And I do in truth hear the snortings of the horses.
Eteocles
Do not now, when thou hearest them, hear too distinctly.
Do not now, when thou hearest them, hear too distinctly.
Chorus
Our city groans from the ground, as though the foes were hemming her in.
Our city groans from the ground, as though the foes were hemming her in.
Eteocles
Is it not then enough that I take measures for this?
Is it not then enough that I take measures for this?
Chorus
I fear! for the battering at the gates increases.
I fear! for the battering at the gates increases.
Eteocles
Wilt thou not be silent? Say nought of this kind in the city.
Wilt thou not be silent? Say nought of this kind in the city.
Chorus
O associate band [of gods], abandon not our towers.
O associate band [of gods], abandon not our towers.
Eteocles
Cannot ye endure it in silence, and confusion to ye?
Cannot ye endure it in silence, and confusion to ye?
Chorus
Gods of my city! let me not meet with slavery.
Gods of my city! let me not meet with slavery.
Eteocles
Thou thyself art making a slave both of me, of thyself, and of the city.
Thou thyself art making a slave both of me, of thyself, and of the city.
Chorus
O all-potent Jove! turn the shaft against our foes.
O all-potent Jove! turn the shaft against our foes.
Eteocles
O Jove! what a race hast thou made women!
O Jove! what a race hast thou made women!
Chorus
Just as wretched as men when their city is taken.
Just as wretched as men when their city is taken.
Eteocles
Again thou art yelping as thou claspest the statues!
Again thou art yelping as thou claspest the statues!
Chorus
Yes, for in my panic terror hurries away my tongue.
Yes, for in my panic terror hurries away my tongue.
Eteocles
Would to heaven that you would grant me a trifling favour on my requesting it.
Would to heaven that you would grant me a trifling favour on my requesting it.
Chorus
Tell me as quickly as you can, and I shall know at once.
Tell me as quickly as you can, and I shall know at once.
Eteocles
Hold thy peace, wretched woman, alarm not thy friends.
Hold thy peace, wretched woman, alarm not thy friends.
Chorus
I hold my peace—with others I will suffer what is destined.
I hold my peace—with others I will suffer what is destined.
Eteocles
I prefer this expression of thine rather than thy former words; and moreover, coming forth from the statues, pray thou for the best,—that the gods may be our allies. And after thou hast listened to my prayers, then do thou raise the sacred auspicious shout of the Paean, the Grecian rite of sacrificial acclamation, an encouragement to thy friends that removes the fear of the foe. And I, to the tutelary gods of our land, both those who haunt the plains, and those who watch over the forum, and to the fountains of Dirce, and I speak not without those of the Ismenus
, if things turn out well and our city is preserved, do thus make my vows that we, dyeing the altars of the gods with the blood of sheep, offering bulls to the gods, will deposit trophies, and vestments of our enemies, spear-won spoils of the foe, in their hallowed abodes. Offer thou prayers like these to the gods, not with a number of sighs, nor with foolish and wild sobbings; for not one whit the more wilt thou escape Destiny. But I too, forsooth
, will go and marshal at the seven outlets of our walls, six men, with myself for a seventh, antagonists to our foes in gallant plight, before both urgent messengers and quickly-bruited tidings arrive, and inflame us by the crisis.
Exit Eteocles.
I prefer this expression of thine rather than thy former words; and moreover, coming forth from the statues, pray thou for the best,—that the gods may be our allies. And after thou hast listened to my prayers, then do thou raise the sacred auspicious shout of the Paean, the Grecian rite of sacrificial acclamation, an encouragement to thy friends that removes the fear of the foe. And I, to the tutelary gods of our land, both those who haunt the plains, and those who watch over the forum, and to the fountains of Dirce, and I speak not without those of the Ismenus
, if things turn out well and our city is preserved, do thus make my vows that we, dyeing the altars of the gods with the blood of sheep, offering bulls to the gods, will deposit trophies, and vestments of our enemies, spear-won spoils of the foe, in their hallowed abodes. Offer thou prayers like these to the gods, not with a number of sighs, nor with foolish and wild sobbings; for not one whit the more wilt thou escape Destiny. But I too, forsooth
, will go and marshal at the seven outlets of our walls, six men, with myself for a seventh, antagonists to our foes in gallant plight, before both urgent messengers and quickly-bruited tidings arrive, and inflame us by the crisis.
Chorus
Seven Against Thebes. Aeschylus. Theodore Alois Buckley (Translator). London. 1849.
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