Togail na Tebe = The Thebiad of Statius : the Irish text

THE THEBAIDhurl wordy insults at Eteocles, pressing and strongly inciting himunto the combat. And this is what he said to him ": There willbe no peace or joy in this fatherland," said he, " as long as thouart in kingship over them, and thou art well content that oursons and brothers should fall in battles and contests for thy sake,whilst thou thyself art in coward flight avoiding thy brother,though he is challenging thee at the gate of the city."Eteocles answered Creon furiously and angrily, and this is whathe said to him :"Well, it is not sorrow for thy people that makesthee say that, but thou thyself wouldest fain be in this kingship,if I should fall in the contest.And, O men," said he, " my armsmust be prepared for me by you, that we may wage battle, I andthe warlike hero that is challenging me, to wit, Polynices ; andif I should be victorious in that contest, then I would disproveagainst Creon his angry and unjust judgment." And whileEteocles was engaged in these reflections, then came to him hismother, to wit, Jocasta, feebly and in tears, with her full-whitehands outspread, and her shining bosom bare ; and when shereached him thus, the lad was then donning his arms and hisbattle-gear of struggle and contest, and his swift well-coursinghorse walking bridled in the hand of his charioteer beside him.Now this is what his mother said to him : "Alas, my son," saidshe, " what madness urges thee to a struggle with thy brother ?And whither will go the one of you that is victor in the feat ofarms after killing the other ? And blessed is your father to-dayto be deprived of his eyes ere he should be witnessing yourstruggle and your combat, O my sons.And blessing on thee,"said she, " redden thy hand first on me, and inflict death on me,before I see thy brother's side rent and perforated by thee orthy side pierced by him."For her that was indeed conversing with a rock, and it wasgiving warning to a doomed man;for though her son listened toher, he accepted nothing of what she said to him. Then came the283