And with a mind provoked
By nurture scant, he at his sons did hurl[121]
His curses dire and dark,
(Ah, bitter curses those!)
That they with spear in hand
Should one day share their father's wealth; and I
Fear now lest swift Erinnys should fulfil them.
_Enter_ Messenger
_Mess._ Be of good cheer, ye maidens, mother-reared;
Our city has escaped the yoke of bondage, 790
The boasts of mighty men are fallen low,
And this our city in calm waters floats,
And, though by waves lashed, springs not any leak.
Our fortress still holds out, and we did guard
The gates with champions who redeemed their pledge.
In the six gateways almost all goes well;
But the seventh gate did King Apollo choose,[122]
Seventh mighty chief, avenging Laios' want
Of counsel on the sons of Œdipus.
_Chor._ What new disaster happens to our city?[123] 800
_Mess._ The city's saved, but both the royal brothers,...
_Chor._ Who? and what of them? I'm distraught with fear.
_Mess._ Be calm, and hear: the sons of Œdipus,...
_Chor._ Oh wretched me! a prophet I of ill!
_Mess._ Slain by each other, earth has drunk their blood.
_Chor._ Came they to that? 'Tis dire; yet tell it me.
_Mess._ Too true, by brother's hand our chiefs are slain.
_Chor._ What, did the brother's hands the brother lay?
_Mess._ No doubt is there that they are laid in dust.
_Chor._ Thus was there then a common fate for both?
_Mess._ *Yea, it lays low the whole ill-fated race.
_Chor._ These things give cause for gladness and for tears, 810
Seeing that our city prospers, and our lords,
The generals twain, with well-wrought Skythian steel,
Have shared between them all their store of goods,
And now shall have their portion in a grave,
Borne on, as spake their father's grievous curse.[124]
_Mess._ [The city's saved, but of the brother-kings
The earth has drunk the blood, each slain by each.]
_Chor._ Great Zeus! and ye, O Gods!
Guardians of this our town,
Who save in very deed
The towers of Cadmos old, 820
Shall I rejoice and shout
Over the happy chance
That frees our State from harm;
Or weep that ill-starred pair,
The war-chiefs, childless and most miserable,
Who, true to that ill name
Of Polyneikes, died in impious mood,
Contending overmuch?