the phoenissae-第7章
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of my marriage with Oedipus； by losing his son to his sorrow； a
piece of luck…for Thebes； but bitter grief to him。 Prithee to thy tale
again and say what my two sons next intend。
MESSENGER
Forbear to question further； all is well with thee so far。
JOCASTA
Thy words but rouse my suspicions； I cannot leave it thus。
MESSENGER
Hast thou any further wish than thy sons' safety？
JOCASTA
Yea； I would learn whether in the sequel I am also blest。
MESSENGER
Let me go； thy son is left without his squire。
JOCASTA
There is some evil thou art hiding； veiling it in darkness。
MESSENGER
Maybe； I would not add ill news to the good thou hast heard。
JOCASTA
Thou must； unless thou take wings and fly away。
MESSENGER
Ah！ why didst thou not let me go after announcing my good news；
instead of forcing me to disclose evil？ Those two sons of thine are
resolved on deeds of shameful recklessness； a single combat apart from
the host； addressing to Argives and Thebans alike words I would they
had never uttered。 Eteocles； taking his stand on a lofty tower；
after ordering silence to be proclaimed to the army； began on this
wise； 〃Ye captains of Hellas； chieftains of Argos here assembled；
and ye folk of Cadmus； barter not your lives for Polyneices or for me！
For I myself excuse you from this risk； and will engage my brother
in single combat； and if I slay him； will possess my palace without
rival； but if I am worsted I will bequeath the city to him。 Ye men
of Argos； give up the struggle and return to your land； nor lose
your lives here； of the earth…sown folk as well there are dead
enough in those already slain。〃
So he； then thy son Polyneices rushed from the array and
assented to his proposal； and all the Argives and the people of Cadmus
shouted their approval； as though they deemed it just。 On these
terms the armies made a truce； and in the space betwixt them took an
oath of each other for their leaders to abide by。 Forthwith in
brazen mail those two sons of aged Oedipus were casing themselves； and
lords of Thebes with friendly care equipped the captain of this
land； while Argive chieftains armed the other。 There they stood in
dazzling sheen； neither blenching； all eagerness to hurl their
lances each at the other。 Then came their friends to their side； first
one； then another； with words of encouragement； to wit：
〃Polyneices； it rests with thee to set up an image of Zeus as a
trophy； and crown Argos with fair renown。〃
Others hailed Eteocles： 〃Now art thou fighting for thy city；
now； if victorious； thou hast the sceptre in thy power。〃
So spake they； cheering them to the fray。
Meantime the seers were sacrificing sheep and noting the tongues
and forks of fire； the damp reek which is a bad omen； and the tapering
flame； which gives decisions on two points； being both a sign of
victory and defeat。 But； if thou hast any power or subtle speech or
charmed spell； go； stay thy children from this fell affray； for
great is the risk they run。 The issue thereof will be grievous
sorrow for thee； if to…day thou art reft of both thy sons。
（The MESSENGER departs in haste as ANTIGONE comes out of the palace。）
JOCASTA
Antigone； my daughter； come forth before the palace； this
heaven…sent crisis is no time for thee to be dancing or amusing
thyself with girlish pursuits。 But thou and thy mother must prevent
two gallant youths； thy own brothers； from plunging into death and
falling by each other's hand。
ANTIGONE
Mother mine； what new terror art thou proclaiming to thy dear ones
before the palace？
JOCASTA
Daughter； thy brothers are in danger of their life。
ANTIGONE
What mean'st thou？
JOCASTA
They have resolved on single combat。
ANTIGONE
O horror！ what hast thou to tell； mother？
JOCASTA
No welcome news； follow me。
ANTIGONE
Whither away from my maiden…bower？
JOCASTA
To the army。
ANTIGONE
I cannot face the crowd。
JOCASTA
Modesty is not for thee now。
ANTIGONE
But what can I do？
JOCASTA
Thou shalt end thy brothers' strife。
ANTIGONE
By what means； mother mine？
JOCASTA
By falling at their knees with me。
ANTIGONE
Lead on till we are 'twixt the armies； no time for lingering now。
JOCASTA
Haste； my daughter； haste！ For； if I can forestall the onset of my
sons； may yet live； but if they be dead； I will lay me down and die
with them。
（JOCASTA and ANTIGONE hurriedly depart。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe
Ah me！ my bosom thrills with terror； and through my flesh there
passes a throb of pity for the hapless mother。 Which of her two sons
will send the other to a bloody grave？ ah； woe is me！ O Zeus； O earth；
alas！ brother severing brother's throat and robbing him of life；
cleaving through his shield to spill his blood？ Ah me！ ah me！ which of
them will claim my dirge of death？
antistrophe
Woe unto thee； thou land of Thebes！ two savage beasts； two
murderous souls； with brandished spears will soon be draining each his
fallen foeman's gore。 Woe is them； that they ever thought of single
combat！ in foreign accent will I chant a dirge of tears and wailing in
mourning for the dead。 Close to murder stands their fortune； the
coming day will decide it。 Fatal； ah！ fatal will this slaughter be；
because of the avenging fiends。
But I see Creon on his way hither to the palace with brow
o'ercast； I will check my present lamentations。
（CREON enters。 He is followed by attendants carrying the body of
MENOECEUS。）
CREON
Ah me！ what shall I do？ Am I to mourn with bitter tears myself
or my city； round which is settling a swarm thick enough to send us to
Acheron？ My own son hath died for his country； bringing glory to his
name but grievous woe to me。 His body I rescued but now from the
dragon's rocky lair and sadly carried the self…slain victim hither
in my arms； and my house is fallen with weeping： but now I come to
fetch my sister Jocasta； the living must reverence the nether god by
paying honour to the dead。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Thy sister； Creon； hath gone forth and her daughter Antigone
went with her。
CREON
Whither went she？ and wherefore？ tell me。
LEADER
She heard that her sons were about to engage in single combat
for the royal house。
CREON
What is this？ I was paying the last honours to my dead son； and so
am late in learning this fresh sorrow。
LEADER
'Tis some time； Creon； since thy sister's departure； and I
expect the struggle for life and death is already decided by the
sons of Oedipus。
CREON
Alas！ I see an omen there； the gloomy look and clouded brow of
yonder messenger coming to tell us the whole matter。
（The SECOND MESSENGER enters。）
MESSENGER
Ah； woe is me！ what language can I find to tell my tale？
CREON
Our fate is sealed； thy opening words do naught to reassure us。
MESSENGER
Ah； woe is me！ I do repeat； for beside the scenes of woe already
enacted I bring tidings of new horror。
CREON
What is thy tale？
MESSENGER
Thy sister's sons are now no more； Creon。
CREON
Alas！ thou hast a heavy tale of woe for me and Thebes
LEADER
O house of Oedipus； hast thou heard these tidings？
CREON
Of sons slain by the self…same fate。
LEADER
A tale to make it weep； were it endowed with sense。
CREON
Oh！ most grievous stroke of fate！ woe is me for my sorrows！ woe！
MESSENGER
Woe indeed！ didst thou but know the sorrows still to tell。
CREON
How can they be more hard to bear than these？
MESSENGER
With her two sons thy sister has sought her death。
CHORUS （chanting）
Loudly； loudly raise the wail； and with white hands smite upon
your heads！
CREON
Ah！ woe is thee； Jocasta！ what an end to life and marriage hast
thou found the riddling of the Sphinx！ But tell me how her two sons
wrought the bloody deed； the struggle caused by the curse of Oedipus。
MESSENGER
Of our successes before the towers thou knowest； for the walls are
not so far away as to prevent thy learning each event as it
occurred。 Now when they； the sons of aged Oedipus； had donned their
brazen mail； they went and took their stand betwixt the hosts；
chieftains both and generals too； to decide the day by single
combat。 Then Polyneices； turning his eyes towards Argos； lifted up a
prayer； 〃O Hera； awful queens…for thy servant I am； since I have
wedded the daughter of Adrastus and dwell in his land；…grant that I
may slay my brother； and stain my lifted hand with the blood of my
conquered foe。 A shameful prize it is I ask； my own brother's
blood。〃 And to many an eye the tear would rise at their sad fate；
and men looked at one another； casting their glances round。
But Eteocles； looking towards the temple of Pallas with the golden
shield； prayed thus； 〃Daughter of Zeus； grant that this right arm
may launch the spear of victory against my brother's breast and slay
him who hath come to sack my country。〃 Soon as the Tuscan trumpet
blew； the signal for the bloody fray； like the torch that falls；' they
darted wildly at one another and； like boars whetting their savage
tusks； began the fray； their beards wet with foam； and they kept
shooting out their spears； but each crouched beneath his shield to let
the steel glance idly off； but if either saw the other's face above
the rim； he would aim his lance thereat； eager to outwit him。
But both kept such careful outlook through the spy…holes in
their shields； that their weapons found naught to do； while from the
on…lookers far more than the combatants trickled the sweat caused by
terror for their friends。 Suddenly Eteocles； in kicking aside a
stone that rolled beneath his tread； exposed a limb outside his
shield； and Polyneices seeing a chance of dealing him a blow； aimed
a dart at it； and the Argive shaft went through his leg； whereat the
Danai； one and all； cried out for joy。 But the wounded man； seeing a
shoulder unguarded in this effort； plunged his spear with all his
might into the breast of Polyneices； restoring gladness to the
citizens of Thebes； though he brake off the spear…head； and so； at a
loss for a weapon； he retreated foot by foot； till catching up
splintered rock he let it fly and shivered the other's spear； and
now was the combat equal； for each had lost his lance。 Then
clutching their sword…hilts they closed； and round and round； with
shields close…locked； they waged their wild warfare。 Anon Eteocles
introduced that crafty Thessalian trick； having some knowledge
