Euripides The Phoenician Women 834-1018

Teiresias

led in by his daughter. Lead on, my daughter; for you are an eye

to my blind feet, as a star is to sailors; lead my steps on to level ground; then go before, so that I do not stumble, for your father has no strength; keep safe for me in your maiden hand the auguries I took when I observed omens from birds,

835

seated in my holy prophet’s chair. Tell me, Menoeceus, son of Creon, how much further toward the city is it, to your father? For my knees grow weary, I have come a long way and can scarcely go on.

840

Creon

Take heart, Teiresias, for you have reached your harbor and are near your friends; take him by the hand, my child; for just as every chariot has to wait for outside help to lighten it, so does the step of old age.

845

Teiresias

Enough; I have arrived; why, Creon, do you summon me so urgently?

Creon

I have not forgotten that; but first collect your strength and regain your breath, shaking off the fatigue of your journey.

850

Teiresias

I am indeed worn out, for I arrived here only yesterday from the court of the Erechtheidae; they too were at war, fighting with Eumolpus.

I gave the victory to Cecrops’ sons, and I received this golden crown, as you see, the first-fruits of the enemy’s spoils.

855

Creon

I take your crown of victory as an omen. We, as you know, are exposed to the waves

of war with the Danaids, and great is the struggle for Thebes . Eteocles, our king, is already gone in full armor to meet Mycenae ’s champions; and he has bidden me inquire of you our best course to save the city.

860

Teiresias

For Eteocles I would have closed my lips and refrained from all response, but to you I will speak, since it is your wish to learn. This country, Creon, has been long afflicted, ever since Laius became a father against the will of the gods, begetting hapless Oedipus to be his own mother’s husband.

865

That bloody destruction of his eyes was planned by the gods as an example to Hellas ; and the sons of Oedipus went foolishly astray in wishing to throw over it the veil of time—as if they could outrun the gods! For by robbing their father of his due honor

870

and allowing him no freedom, they exasperated the poor sufferer; so he, suffering and disgraced as well, breathed dreadful curses against them. And I, because I left nothing undone or unsaid, incurred the hatred of the sons of Oedipus.

875

But death inflicted by each other’s hands awaits them, Creon; and the many heaps of the slain, some from Argive , some from Theban spears, shall cause bitter lamentation in the land of Thebes . Alas for you, poor city, you are being involved in their ruin,

880

unless I can persuade one man. The best course was to prevent any child of Oedipus becoming either citizen or king in this land, on the ground that they were under a ban and would overthrow the city. But since evil has the mastery of good, there is

885

one other means of safety; but—for it is unsafe for me to tell, and painful too for those whose fortune it is to supply their city with the saving cure—I will go away. Farewell; among the rest

890

I will endure what is to come, if I must; for what else can I do?

895

Creon

Stay here, old man.

Teiresias

Do not catch hold of me.

Creon

Wait; why do you try to escape?

Teiresias

It is your fortune that tries to escape you, not I.

Creon

Tell me what can save Thebes and her citizens.

Teiresias

Though you want this now, you will not want it soon.

Creon

Not wish to save my country? how can that be?

900

Teiresias

Do you really wish to hear it, eagerly?

Creon

Yes; for where should I show greater zeal?

Teiresias

Then you will presently hear my prophetic words. But first I would know for certain

where Menoeceus is, who led me here.

905

Creon

Here, not far away, but at your side.

Teiresias

Let him go far from my prophecies.

Creon

He is my own son and will be silent as he ought.

Teiresias

Do you want me to tell you in his presence?

Creon

Yes, for he will rejoice to hear the means of safety.

910

Teiresias

Then hear the intent of my oracle; if you observe it, you will save the city of Cadmus you must sacrifice Menoeceus, your son here, for your country, since you yourself are calling on fate.

Creon

What do you mean? What is this you have said, old man?

915

Teiresias

I have said what is, and you must do it.

Creon

O great evil, spoken so briefly!

Teiresias

Evil to you, but to your country great salvation.

Creon

I did not hear; I never listened; I renounce my city!

Teiresias

The man is no longer himself; he is drawing back.

920

Creon

Go in peace; it is not your prophecy I need.

Teiresias

Is truth dead, because you are unfortunate?

Creon

By your knees and gray hair—

Teiresias

Why implore me? You are demanding evils that are hard to prevent.

Creon

Be silent; do not tell the city your news.

925

Teiresias

You bid me to act unjustly; I cannot be silent.

Creon

What will you do to me? Kill my child?

Teiresias

That is for others to decide; it is for me to speak.

Creon

How did this curse come on me and my son?

Teiresias

You do right to ask me and to test what I have said. In the chamber where the earth-born dragon kept watch over Dirce’s springs, he must be offered as a sacrifice and shed his blood on the ground, a libation of Cadmus, because of the ancient wrath of Ares,

930

who now avenges the slaughter of his earth-born snake. If you do this, you shall win Ares as an ally. If the earth receives fruit for fruit and human blood for blood, you shall find her kind to you again, who once

935

sent up to us a crop of Sown-men with golden helmets; for one of those born from the dragon’s teeth must die.

940

Now you are our only survivor of the Sown race, pure-blooded both on your mother’s and your father’s side, you and your sons. Haemon’s marriage

holds him back from the slaughter, for he is no longer single; even if he has not consummated his marriage, yet he is betrothed. But this tender youth, consecrated to his city, might by dying rescue his country; and bitter will he make the return of Adrastus and his Argives,

945

flinging over their eyes a black spirit of death, and he will glorify Thebes . Choose one of these two destinies: either save the city or your son.

950

Now you have all that I had to say. Daughter, lead me home. The man who practices the prophet’s art

is a fool; for if he happens to give an adverse answer, he makes himself disliked by those for whom he takes the omens; while if he pities and deceives those who are consulting him, he wrongs the gods. Phoebus should have been man’s only prophet, for he fears no one. Exit Teiresias.

955

Chorus Leader

Creon, why are you so silent, without a word? I too am no less amazed.

960

Creon

What can one say? It is clear what my words must be. For I will never come to such misfortune as to devote my son to death for the city;

for all men love their children, and no one would give his own son to die. Let no man praise me, and kill my child at the same time. I myself, for I am in the prime of life, am ready to die to save my country.

965

But come, my son, before the whole city learns this, fly with all haste away from this land, regardless of these prophets’ reckless warnings; for he will tell all this to our rulers and generals going to the seven gates and the captains;

970

now if we can forestall him, you are saved, but if you are too late, we are ruined and you will die.

975

Menoeceus

Where can I escape? To what city? To which of our guest-friends?

Creon

Where you will be furthest removed from this land.

Menoeceus

It is for you to name a place, for me to carry out your bidding.

Creon

After passing Delphi —

980

Menoeceus

Where must I go, father?

Creon

To Aetolia .

Menoeceus

And where must I go from there?

Creon

To the land of Thesprotia .

Menoeceus

To Dodona ’s holy threshold?

Creon

You understand.

Menoeceus

What protection will I find there?

Creon

The god will send you on your way.

Menoeceus

How shall I find the means?

Creon

I will supply you with money.

985

Menoeceus

A good plan of yours, father. Go now; for I will come to your sister, Jocasta, at whose breast I was suckled when bereft of my mother, a lonely orphan, to give her greeting and then I will save my life.

Come, come! be going; it isn’t your part to hinder me. Exit Creon.

990

991

How cleverly, ladies, I banished my father’s fears by crafty words to gain my end; for he is trying to get me away, depriving the city of its chance and surrendering me to cowardice. Though an old man may be pardoned,

yet in my case there is no pardon for betraying the country that gave me birth. Know this, I will go and save the city, and give my life up for this land. For it is shameful: those whom no oracles bind

995

and who have not come under divine necessity, stand there, shoulder to shoulder, with no fear of death, and fight for their country before her towers; while I leave the land like a coward, a traitor to my father and brother and city;

1000

wherever I live, I shall seem base.

1005

No, by Zeus and all his stars, by Ares, god of blood, who established the Sown-men that sprung one day from earth as lords of this land! I will go, and standing on the topmost battlements,

will sacrifice myself 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.

1010

For if each were to take and expend all the good within his power, contributing it to the common good of his country, our states would experience fewer troubles and would prosper for the future. Exit Menoeceus.

1015

Kreon.

Sei ruhig, schon gelangtest du, Teiresias,

In deiner Freunde Nähe: fass ihn an, mein Sohn;

Denn wie der Wagen, liebt der Fuß des Greises auch

835

Nach Stüzen einer fremden Hand sich umzusehn.

Teiresias.

Da sind wir: was so eilig, Kreon, riefst du mich? ¹

Kreon.

Noch nicht vergessen hab' ich's: aber sammle dir

Von neuem Kraft und Athem nach des Weges Mühn. ²

Teiresias.

Matt wanken mir die Kniee, weil ich gestern schon ³

840

Hierher gezogen aus der Erechtheiden Land.

Dort war ein Krieg entglommen mit Eumolpos' Heer,

Worin ich Kekrops' Söhnen edlen Sieg verlieh.

Zum Lohne ward mir, den du siehst, der goldne Kranz;

Vom Raub' erschlagener Feinde sind's die Erstlinge.

845

Kreon.

Ein glucklich Zeichen sei für uns dein Siegeskranz!

Denn heiß umwogt uns, wie du weißt, die Noth vom Speer

Der Danaiden, Thebå ringt in schwerem Kampf.

Eteokles, unser König, zog bereits hinaus

Im Waffenschmucke wider Argos Heeresmacht.

850

Mir hat er ausgegeben, dich zu fragen, Greis,

Was hier zu thun sei, daß wir retten unsre Stadt.

Teiresias.

Kreon.

Verziehe noch, mein Alter.

Teiresias.

Halte mich nicht zurück.

Kreon.

Was fliehst du? Bleib'.

885

Teiresias.

Ich fliehe nicht; dich flieht das Glück.

Kreon.

Sag' uns, ein Bürger, was die Bürger retten kann.

Teiresias.

Jest willst du dieses, wollen wirst du's bald nicht mehr.

Kreon.

Wie? Nicht erretten wollt' ich meine Vaterstadt?

Teiresias.

Du willst es also horen, sehr verlangt es dich?

Kreon.

Um welches Andre sollt' ich denn mich mehr bemuhn?

890

Teiresias.

Wohlan vernimm, was uns die Götter offenbart.

Erst aber sage mir genau dies Eine noch:

Wo weilt Mendkeus, welcher mich hieher geführt?

Kreon.

Er ist in deiner Nähe, nicht entfernt von hier.

Teiresias.

Er fliehe weit vor meinen Göttersprüchen fort.

895

Kreon.

Er ist ja mein Sohn, schweigen wird er, wo er soll.

Teiresias.

In seinem Beisein soll ich's denn verkündigen?

Kreon.

Er wird sich freuen, hort er, was uns retten kann.

Teiresias.

Kreon.

Wie meinst du, Alter? Welches Wort entfiel dir da?

Teiresias.

Was dir verhängt ward, das zu thun, ist deine Pflicht.

Kreon.

Ach, vieles Unglück sprachst du aus in kurzer Zeit.

905

Teiresias.

Unglück allein dir, großes Heil dem Vaterland.

Kreon.

Nichts hör' ich, Nichts vernehm' ich: fahre hin die Stadt!

Teiresias.

Er ist derselbe nimmermehr, er tritt zurück.

Kreon.

Leb' wohl und gehe, dein Drakel brauch' ich nicht.

Teiresias.

Ist Nichts die Wahrheit, nun das Unglück dich bedrängt?

910

Kreon.

Bei deinen Knieen flch' ich, bei dem grauen Haar,

Teiresias.

Laß das! Die Gottheit fodert Unabwendbares. ⁴

Kreon.

Enthulle nicht dem Volke, was du mir enthüllt. ⁵

Teiresias.

Unrecht befiehlst du mir zu thun? Ich schweige nicht.

Kreon.

Was also willst du? Meinen Sohn ermorden mir?

915

Teiresias.

Da werden Andre sorgen; ich verkund' es nur.

Kreon.

Von wannen kam dies Uebel mir und meinem Kind?

Teiresias.

Nun fragst du richtig und berührst den rechten Punkt.

Er muß im Lager, wo der Erdentsprossene,

Der Drache, hauste, der bewacht der Dirke Born,

920

Sein Blut der Erde sterbend weihn zum Opfertrank,

Weil Ares alten Hasses Groll dem. Kadmos hegt,

Und nun den Mord der erdgebornen Schlange råcht.

Und thut ihr solches, steht im Kampf euch Ares bei;

Und wann der Boden Frucht um Frucht und Menschenblut

925

Um Blut empfangen, wird die Erd' euch gnädig sein,

Die goldbehelmte Männersaat euch ehemals

Heraufgesendet: doch ein Sohn aus diesem Stamm

Muß sterben, der den Zähnen jener Schlang' entsproß.

Du bist allein uns übrig aus dem Saatgeschlecht,

930

Vom Vater und der Mutter unvermischt und rein,

Samt deinen Kindern. Aber Hämons Tod verwehrt

Sein Ehebündnis; denn er ist nicht ledig mehr,

Hat eine Gattinn, wenn er auch sie nicht berührt.

Doch dieser Jüngling ist der Stadt geheiliget,

935

Und rettet unsrer Våter Land durch seinen Tod.:

Adrastos und den Argeiern wird er bittere

Heimkehr bereiten, hüllt ihr Aug' in Todesnacht,

Und krönt mit Ruhm die Theber. Wahl aus diesen zwei'n

Ein Loos: errette Theben oder deinen Sohn.

940

Das Meine sagt' ich Alles nun. Kind, führe mich

Nach Hause! Wer die Zeichenkunst des Schers übt,

Ist eitel thricht: muß er Leid verkündigen,

So zürnen Au' ihm, welchen er ihr Loos enthüllt;

Und wenn er, Mitleid fühlend, Unwahrheit gesagt,

945

Beleidigt er die Götter. Phobos mußt' allein

Den Menschen Zukunft deuten, weil er Keinen scheut.

(ab.)

Chor.

Kreon.

Was soll ich sagen? Meine Red' erklärt sich selbst.

950

Ich stürz' in solches Ungemach mich nimmermehr,

Daß ich den Sohn zum Opfer bråchte dieser Stadt.

Denn machtig ist die Kindeslieb' in jeder Brust,

Und Keiner gibt wohl seinen Sohn dem Tode preis.

Nicht loben soll mich, wer mein Kind mir tödten will.

955

Ich selbst, im langen Leben schon zum Sterben reif,

Ich bin zum Tod der Sühne für mein Land bereit.

Doch auf, Geliebter, eh's erfährt die ganze Stadt,

Fleuch ohne Säumen, hebe dich aus diesem Land,

Nicht achtend auf des Sehers unheilvollen Spruch.

960

Denn unsern Obern und den Feldherrn thut er's kund,

Wird an die sieben Thore nach den Führern gehn.

Du bist gerettet, kommen wir ihm schnell zuvor;

Doch såumst du, gehn wir unter, und dich trifft der Tod.

Menökeus.

Wo flieh' ich hin? Bu welchem Freunde, welcher Stadt?

965

Kreon.

Hin, wo du diesem Lande, Sohn, am fernsten bist.

Menökeus.

So ziemt es dir zu reden, und zu folgen mir.

Kreon.

Fleuchů ber Delphi.

Menökeus.

Vater, wohin muß ich dann?

Kreon.

Zum Land Netolis.

Menökeus.

Und von da, wo geh' ich hin?

Kreon.

In's Land Thesprotis.

970

Menökeus.

Du sagst es.

Nach Dodona's hehrem Siz?

Aber welcher Schuz wird mir erstehn?

Kreon.

Dich führt die Gottheit.

Menökeus.

Was erhält mich Wandernden?

Kreon.

Ich werde Gold dir schaffen.

Menökeus.

Wohl gesprochen! Nun

Geh, Vater; denn zu deiner Schwester will ich hin,

Zur Fökaste, deren Brust mich einst genährt,

975

Als ich, der Mutter früh beraubt, ein Waise ward:

Sie geh' ich noch zu grußen und entfliehe dann.

Doch auf, und eile; halte du mich nicht zurück.

(Kreon geht ab.)

Chor.