Polyneices
I will; do not be troubled; but I thank you, mother.
Eteocles
Go forth from the land!
Polyneices
[615]
I will go; but let me see my father.
Eteocles
You will not have your wish.
Polyneices
At least then my maiden sisters.
Eteocles
You will not ever see them either.
Polyneices
Ah, my sisters!
Eteocles
Why do you, their bitterest enemy, call on them?
Polyneices
To you at least farewell, mother!
Jocasta
Indeed I am faring well, my son!
Polyneices
I am no longer your son.
Jocasta
I was born to great sorrow.
Polyneices
[620]
Because my brother treats me outrageously.
Eteocles
I am treated just the same.
Polyneices
Where will you be stationed before the towers?
Eteocles
Why do you ask me this?
Polyneices
I will set myself against you for your death.
Eteocles
I too have the same desire.
Jocasta
Woe is me! what will you do, my sons?
Polyneices
The event will show.
Jocasta
Oh, try to escape your father's curse!Jocasta enters the palace.
Eteocles
May destruction seize our whole house!
Polyneices
[625]
Soon my sword will be busy, plunged in gore. But I call my native land and the gods to witness, with what dishonor and bitter treatment I am being driven forth, as though I were a slave, not a son of Oedipus as much as he. If anything happens to you, my city, blame him, not me;
[630]
for I did not come willingly, and unwillingly I am driven from the land. And you, Phoebus, lord of highways, and my home, farewell, and my comrades, and statues of the gods, where sheep are sacrificed. For I do not know if I can ever again address you; though hope is not yet asleep, which makes me confident that with the gods' help
[635]
I shall slay him and rule this land of Thebes.Polyneices departs.
Eteocles
Get out of the country! It was a true name our father gave you, when, prompted by some god, he called you Polyneices, man of many quarrels.
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Euripides. The Complete Greek Drama, edited by Whitney J. Oates and Eugene O'Neill, Jr. in two volumes. 2. The Phoenissae, translated by E. P. Coleridge. New York. Random House. 1938.
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