Seven Against Thebes
Aeschylus
Aeschylus, Volume 1. Smyth, Herbert Weir, translator. London; New York: William Heinemann; G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1922.
- When you invoke the gods, do not be ill-advised. For Obedience is
- the mother of Success, wife of Salvation—as the saying goes.
- So she is, but the power of god is supreme, and often in bad times it raises the helpless man out of harsh misery even when stormclouds are lowering over his eyes.
- It is the man’s duty to offer victims and sacrifices to the gods when they test their enemy; your duty is to be silent and to remain inside the house.
- By the will of the gods we inhabit an unconquered city, and the rampart withstands the enemy throng.
- What indignation makes you resent this?
- I do not begrudge your honor of the divine race; but lest you make the citizens cowardly, be calm and do not be overly fearful.
- When I heard the strange and jumbled clashes,
- I came in trembling fear to this citadel, our seat of worship.
- If, then, you hear that men are dying or wounded, do not seize on the news with loud wailing. For this is the food of Ares, human blood.
- Oh, but I hear horses snorting!
- Hear them, then, but not too clearly.
- The city groans from deep in the earth, as though we are surrounded.
- Surely it is enough that I am making plans for this?
- I am terrified—the crashing at the gates is increasing.
- Won’t you be silent, and speak none of this throughout the city?
- Divine company, do not betray our fortifications!
- Damn you! Will you not endure these events in silence?
- Gods of our city! Do not let my fate be slavery!
- You would enslave both me and all the city.