THE BOOK WAS DRENCHED - OUDL Home

this place,—I call the Destroying God, who hath set that dreadful hatred
in you twain. Go, with these words in thine ears—go, and publish it to
the Cadmeans all, yea, and to thine own staunch allies, that Oedipus hath
divided such honours to his sons.
LEADER
Polyneices, in thy past goings I take no joy; and now go thy way with
speed.
POLYNEICES
Alas, for my journey and my baffled hope: alas, for my comrades!
What an end was that march to have, whereon we sallied forth from
Argos: woe is me!—aye, such an end, that I may not even utter it to any
of my companions, or turn them back, but must go in silence to meet this
doom.
Ah ye, his daughters and my sisters,—since ye hear these hard prayers
of your sire,—if this father's curses be fulfilled, and some way of return
to Thebes be found for you, oh, as ye fear the gods, do not, for your part,
dishonour me,—nay, give me burial, and due funeral rites. And so the
praise which ye now win from yonder man, for your service, shall be increased
by another praise not less, by reason of the office wrought for me.
ANTIGONE
Polyneices, I entreat thee, hear me in one thing!
POLYNEICES
What is it, dearest Antigone? Speak!
ANTIGONE
Turn thy host back to Argos,—aye, with all speed,—and destroy not
thyself and Thebes.
POLYNEICES
Nay, it cannot be: for how again could I lead the same host, when
once I had blenched?
ANTIGONE
But why, my brother, should thine anger rise again? What gain is
promised thee in destroying thy native city?
POLYNEICES
'Tis shame to be an exile, and, eldest born as I am, to be thus mocked
on my brother's part.