the phoenissae-第4章
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JOCASTA
Stay a moment； haste never carries justice with it； but slow
deliberation oft attains a wise result。 Restrain the fierceness of thy
look； that panting rage； for this is not the Gorgon's severed head but
thy own brother whom thou seest here。 Thou too； Polyneices； turn and
face thy brother； for if thou and he stand face to face； thou wilt
adopt a kindlier tone and lend a readier ear to him。 I fain would give
you both one piece of wholesome counsel； when a man that is angered
with his friend confronts him face to face； he ought only to keep in
view the object of his coming； forgetting all previous quarrels。
Polyneices my son； speak first； for thou art come at the head of a
Danaid host； alleging wrongful treatment； and may some god judge
betwixt us and reconcile the trouble。
POLYNEICES
The words of truth are simple； and justice needs no subtle
interpretations； for it hath a fitness in itself； but the words of
injustice； being rotten in themselves； require clever treatment。 I
provided for his interests and mine in our father's palace； being
anxious to avoid the curse which Oedipus once uttered against us； of
my own free…will I left the land； allowing him to rule our country for
one full year； on condition that I should then take the sceptre in
turn； instead of plunging into deadly enmity and thereby doing
others hurt or suffering it myself； as is now the case。 But he；
after consenting to this and calling the gods to witness his oath； has
performed none of his promises； but is still keeping the sovereignty
in his own hands together with my share of our heritage。 Even now am I
ready to take my own and dismiss my army from this land； receiving
my house in turn to dwell therein； and once more restore it to him for
a like period instead of ravaging our country and planting
scaling…ladders against the towers； as I shall attempt to do if I do
not get my rights。 Wherefore I call the gods to witness that spite
of my just dealing in everything I am being unjustly robbed of my
country by most godless fraud。 Here； mother； have I stated the several
points on their own merits； without collecting words to fence them in；
but urging a fair case； I think； alike in the judgment of skilled or
simple folk。
LEADER
To me at least； albeit I was not born and bred in Hellas； thy
words seem full of sense。
ETEOCLES
If all were at one in their ideas of honour and wisdom； there
would have been no strife to make men disagree； but； as it is；
fairness and equality have no existence in this world beyond the name；
there is really no such thing。 For instance； mother； I will tell
thee this without any concealment； I would ascend to the rising of the
stars and the sun or dive beneath the earth； were I able so to do；
to win a monarch's power； the chief of things divine。 Therefore；
mother； I will never yield this blessing to another； but keep it for
myself； for it were a coward's act to lose the greater and to win
the less。 Besides； I blush to think that he should gain his object
by coming with arms in his hand and ravaging the land； for this were
foul disgrace to glorious Thebes； if I should yield my sceptre up to
him for fear of Argive might。 He ought not； mother； to have
attempted reconcilement by armed force； for words compass everything
that even the sword of an enemy might effect。 Still； if on any other
terms he cares to dwell here； he may； but the sceptre will I never
willingly let go。 Shall I become his slave； when I can be his
master？ Never！ Wherefore come fire； come sword！ harness your steeds；
fill the plains with chariots； for I will not forego my throne for
him。 For if we must do wrong； to do so for a kingdom were the
fairest cause； but in all else virtue should be our aim。
LEADER
Fair words are only called for when the deeds they crown are fair；
otherwise they lose their charm and offend justice。
JOCASTA
Eteocles； my child； it is not all evil that attends old age；
sometimes its experience can offer sager counsel than can youth。 Oh
why； my son； art thou so set upon Ambition； that worst of deities？
Forbear； that goddess knows not justice； many are the homes and cities
once prosperous that she hath entered and left after the ruin of her
votaries； she it is thou madly followest。 Better far； my son； prize
Equality that ever linketh friend to friend； city to city； and
allies to each other； for Equality is man's natural law； but the
less is always in opposition to the greater； ushering in the dayspring
of dislike。 For it is Equality that hath set up for man measures and
divisions of weights and hath distinguished numbers； night's sightless
orb； and radiant sun proceed upon their yearly course on equal
terms； and neither of them is envious when it has to yield。 Though sun
and gloom then both are servants in man's interests； wilt not thou
be content with thy fair share of thy heritage and give the same to
him？ if not； why where is justice？ Why prize beyond its worth the
monarch's power； injustice in prosperity？ why think so much of the
admiring glances turned on rank？ Nay； 'tis vanity。 Or wouldst thou
by heaping riches in thy halls； heap up toil therewith？ what advantage
is it？ 'tis but a name； for the wise find that enough which suffices
for their wants。 Man indeed hath no possessions of his own； we do
but hold a stewardship of the gods' property； and when they will； they
take it back again。 Riches make no settled home； but are as
transient as the day。 Come； suppose I put before thee two
alternatives； whether thou wilt rule or save thy city？ Wilt thou say
〃Rule〃？
Again； if Polyneices win the day and his Argive warriors rout
the ranks of Thebes； thou wilt see this city conquered and many a
captive maid brutally dishonoured by the foe； so will that wealth thou
art so bent on getting become a grievous bane to Thebes； but still
ambition fills thee。 This I say to thee； and this to thee； Polyneices；
Adrastus hath conferred a foolish favour on thee； and thou too hast
shown little sense in coming to lay thy city waste。 Suppose thou
conquer this land （which Heaven forefend！） tell me； I conjure thee；
how wilt thou rear a trophy to Zeus？ how wilt thou begin the sacrifice
after thy country's conquest or inscribe the spoils at the streams
of Inachus with 〃Polyneices gave Thebes to the flames and dedicated
these shields to the gods〃？ Oh！ never； my son； be it thine to win such
fame from Hellas！ If； on the other hand； thou art worsted and thy
brother's cause prevail； how shalt thou return to Argos； leaving
countless dead behind？ Some one will be sure to say； 〃Out on thee！
Adrastus； for the evil bridegroom thou hast brought unto thy house；
thanks to one maid's marriage； ruin is come on us。〃
Towards two evils； my son； art thou hasting；…loss of influence
there and ruin in the midst of thy efforts here。 Oh！ my children；
lay aside your violence； two men's follies； once they meet； result
in very deadly evil。
LEADER
O heaven； avert these troubles and reconcile the sons of Oedipus
in some way！
ETEOCLES
Mother； the season for parley is past； the time we still delay
is idle waste； thy good wishes are of no avail； for we shall never
be reconciled except upon the terms already named； namely； that I
should keep the sceptre and be king of this land： wherefore cease
these tedious warnings and let me be。 （Turning to POLYNEICES） And as
for thee； outside the walls； or die！
POLYNEICES
Who will slay me？ who is so invulnerable as to plunge his sword in
my body without reaping the self…same fate？
ETEOCLES
Thou art near him； aye； very near； dost see my arm？
POLYNEICES
I see it； but wealth is cowardly； a craven too fond of life。
ETEOCLES
Was it then to meet a dastard thou camest with all that host to
war？
POLYNEICES
In a general caution is better than foolhardiness。
ETEOCLES
Relying on the truce； which saves thy lif
