章节正文
No plan so good as to keep well guarded.
ETEOCLES
What if our cavalry make a sortie against the host of Argos?
CREON
Their troops too are fenced all round with chariots.
ETEOCLES
What then can I do? am I to surrender the city to the foe?
CREON
Nay, nay! but of thy wisdom form some plan.
ETEOCLES
Pray, what scheme is wiser than mine?
CREON
They have seven chiefs, I hear.
ETEOCLES
What is their appointed task? their might can be but feeble.
CREON
To lead the several companies and storm our seven gates.
ETEOCLES
What are we to do? I will not wait till every chance is gone.
CREON
Choose seven chiefs thyself to set against them at the gates.
ETEOCLES
To lead our companies, or to fight single-handed?
CREON
Choose our very bravest men to lead the troops.
ETEOCLES
I understand; to repel attempts at scaling our walls.
CREON
With others to share the command, for one man sees not everything.
ETEOCLES
Selecting them for courage or thoughtful prudence?
CREON
For both; for one is naught without the other.
ETEOCLES
It shall be done; I will away to our seven towers and post
captains at the gates, as thou advisest, pitting them man for man
against the foe. To tell thee each one's name were grievous waste of
time, when the foe is camped beneath our very walls. But I will go,
that my hands may no longer hang idle. May I meet my brother face to
face, and encounter him hand to hand, e'en to the death, for coming to
waste my country! But if I suffer any mischance, thou must see to
the marriage 'twixt Antigone my sister and Haemon, thy son; and now,
as I go forth to battle, I ratify their previous espousal. Thou art my
mother's brother, so why need I say more? take care of her, as she
deserves, both for thy own sake and mine. As for my sire he hath
been guilty of folly against himself in putting out his eyes; small
praise have I for him; by his curses maybe he will slay us too. One
thing only have we still to do, to ask Teiresias, the seer, if he
has aught to tell of heaven's will. Thy son Menoeceus, who bears thy
father's name, will I send to fetch Teiresias hither, Creon; for
with the he will readilyconverse, though I have ere now so scorned
his art prophetic to his face, that he has reasons to reproach me.
This commandment, Creon, I lay upon the city and thee; should my cause
prevail, never give Polyneices' corpse a grave in Theban soil, and
if so be some friend should bury him, let death reward the man. Thus
far to thee; and to my servants thus, bring forth my arms and coat
of mail, that I may start at once for the appointed combat, with right
to lead to victory. To save our city we will pray to Caution, the best
goddess to serve our end.
(ETEOCLES and his retinue go out.)
CHORUS (singing)
strophe
O Ares, god of toil and trouble! why, why art thou possessed by
love of blood and death, out of harmony with the festivals of Bromius?
'Tis for no crowns of dancers fair that thou dost toss thy youthful
curls to the breeze, singing the while to the lute's soft breath a
strain to charm the dancers' feet; but with warriors clad in mail thou
dost lead thy sombre revelry, breathing into Argive breasts lust for
Theban blood; with no wild waving of the thyrsus, clad in fawnskin
thou dancest, but with chariots and bitted steeds wheelest thy charger
strong of hoof. O'er the waters of Ismenus in wild career thou art
urging thy horses, inspiring Argive breasts with hate of the
earth-born race, arraying in brazenharness against these
stone-built walls a host of warriors armed with shields. Truly
Strife is a goddess to fear, who devised these troubles for the
princes of this land, for the much-enduring sons of Labdacus.
antistrophe
O Cithaeron, apple of the eye of Artemis, holy vale of leaves,
amid whose snows full many a beast lies couched, would thou hadst
never reared the child exposed to die, Oedipus the fruit of
Jocasta's womb, when as a babe he was cast forth from his home, marked
with golden brooch; and would the Sphinx, that winged maid, fell
monster from the hills, had never come to curse our land with
inharmonious strains; she that erst drew nigh our walls and snatched
the sons of Cadmus away in her taloned feet to the pathless fields
of light, a fiend sent by Hades from hell to plague the men of Thebes;
once more unhappystrife is bursting out between the sons of Oedipus
in city and home. For never can wrong be right, nor children of
unnatural parentage come as a glory to the mother that bears them, but
as a stain on the marriage of him who is father and brother at once.
epode
O earth, thou once didst bear,-so long ago I heard the story
told by foreigners in my own home,-a race which sprang of the teeth of
a snake with blood-red crest, that fed on beasts, to be the glory
and reproach of Thebes. In days gone by the sons of heaven came to the
wedding of Harmonia, and the walls of Thebes arose to the sound of the
lyre and her towers stood up as Amphion played, in the midst between
the double streams of Dirce, that watereth the green meadows
fronting the Ismenus; and Io, our horned ancestress was mother of
the kings of Thebes; thus our city through an endless succession of
divers blessings has set herself upon the highest pinnacle of
martial glory.
(TEIRESIAS enters, led by his daughter. They are accompanied by
MENOECEUS.)
TEIRESIAS
Lead on, my daughter; for thou art as an eye to my blind feet,
as certain as a star to mariners; lead my steps on to level ground;
then go before, that we stumble not, for thy father has no strength;
keep safe for me in thy maiden hand the auguries I took in the days
I observed the flight and cries of birds seated in my holy prophet's
chair. Tell me, young Menoeceus, son of Creon, how much further toward
the city is it ere reach thy father? for my knees grow weary, and I
can scarce keep up this hurried pace.
CREON
Take heart, Teiresias, for thou hast reached thy moorings and
art near thy friends; take him by the hand, my child; for just as
every carriage has to wait for outside help to steady it, so too
hath the step of age.
TEIRESIAS
Enough; I have arrived; why, Creon, dost thou summon me so
urgently?
CREON
I have not forgotten that; but first collect thyself and regain
breath, shaking off the fatigue of thy journey.
TEIRESIAS
I am indeed worn out, having arrived here only yesterday from
the court of the Erechtheidae; for they too were at war, fighting with
Eumolpus, in which contest I insured the victory of Cecrops' sons; and
I received the golden crown, which thou seest me wearing, as
first-fruits of the enemy's spoil.
CREON
I take thy crown of victory as an omen. We, as thou knowest, are
exposed to the billows of an Argive war, and great is the struggle for
Thebes. Eteocles, our king, is already gone in full harness to meet
Mycenae's champions, and hath bidden me inquire of thee our best
course to save the city.
TEIRESIAS
For Eteocles I would have closed my lips and refrained from all
response, but to thee I will speak, since 'tis thy wish to learn. This
country, Creon, has been long afflicted, ever since Laius became a
father in heaven's despite, begetting hapless Oedipus to be his own
mother's husband. That bloodyoutrage on his eyes was planned by
heaven as an ensample to Hellas; and the sons of Oedipus made a
gross mistake in wishing to throw over it the veil of time, as if
forsooth they could outrun the gods' decree; for by robbing their
father of his due honour and allowing him no freedom, they enraged
their luckless sire; so he, stung by suffering and disgrace as well,
vented awful curses against them; and I, because I left nothing undone
or unsaid to prevent this, incurred the hatred of the sons of Oedipus.
But death inflicted by each other's hands awaits them, Creon; and
the many heaps of slain, some from Argive, some from Theban
missiles, shall cause bitter lamentation in the land of Thebes.
Alas! for thee, poor city, thou art being involved in their ruin,
unless I can persuade one man. The best course was to prevent any
child of Oedipus becoming either citizen or king in this land, since
they were under a ban and would overthrow the city. But as evil has
the mastery of good, there is still one other way of safety; but
this it were unsafe for me to tell, and painful too for those whose
high fortune it is to supply their city witb the saving cure.
Farewell! I will away; amongst the rest must I endure my doom, if need
be; for what will become of me?
CREON
Stay here, old man.
TEIRESIAS
Hold me not.
CREON
Abide, why dost thou seek to fly?
TEIRESIAS
'Tis thy fortune that flies thee, not I.
CREON
Tell me what can save Thebes and her citizens.
TEIRESIAS
Though this be now thy wish, it will soon cease to be.
CREON
Not wish to save my country? how can that be?
TEIRESIAS
Art thou still eager to be told?
CREON
Yea; for wherein should I show greater zeal?
TEIRESIAS
Then straightway shalt thou hear my words prophetic. But first
would fain know for certain where Menoeceus is, who led me hither.
CREON
Here, not far away, but at thy side.
TEIRESIAS
Let him retire far from my prophetic voice.
CREON
He is my own son and will preserve due silence.
TEIRESIAS
Wilt thou then that I tell thee in his presence?
CREON
Yea, for he will rejoice to hear the means of safety.
TEIRESIAS
Then hear the purport of my oracle, the which if ye observe ye
shall save the city of Cadmus. Thou must sacrifice Menoeceus thy son
here for thy country, since thine own lips demand the voice of fate.
CREON
What mean'st thou? what is this thou hast said, old man?
TEIRESIAS
To that which is to be thou also must conform.
CREON
ETEOCLES
What if our cavalry make a sortie against the host of Argos?
CREON
Their troops too are fenced all round with chariots.
ETEOCLES
What then can I do? am I to surrender the city to the foe?
CREON
Nay, nay! but of thy wisdom form some plan.
ETEOCLES
Pray, what scheme is wiser than mine?
CREON
They have seven chiefs, I hear.
ETEOCLES
What is their appointed task? their might can be but feeble.
CREON
To lead the several companies and storm our seven gates.
ETEOCLES
What are we to do? I will not wait till every chance is gone.
CREON
Choose seven chiefs thyself to set against them at the gates.
ETEOCLES
To lead our companies, or to fight single-handed?
CREON
Choose our very bravest men to lead the troops.
ETEOCLES
I understand; to repel attempts at scaling our walls.
CREON
With others to share the command, for one man sees not everything.
ETEOCLES
Selecting them for courage or thoughtful prudence?
CREON
For both; for one is naught without the other.
ETEOCLES
It shall be done; I will away to our seven towers and post
captains at the gates, as thou advisest, pitting them man for man
against the foe. To tell thee each one's name were grievous waste of
time, when the foe is camped beneath our very walls. But I will go,
that my hands may no longer hang idle. May I meet my brother face to
face, and encounter him hand to hand, e'en to the death, for coming to
waste my country! But if I suffer any mischance, thou must see to
the marriage 'twixt Antigone my sister and Haemon, thy son; and now,
as I go forth to battle, I ratify their previous espousal. Thou art my
mother's brother, so why need I say more? take care of her, as she
deserves, both for thy own sake and mine. As for my sire he hath
been guilty of folly against himself in putting out his eyes; small
praise have I for him; by his curses maybe he will slay us too. One
thing only have we still to do, to ask Teiresias, the seer, if he
has aught to tell of heaven's will. Thy son Menoeceus, who bears thy
father's name, will I send to fetch Teiresias hither, Creon; for
with the he will readilyconverse, though I have ere now so scorned
his art prophetic to his face, that he has reasons to reproach me.
This commandment, Creon, I lay upon the city and thee; should my cause
prevail, never give Polyneices' corpse a grave in Theban soil, and
if so be some friend should bury him, let death reward the man. Thus
far to thee; and to my servants thus, bring forth my arms and coat
of mail, that I may start at once for the appointed combat, with right
to lead to victory. To save our city we will pray to Caution, the best
goddess to serve our end.
(ETEOCLES and his retinue go out.)
CHORUS (singing)
strophe
O Ares, god of toil and trouble! why, why art thou possessed by
love of blood and death, out of harmony with the festivals of Bromius?
'Tis for no crowns of dancers fair that thou dost toss thy youthful
curls to the breeze, singing the while to the lute's soft breath a
strain to charm the dancers' feet; but with warriors clad in mail thou
dost lead thy sombre revelry, breathing into Argive breasts lust for
Theban blood; with no wild waving of the thyrsus, clad in fawnskin
thou dancest, but with chariots and bitted steeds wheelest thy charger
strong of hoof. O'er the waters of Ismenus in wild career thou art
urging thy horses, inspiring Argive breasts with hate of the
earth-born race, arraying in brazenharness against these
stone-built walls a host of warriors armed with shields. Truly
Strife is a goddess to fear, who devised these troubles for the
princes of this land, for the much-enduring sons of Labdacus.
antistrophe
O Cithaeron, apple of the eye of Artemis, holy vale of leaves,
amid whose snows full many a beast lies couched, would thou hadst
never reared the child exposed to die, Oedipus the fruit of
Jocasta's womb, when as a babe he was cast forth from his home, marked
with golden brooch; and would the Sphinx, that winged maid, fell
monster from the hills, had never come to curse our land with
inharmonious strains; she that erst drew nigh our walls and snatched
the sons of Cadmus away in her taloned feet to the pathless fields
of light, a fiend sent by Hades from hell to plague the men of Thebes;
once more unhappystrife is bursting out between the sons of Oedipus
in city and home. For never can wrong be right, nor children of
unnatural parentage come as a glory to the mother that bears them, but
as a stain on the marriage of him who is father and brother at once.
epode
O earth, thou once didst bear,-so long ago I heard the story
told by foreigners in my own home,-a race which sprang of the teeth of
a snake with blood-red crest, that fed on beasts, to be the glory
and reproach of Thebes. In days gone by the sons of heaven came to the
wedding of Harmonia, and the walls of Thebes arose to the sound of the
lyre and her towers stood up as Amphion played, in the midst between
the double streams of Dirce, that watereth the green meadows
fronting the Ismenus; and Io, our horned ancestress was mother of
the kings of Thebes; thus our city through an endless succession of
divers blessings has set herself upon the highest pinnacle of
martial glory.
(TEIRESIAS enters, led by his daughter. They are accompanied by
MENOECEUS.)
TEIRESIAS
Lead on, my daughter; for thou art as an eye to my blind feet,
as certain as a star to mariners; lead my steps on to level ground;
then go before, that we stumble not, for thy father has no strength;
keep safe for me in thy maiden hand the auguries I took in the days
I observed the flight and cries of birds seated in my holy prophet's
chair. Tell me, young Menoeceus, son of Creon, how much further toward
the city is it ere reach thy father? for my knees grow weary, and I
can scarce keep up this hurried pace.
CREON
Take heart, Teiresias, for thou hast reached thy moorings and
art near thy friends; take him by the hand, my child; for just as
every carriage has to wait for outside help to steady it, so too
hath the step of age.
TEIRESIAS
Enough; I have arrived; why, Creon, dost thou summon me so
urgently?
CREON
I have not forgotten that; but first collect thyself and regain
breath, shaking off the fatigue of thy journey.
TEIRESIAS
I am indeed worn out, having arrived here only yesterday from
the court of the Erechtheidae; for they too were at war, fighting with
Eumolpus, in which contest I insured the victory of Cecrops' sons; and
I received the golden crown, which thou seest me wearing, as
first-fruits of the enemy's spoil.
CREON
I take thy crown of victory as an omen. We, as thou knowest, are
exposed to the billows of an Argive war, and great is the struggle for
Thebes. Eteocles, our king, is already gone in full harness to meet
Mycenae's champions, and hath bidden me inquire of thee our best
course to save the city.
TEIRESIAS
For Eteocles I would have closed my lips and refrained from all
response, but to thee I will speak, since 'tis thy wish to learn. This
country, Creon, has been long afflicted, ever since Laius became a
father in heaven's despite, begetting hapless Oedipus to be his own
mother's husband. That bloodyoutrage on his eyes was planned by
heaven as an ensample to Hellas; and the sons of Oedipus made a
gross mistake in wishing to throw over it the veil of time, as if
forsooth they could outrun the gods' decree; for by robbing their
father of his due honour and allowing him no freedom, they enraged
their luckless sire; so he, stung by suffering and disgrace as well,
vented awful curses against them; and I, because I left nothing undone
or unsaid to prevent this, incurred the hatred of the sons of Oedipus.
But death inflicted by each other's hands awaits them, Creon; and
the many heaps of slain, some from Argive, some from Theban
missiles, shall cause bitter lamentation in the land of Thebes.
Alas! for thee, poor city, thou art being involved in their ruin,
unless I can persuade one man. The best course was to prevent any
child of Oedipus becoming either citizen or king in this land, since
they were under a ban and would overthrow the city. But as evil has
the mastery of good, there is still one other way of safety; but
this it were unsafe for me to tell, and painful too for those whose
high fortune it is to supply their city witb the saving cure.
Farewell! I will away; amongst the rest must I endure my doom, if need
be; for what will become of me?
CREON
Stay here, old man.
TEIRESIAS
Hold me not.
CREON
Abide, why dost thou seek to fly?
TEIRESIAS
'Tis thy fortune that flies thee, not I.
CREON
Tell me what can save Thebes and her citizens.
TEIRESIAS
Though this be now thy wish, it will soon cease to be.
CREON
Not wish to save my country? how can that be?
TEIRESIAS
Art thou still eager to be told?
CREON
Yea; for wherein should I show greater zeal?
TEIRESIAS
Then straightway shalt thou hear my words prophetic. But first
would fain know for certain where Menoeceus is, who led me hither.
CREON
Here, not far away, but at thy side.
TEIRESIAS
Let him retire far from my prophetic voice.
CREON
He is my own son and will preserve due silence.
TEIRESIAS
Wilt thou then that I tell thee in his presence?
CREON
Yea, for he will rejoice to hear the means of safety.
TEIRESIAS
Then hear the purport of my oracle, the which if ye observe ye
shall save the city of Cadmus. Thou must sacrifice Menoeceus thy son
here for thy country, since thine own lips demand the voice of fate.
CREON
What mean'st thou? what is this thou hast said, old man?
TEIRESIAS
To that which is to be thou also must conform.
CREON
- surrender [sə´rendə]
vt.&n.交出；引渡；放弃 (初中英语单词) - wisdom [´wizdəm] n.智慧，聪明，才智 (初中英语单词)
- scheme [ski:m] n.计划；阴谋，诡计 (初中英语单词)
- encounter [in´kauntə] vt.&n.偶然相遇；冲突 (初中英语单词)
- previous [´pri:viəs] a.先，前，以前的 (初中英语单词)
- guilty [´gilti] a.有罪的；心虚的 (初中英语单词)
- hither [´hiðə] ad.到此处 (初中英语单词)
- readily [´redili] ad.乐意地；容易地 (初中英语单词)
- reward [ri´wɔ:d] n.&v.报答；报酬；奖赏 (初中英语单词)
- victory [´viktəri] n.胜利，战胜 (初中英语单词)
- harmony [´hɑ:məni] n.调合，协调，和谐 (初中英语单词)
- breeze [bri:z] n.微风；不费力的事 (初中英语单词)
- breath [breθ] n.呼吸；气息 (初中英语单词)
- career [kə´riə] n.经历；生涯；职业 (初中英语单词)
- harness [´hɑ:nis] vt.上马具 n.马具 (初中英语单词)
- goddess [´gɔdis] n.女神 (初中英语单词)
- winged [´wiŋd] a.有翼的 (初中英语单词)
- unhappy [ʌn´hæpi] a.不幸的；不快乐的 (初中英语单词)
- sprang [spræŋ] spring 的过去式 (初中英语单词)
- succession [sək´seʃən] n.继任；继承(权) (初中英语单词)
- stumble [´stʌmbəl] v.摔倒；失足；弄错 (初中英语单词)
- maiden [´meidn] n.少女 a.未婚的 (初中英语单词)
- flight [flait] n.逃走；飞行；班机 (初中英语单词)
- scarce [skeəs, skers] a.缺乏的；稀有的 (初中英语单词)
- carriage [´kæridʒ] n.马车；客车；货运 (初中英语单词)
- yesterday [´jestədi] n.&ad.昨天；前不久 (初中英语单词)
- contest [kən´test, ´kɔntest] v.争辩 n.争夺；竞赛 (初中英语单词)
- despite [di´spait] prep.尽管 (初中英语单词)
- bloody [´blʌdi] a.(流)血的；血腥的 (初中英语单词)
- decree [di´kri:] n.法令；公告；天命 (初中英语单词)
- suffering [´sʌfəriŋ] n.痛苦；灾害 (初中英语单词)
- disgrace [dis´greis] n.耻辱 vt.玷辱；贬黜 (初中英语单词)
- hatred [´heitrid] n.憎恨，敌意 (初中英语单词)
- persuade [pə´sweid] v.(被)说服；使相信 (初中英语单词)
- endure [in´djuə] vt.忍耐，忍受；坚持 (初中英语单词)
- retire [ri´taiə] v.撤退；退职；退休 (初中英语单词)
- preserve [pri´zə:v] v.保藏 n.保藏物 (初中英语单词)
- rejoice [ri´dʒɔis] v.(使)高兴；欢庆 (初中英语单词)
- cavalry [´kævəlri] n.骑兵(部队) (高中英语单词)
- thoughtful [´θɔ:tfəl] a.深思的；体贴的 (高中英语单词)
- naught [nɔ:t] n.无；零 (高中英语单词)
- converse [´kɔnvə:s] n.交谈 a.相反的 (高中英语单词)
- reproach [ri´prəutʃ] vt.&n.责备；指责；耻辱 (高中英语单词)
- combat [´kɔmbæt] v.&n.斗争；战斗；争斗 (高中英语单词)
- caution [´kɔ:ʃən] n.&vt.小心；告诫；警告 (高中英语单词)
- plague [pleig] n.瘟疫 vt.使...染疫 (高中英语单词)
- strife [straif] n.竞争；吵架；冲突 (高中英语单词)
- hurried [´hʌrid] a.仓促的，慌忙的 (高中英语单词)
- summon [´sʌmən] vt.召集；号召 (高中英语单词)
- fatigue [fə´ti:g] n.&vt.(使)疲劳(劳累) (高中英语单词)
- outrage [´aut,reidʒ] n.残暴 vt.虐待；伤害 (高中英语单词)
- overthrow [´əuvəθrəu] n.推翻；打倒 (高中英语单词)
- painful [´peinfəl] a.痛(苦)的；费力的 (高中英语单词)
- amongst [ə´mʌŋst] prep.其中之一 =among (高中英语单词)
- wherein [weər´in] ad.那里面 (高中英语单词)
- straightway [´streitwei] ad.立刻 (高中英语单词)
- oracle [´ɔrəkl] n.预言(者)；圣理名言 (高中英语单词)
- grievous [´gri:vəs] a.痛苦的；严重的 (英语四级单词)
- ratify [´rætifai] vt.批准；认可 (英语四级单词)
- commandment [kə´mɑ:ndmənt] n.戒律；圣训 (英语四级单词)
- corpse [kɔ:ps] n.尸体 (英语四级单词)
- brazen [´breizən] a.黄铜制的；无耻的 (英语四级单词)
- lamentation [,læmen´teiʃən] n.悲痛，哀悼，痛哭 (英语四级单词)
- prophetic [prə´fetik] a.预言(家)的；预示的 (英语六级单词)
- brooch [brəutʃ] n.胸针 (英语六级单词)
- pinnacle [´pinəkl] n.小尖塔；山顶；极点 (英语六级单词)
- hapless [´hæpləs] a.不幸的；倒楣的 (英语六级单词)
- outrun [aut´rʌn] vt.追过；逃脱 (英语六级单词)
- mastery [´mɑ:stəri] n.精通；控制；优势 (英语六级单词)
- purport [´pə:pɔ:t, -pət] n.意义 vt.意味着 (英语六级单词)
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