of Argos ?

Creon

Their troops too are fenced all round with chariots.

Eteocles

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

Eteocles

What forethought is wiser than mine?

Kreon.

Ich schweifte lang' um; dich zu sehn verlangte mich,
685

Konig Eteokles; an den Thoren dieser Stadt,

Bei allen Wachen schweift' ich um, und suchte dich.

Eteokles.

Auch ich, o Kreon, habe dich zu sehn gewunscht;

Denn wohl erkannt' ich, Einigung ist keine mehr,

Als ich mit Polyneikes im Gespräch verkehrt.
690

Kreon.

Ich hörte, höher streb' er, als nach Thebe's Land;

Denn auf Adrastos bau' er, auf des Schwähers Heer.

Doch dieses sei den Göttern heimgestellt von uns:

Was uns zunächst obliege, komm' ich kundzuthun.

Eteokles.

Und dieses wåre? Was du sagst, versteh' ich nicht.
695

Kreon.

Ein Kriegsgefangner fand sich ein von Argos Heer.

Eteokles.

Und welches Neue meldet er von jenen dort?

Kreon.

Sie wollen, sagt er, ungesäumt des Kadmos Stadt

Ringsher umschließen mit gedrängter Heeresmacht.¹

Eteokles.

So zieh' ich aus den Thoren mit dem Heere denn.
700

Kreon.

Wohin? Du siehst nicht, Jungling, was du sehen solust!

Eteokles.

Aus diesen Gråben unverweilt in offnen Kampf.

Kreon.

Klein ist die Schaar der Unsern, groß der Feinde Zahl.

Eteokles.

Ich weiß es wohl, in Worten sind sie tapfer dort.

Kreon.

Doch angesehn ist Argos Nam' in Hellas Volk.
705

Eteokles.

Getrost! Mit seinen Todten füll' ich bald die Flur.

Kreon.

Ich wunsch' es; aber mühevoll ist solches Werk.

Eteokles.

Nicht innerhalb der Mauern halt ich meine Schaar.

Kreon.

Doch schafft den Sieg uns überall Besonnenheit.