University of Virginia Library

SCENE THE FIRST.

Eteocles, Creon.
Ete.
Hast thou seen Polinices? Dost thou think
That he hates me as much as I hate him?
Ah, no! in this, as well as other things,
I do surpass him quite.

Cre.
With hating thee
He is not satisfied; he feels for thee
The bitterest contempt. He hath already
Swerved from his purpose. Loudly he asserts,
That he will have, as witnesses in Thebes
Of this fraternal peace, his friends from Argos;
In my opinion 'tis to insult thee more.
Nor shall we see them from our gates depart,
Till thou, a wandering exile, leav'st this city.
Thou seest that now, for one, there doth remain
But a brief moment to forestall the other;
He who is most supine shall fall the victim.
'Tis now most evident, that he, by force,
Challenges thy refusal. O'er thy head
The fatal sword is now suspended; thou,
Wilt thou not give the signal to unsheathe it?
To thee 'twas hitherto alone expedient,
But to thy safety indispensable
His death is now become.

Ete.
May I, at last,
To my revenge, for which so long I've sighed,
And to my hate and rage, succeed to give
A consummation speedy and secure.
When he is dead, a valour in the camp
Will I display proportioned to the cause.
Adrastes, prosecute the siege of Thebes,
And thou shalt quickly see, that in the fight
I can atone for treason in the palace.

Cre.
The Argives, trusting to the truce, secure
Within the camp repose; 'twould be most easy
To make a dreadful carnage, if on them
Thou shouldst fall unawares. With their alarm
A dreadful doubt would mingle; they would know
Nothing of Polinices.

Ete.
Sayst thou nothing?
They should know all, and of another kind
Should be their apprehension. To the Argives
The traitor's head shall be display'd on high;
Lugubrious symbol to our foes alone
Of portent ominous; but, to ourselves,
The presage, and the pledge, of victory's palm.

Cre.
Then do not be importunate with him
To send the hostile troops again to Argos.
Thou wouldst augment, and vainly, his suspicions:
And should he yield, which is not probable,
It would be detrimental to thy cause.
Adrastes would have scarcely left his post,
Than, afterwards, in hearing of the death
Given to his son-in-law in Thebes, more fierce
He, his avenger, would return; to blood,
To fire, and the exterminating sword,
Devoting all the ill-defended realm.
King, thou hast chosen well! With one hand give
Correction to the traitor, with the other,
At one fierce onset, unexpectedly
Bring on thy foes, war, fear, confusion, ruin.

Ete.
A ruin most complete, since least expected.
Do thou prepare for war while I feign peace.
But see, my mother comes: let us retire;
If ever there was need to shun her presence
This is the moment ...

Cre.
Let us both avoid her.