 | Polinices |  |
SCENE THE SECOND.
Jocasta, Eteocles.Joc.
The day is come, oh son, in which both thou
And Polinices, in a mother's presence,
Your cause dispassionately must arbitrate.
Nature betwixt you constitutes me judge.
I, more than any one, can make thy heart
Thrill with the mention of a brother's name,
That sacred name which thou no more regardest.
Ete.
Does he regard it better than myself?
He is a brother, as he is a citizen;
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His various duties he fulfils alike.
Joc.
Each duty, least of all a subject's duty,
Does it become thee now t'enumerate?
Thy oath expressly makes thee now his vassal;
Yet I behold the king. Thou shudderest,
In hearing me proclaim thee subject? Say,
Ah say, is it a more illustrious title
That of a perjured king?
Ete.
A king despised,
Ah, is not that a title more offensive?
What but his arms emancipate me now
From my pledged oath? I swore without constraint,
Without constraint will I perform my promise.
How can I ever redemand with boldness
That ill-defended throne, which I have yielded
From abjectness of temper?
Joc.
Thy stern pride,
Thy courage, are sufficiently notorious;
Establish now thy character for justice.
Make not towards thy brother, I conjure thee,
An ostentation of ferocious virtue!
Rather be generous, pious, and humane;
No other virtues does a mother wish
To witness in a son: perhaps they seem
Virtues to thee not worthy of a king?
Ete.
Not worthy, no, if they from terror spring.
Brief my discourse shall be: if he can do it,
He, in thy presence, shall his reasons give
For his proceedings. Mother, thou shalt see
That I've a royal soul; and that I hold
My honour dearer than my life and kingdom.
| Polinices | |