Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/206

108 Hath thrust me forth, not baffling me in speech,

Nor coming to the test of strength and deed,

But winning o'er the state. Of this, I say,

Thy dread Erinnyes is the chiefest cause;

And next, I hear thus much by prophets told:

For when I came to Argos, Dorian named,

Making the daughter of Adrastos mine,

I gathered as confederates in my cause,

All who are chiefest in the Apian land,

Renowned in battle, that this armament,

With seven great chiefs, might follow me to Thebes,

And I might either die a noble death,

Or drive to exile those who did me wrong.

Well then, what chance has brought me hitherward?

This, Ο my father. With a suppliant's prayers

Both for myself, and my allies, I come,

The seven great armies by seven captains led,

That gird the plain of Thebes. And first, there comes

Amphiaraos, wielding mighty spear,

Supreme in war, supreme in auguries;

Then next in order, the Ætolian son

Of Œneus, Tydeus named; and Argive born,

Eteoclos the third; Hippomedon,

By Talaos sent, the fourth; and Capaneus

The fifth, boasts loud that he with fiery blaze,

Will soon lay waste the citadel of Thebes,

And utterly destroy it. Sixth, there comes

Parthenopæos, the Arcadian, named

From his chaste mother, true and worthy son

Of Atalanta. And I, last, thy son,

Or if not thine, the child of evil Fate,

Yet known as thine, I lead the Argive host