Epeisodion 5
Creon
But even the exceedingly clever, old Teiresias, falls
with a shameful fall, when they couch shameful thoughts in fine phrasing
for profit’s sake.
1045
Teiresias
Alas! Does any man know, does any consider—
Creon
What is this? What universal truth are you announcing?
Teiresias
—by how much the most precious of our possessions is
the power to reason wisely?
1050
Creon
By as much, I think, as senselessness is the greatest
affliction.
Teiresias
Yet you came into being full of that disease.
Creon
I have no desire to trade insults with the seer.
Teiresias
Yet that is what you do in saying that I prophesy
falsely.
Creon
Yes, for the prophet-clan was ever fond of money.
1055
Teiresias
And the race sprung from tyrants loves shameful gain.
Creon
Do you know that you ramble so about your king?
Teiresias
I am aware, since through me you have saved this city.
Creon
You are a wise seer, but fond of doing injustice.
Teiresias
You will stir me to utter the dire secret in my
soul.
1060
Creon
Out with it! But only if it is not for gain that you speak
it.
Teiresias
Indeed, I think I speak without mention of gain—where you
are concerned.
Creon
Be certain that you will not trade in my will.
Teiresias
Then know, yes, know it well! You will not live through
many more
courses of the sun’s swift chariot, before you will
give in return one sprung from your own loins, a corpse in requital for
corpses. For you have thrust below one of those of the upper air and
irreverently lodged a living soul in the grave,
1065
while you detain in this world that which belongs to
the infernal gods, a corpse unburied, unmourned, unholy. In the dead you
have no part, nor do the gods above, but in this you do them violence.
For these crimes the avenging destroyers,
1070
