Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/234

136 Because when Œdipus our country ruled,

And, when he perished, then towards his sons

Ye still were faithful in your steadfast mind.

And since they fell, as by a double death,

Both on the selfsame day with murderous blow,

Smiting and being smitten, now I hold

Their thrones and all their power of sovereignty

By nearness of my kindred to the dead.

And hard it is to learn what each man is,

In heart and mind and judgment, till he gain

Experience in princedom and in laws.

For me, whoe'er is called to guide a State,

And does not catch at counsels wise and good,

But holds his peace through any fear of man,

I deem him basest of all men that are,

And so have deemed long since; and whosoe'er

As worthier than his country counts his friend,

I utterly despise him. I myself,

Zeus be my witness, who beholdeth all,

Would not keep silence, seeing danger come,

Instead of safety, to my subjects true.

Nor could I take as friend my country's foe;

For this I know, that there our safety lies,

And sailing while the good ship holds her course,

We gather friends around us. By these rules

And such as these do I maintain the State.

And now I come, with edicts, close allied

To these in spirit, for my citizens,

Concerning those two sons of Œdipus.

Eteocles, who died in deeds of might

Illustrious, fighting for our fatherland,

To honour him with sepulture, all rites

Duly performed that to the noblest dead

Of right belong. Not so his brother; him