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. 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; now if we can forestall him, you are saved, but if you are too late, we are ruined and you will die.
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—
Menoeceus Where must I go, father?
Creon To Aetolia.
Menoeceus And where must I go from there?
Creon To the land of Thesprotia.
Menoeceus To Dodona’s holy threshold?
Creon You understand.
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.
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. Come, come! be going; it isn’t your part to hinder me.
Menoeceus
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 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; wherever I live, I shall seem base. 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. 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.
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