Epeisodion 3
Teiresias
led in by his daughter. Lead on, my daughter; for you are an eye
to my blind feet, as a star is to sailors; lead my steps on to level ground; then go before, so that I do not stumble, for your father has no strength; keep safe for me in your maiden hand the auguries I took when I observed omens from birds,
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seated in my holy prophet’s chair. Tell me, Menoeceus, son of Creon, how much further toward the city is it, to your father? For my knees grow weary, I have come a long way and can scarcely go on.
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Creon
Take heart, Teiresias, for you have reached your harbor and are near your friends; take him by the hand, my child; for just as every chariot has to wait for outside help to lighten it, so does the step of old age.
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Teiresias
Enough; I have arrived; why, Creon, do you summon me so urgently?
Creon
I have not forgotten that; but first collect your strength and regain your breath, shaking off the fatigue of your journey.
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Teiresias
I am indeed worn out, for I arrived here only yesterday from the court of the Erechtheidae; they too were at war, fighting with Eumolpus.
I gave the victory to Cecrops’ sons, and I received this golden crown, as you see, the first-fruits of the enemy’s spoils.
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Creon
I take your crown of victory as an omen. We, as you know, are exposed to the waves
of war with the Danaids, and great is the struggle for Thebes. Eteocles, our king, is already gone in full armor to meet Mycenae’s champions; and he has bidden me inquire of you our best course to save the city.
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Teiresias
For Eteocles I would have closed my lips and refrained from all response, but to you I will speak, since it is your wish to learn. This country, Creon, has been long afflicted, ever since Laius became a father against the will of the gods, begetting hapless Oedipus to be his own mother’s husband.
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That bloody destruction of his eyes was planned by the gods as an example to Hellas; and the sons of Oedipus went foolishly astray in wishing to throw over it the veil of time—as if they could outrun the gods! For by robbing their father of his due honor
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and allowing him no freedom, they exasperated the poor sufferer; so he, suffering and disgraced as well, breathed dreadful curses against them. And I, because I left nothing undone or unsaid, incurred the hatred of the sons of Oedipus.
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But death inflicted by each other’s hands awaits them, Creon; and the many heaps of the slain, some from Argive, some from Theban spears, shall cause bitter lamentation in the land of Thebes. Alas for you, poor city, you are being involved in their ruin,
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unless I can persuade one man. The best course was to prevent any child of Oedipus becoming either citizen or king in this land, on the ground that they were under a ban and would overthrow the city. But since evil has the mastery of good, there is
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one other means of safety; but—for it is unsafe for me to tell, and painful too for those whose fortune it is to supply their city with the saving cure—I will go away. Farewell; among the rest
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I will endure what is to come, if I must; for what else can I do?
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Creon
Stay here, old man.
Teiresias
Do not catch hold of me.
Creon
Wait; why do you try to escape?
Teiresias
It is your fortune that tries to escape you, not I.
Creon
Tell me what can save Thebes and her citizens.
Teiresias
Though you want this now, you will not want it soon.
Creon
Not wish to save my country? how can that be?
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Teiresias
Do you really wish to hear it, eagerly?
Creon
Yes; for where should I show greater zeal?
Teiresias
Then you will presently hear my prophetic words. But first I would know for certain
where Menoeceus is, who led me here.
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Creon
Here, not far away, but at your side.
Teiresias
Let him go far from my prophecies.
Creon
He is my own son and will be silent as he ought.
Teiresias
Do you want me to tell you in his presence?
Creon
Yes, for he will rejoice to hear the means of safety.
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Teiresias
Then hear the intent of my oracle; if you observe it, you will save the city of Cadmus you must sacrifice Menoeceus, your son here, for your country, since you yourself are calling on fate.
Creon
What do you mean? What is this you have said, old man?
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Teiresias
I have said what is, and you must do it.
Creon
O great evil, spoken so briefly!
Teiresias
Evil to you, but to your country great salvation.
Creon
I did not hear; I never listened; I renounce my city!
Teiresias
The man is no longer himself; he is drawing back.
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Creon
Go in peace; it is not your prophecy I need.
Teiresias
Is truth dead, because you are unfortunate?
Creon
By your knees and gray hair—
Teiresias
Why implore me? You are demanding evils that are hard to prevent.
Creon
Be silent; do not tell the city your news.
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Teiresias
You bid me to act unjustly; I cannot be silent.
Creon
What will you do to me? Kill my child?
Teiresias
That is for others to decide; it is for me to speak.
Creon
How did this curse come on me and my son?
Teiresias
You do right to ask me and to test what I have said. In the chamber where the earth-born dragon kept watch over Dirce’s springs, he must be offered as a sacrifice and shed his blood on the ground, a libation of Cadmus, because of the ancient wrath of Ares,
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who now avenges the slaughter of his earth-born snake. If you do this, you shall win Ares as an ally. If the earth receives fruit for fruit and human blood for blood, you shall find her kind to you again, who once
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sent up to us a crop of Sown-men with golden helmets; for one of those born from the dragon’s teeth must die.
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Now you are our only survivor of the Sown race, pure-blooded both on your mother’s and your father’s side, you and your sons. Haemon’s marriage
holds him back from the slaughter, for he is no longer single; even if he has not consummated his marriage, yet he is betrothed. But this tender youth, consecrated to his city, might by dying rescue his country; and bitter will he make the return of Adrastus and his Argives,
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flinging over their eyes a black spirit of death, and he will glorify Thebes. Choose one of these two destinies: either save the city or your son.
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Now you have all that I had to say. Daughter, lead me home. The man who practices the prophet’s art
is a fool; for if he happens to give an adverse answer, he makes himself disliked by those for whom he takes the omens; while if he pities and deceives those who are consulting him, he wrongs the gods. Phoebus should have been man’s only prophet, for he fears no one. Exit Teiresias.
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Chorus Leader
Creon, why are you so silent, without a word? I too am no less amazed.
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Creon
What can one say? It is clear what my words must be. For I will never come to such misfortune as to devote my son to death for the city;
for all men love their children, and no one would give his own son to die. Let no man praise me, and kill my child at the same time. I myself, for I am in the prime of life, am ready to die to save my country.
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But come, my son, before the whole city learns this, fly with all haste away from this land, regardless of these prophets’ reckless warnings; for he will tell all this to our rulers and generals going to the seven gates and the captains;
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now if we can forestall him, you are saved, but if you are too late, we are ruined and you will die.
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Menoeceus
Where can I escape? To what city? To which of our guest-friends?
Creon
Where you will be furthest removed from this land.
Menoeceus
It is for you to name a place, for me to carry out your bidding.
Creon
After passing Delphi—
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Menoeceus
Where must I go, father?
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Menoeceus
And where must I go from there?
Creon
To the land of Thesprotia.
Menoeceus
To Dodona’s holy threshold?
Menoeceus
What protection will I find there?
Creon
The god will send you on your way.
Menoeceus
How shall I find the means?
Creon
I will supply you with money.
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Menoeceus
A good plan of yours, father. Go now; for I will come to your sister, Jocasta, at whose breast I was suckled when bereft of my mother, a lonely orphan, to give her greeting and then I will save my life.
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Come, come! be going; it isn’t your part to hinder me. Exit Creon.
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How cleverly, ladies, I banished my father’s fears by crafty words to gain my end; for he is trying to get me away, depriving the city of its chance and surrendering me to cowardice. Though an old man may be pardoned,
yet in my case there is no pardon for betraying the country that gave me birth. Know this, I will go and save the city, and give my life up for this land. For it is shameful: those whom no oracles bind
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and who have not come under divine necessity, stand there, shoulder to shoulder, with no fear of death, and fight for their country before her towers; while I leave the land like a coward, a traitor to my father and brother and city;
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wherever I live, I shall seem base.
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No, by Zeus and all his stars, by Ares, god of blood, who established the Sown-men that sprung one day from earth as lords of this land! I will go, and standing on the topmost battlements,
will sacrifice myself over the dragon’s deep, dark den, the spot the seer described, and will set my country free. I have spoken. Now I go to make the city a present of my life, no mean offering, to rid this kingdom of its affliction.
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For if each were to take and expend all the good within his power, contributing it to the common good of his country, our states would experience fewer troubles and would prosper for the future.
Exit Menoeceus.
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