Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/72

44 And plant chiefs, as thou biddest, at the gates,

Champion for champion, ranged against the foe.

To tell each o'er, were costly waste of time,

When foes be camped beneath our very walls.

But I will go, that mine hands loiter not.

God grant I meet my brother face to face,

Clash in the grapple, and slay him with the spear—

Slay him, who came to lay my country waste!

But, for Antigonê's marriage with thy son

Haimon,—if aught untoward hap to me,—

See thou to this. Their late betrothal-plight

Now, as I go forth, do I ratify.

Thou art my mother's brother; why waste words?

Give her fair nurture, for thy sake and mine.

My father hath wrought folly against himself,

Blinding his eyes;—scant praise of mine he hath;—

And us his curse shall slay, if so it hap.

One thing abides undone, to ask the seer

Teiresias touching this, if aught he hath

Of oracles to tell; and I will send

Thy son Menoikeus, of thy father named,

Kreon, to bring Teiresias hitherward.

With a good will shall he commune with thee:

But the seer's art in time past have I mocked

Unto his face; so he may bear me grudge.

This, Kreon, is mine hest to Thebes and thee:—

If my cause conquer, never bury ye

Polyneikes' corpse upon this Theban soil.

Who buries him—though closest friend—must die.

This to thee:—to mine henchmen now I speak.

Bring forth mine arms, mine harness-panoply,

That to the imminent conflict of the spear

I may set forth, with Right to crown mine arms.