Howbeit, weak is trust reposed in Heaven-Yet are we upon Zeus' victorious side, The foe, with those he worsted-if in sooth Zeus against Typhon held the upper hand, And if Hyperbius (as well may hap When two such foes such diverse emblems bear)Have Zeus upon his shield, a saving sign.
(HYPERBIUS goes out.)
CHORUS (chanting)
High faith is mine that he whose shield Bears, against Zeus, the thing of hate.
The giant Typhon, thus revealed, A monster loathed of gods eterne And mortal men-this doom shall earn A shattered skull, before the gate!
THE SPY
Heaven send it so! A fifth assailant now Is set against our fifth, the northern, gate, Fronting the death-mound where Amphion lies The child of Zeus.This foeman vows his faith, Upon a mystic spear-head which he deems More holy than a godhead and more sure To find its mark than any glance of eye, That, will they, nill they, he will storm and sack The hold of the Cadmeans.Such his oath-His, the bold warrior, yet of childish years, A bud of beauty's foremost flower, the son Of Zeus and of the mountain maid.I mark How the soft down is waxing on his cheek, Thick and close-growing in its tender prime-In name, not mood, is he a maiden's child-Parthenopaeus; large and bright his eyes But fierce the wrath wherewith he fronts the gate:
Yet not unheralded he takes his stand Before the portal; on his brazen shield, The rounded screen and shelter of his form, I saw him show the ravening Sphinx, the fiend That shamed our city-how it glared and moved, Clamped on the buckler, wrought in high relief!
And in its claws did a Cadmean bear-
Nor heretofore, for any single prey, Sped she aloft, through such a storm of darts As now awaits her.So our foe is here-Like, as I deem, to ply no stinted trade In blood and broil, but traffick as is meet In fierce exchange for his long wayfaring!
ETEOCLES
Ah, may they meet the doom they think to bring-They and their impious vaunts-from those on high!
So should they sink, hurled down to deepest death!
This foe, at least, by thee Arcadian styled, Is faced by one who bears no braggart sign, But his hand sees to smite, where blows avail-Actor, own brother to Hyperbius!
He will not let a boast without a blow Stream through our gates and nourish our despair, Nor give him way who on his hostile shield Bears the brute image of the loathly Sphinx!
Blocked at the gate, she will rebuke the man Who strives to thrust her forward, when she feels Thick crash of blows, up to the city wall.
With Heaven's goodwill, my forecast shall be true.
(ACTOR goes out.)
CHORUS (chanting)
Home to my heart the vaunting goes, And, quick with terror, on my head Rises my hair, at sound of those Who wildly, impiously rave!
If gods there be, to them I plead-
Give them to darkness and the grave.
THE Spy Fronting the sixth gate stands another foe, Wisest of warriors, bravest among seers-Such must I name Amphiaraus: he, Set steadfast at the Homoloid gate, Berates strong Tydeus with reviling words-The man of blood, the bane of state and home To Argos, arch-allurer to all ill, Evoker of the Fury-fiend of hell, Death's minister, and counsellor of wrong Unto Adrastus in this fatal field.
Ay, and with eyes upturned and mien of scorn He chides thy brother Polyneices to At his desert, and once and yet again Dwells hard and meaningly upon his name Where it saith glory yet importeth feud.
Yea, such thou art in act, and such thy grace In sight of Heaven, and such in aftertime Thy fame, for lips and ears of mortal men!
"He strove to sack the city of his sires And temples of her gods, and brought on her An alien armament of foreign foes.
The fountain of maternal blood outpoured What power can staunck? even so, thy fatherland Once by thine ardent malice stormed and ta'en, Shall ne'er join force with thee." For me, I know It doth remain to let my blood enrich The border of this land that loves me not-Blood of a prophet, in a foreign grave!
Now, for the battle! I foreknow my doom, Yet it shall be with honour.So he spake, The prophet, holding up his targe of bronze Wrought without blazon, to the ears of men Who stood around and heeded not his word.
For on no bruit and rumour of great deeds, But on their doing, is his spirit set, And in his heart he reaps a furrow rich, Wherefrom the foison of good counsel springs.
Against him, send brave heart and hand of might;For the god-lover is man's fiercest foe.
ETEOCLES
Out on the chance that couples mortal men, Linking the just and impious in one!
In every issue, the one curse is this-
Companionship with men of evil heart!
A baneful harvest, let none gather it!
The field of sin is rank, and brings forth death At whiles a righteous man who goes aboard With reckless mates, a horde of villainy, Dies by one death with that detested crew;At whiles the just man, joined with citizens Ruthless to strangers, recking nought of Heaven, Trapped, against nature, in one net with them, Dies by God's thrust and all-including blow.
So will this prophet die, even Oecleus' child, Sage, just, and brave, and loyal towards Heaven, Potent in prophecy, but mated here With men of sin, too boastful to be wise!
Long is their road, and they return no more, And, at their taking-off, by hard of Zeus, The prophet too shall take the downward way.
He will not-so I deem-assail the gate-
Not as through cowardice or feeble will, But as one knowing to what end shall be Their struggle in the battle, if indeed Fruit of fulfilment lie in Loxias' word.
He speaketh not, unless to speak avails!
Yet, for more surety, we will post a man, Strong Lasthenes, as warder of the gate, Stern to the foeman; he hath age's skill, Mated with youthful vigour, and an eye Forward, alert; swift too his hand, to catch The fenceless interval 'twixt shield and spear!
Yet man's good fortune lies in hand of Heaven.
(LASTHENES goes out.)
CHORUS (chanting)
Unto our loyal cry, ye gods, give ear!
Save, save the city! turn away the spear, Send on the foemen fear!
Outside the rampart fall they, rent and riven Beneath the bolt of heaven!
THE SPY
