Polyneices Alas, for my journey and my failed attempt! Alas, for my companions! Such is the end of the road on which we set out from Argos—wretched me!—such an end, that I cannot even mention it to any of my companions or turn them back, but must go in silence to meet this fate. But you, daughters of this man and my sisters, since you hear these hard curses of a father, do not—if this father’s curses be fulfilled and you find some way of return to Thebes—do not, I beg you by the gods, leave me dishonored, but give me burial and due funeral rites. So the praise which you now win from this man here for your labors will be increased by another praise no less, through your care for me.
Antigone Polyneices, I beseech you, hear me in one thing!
Polyneices What is it, dearest Antigone? Speak!
Antigone Turn your force back to Argos as quickly as may be, and do not destroy both yourself and your city.
Polyneices No, it is not possible. For how could I lead the same force again, when once I had shrunk back?
Antigone But why, my brother, must your anger rise again? What profit will come to you from destroying your native land?
Polyneices It is shameful to be in exile, and to be mocked in this way by my brother, when I am eldest-born.
Antigone Do you see to what sure fulfillment the prophecies of this man are leading, who declares mutual death for you two?
Polyneices Yes, for he wishes it. But I must not yield.
Antigone Ah, wretched me! But who will dare follow you, when he hears what prophecies this man has uttered?
Polyneices I will not report ill-tidings; a good leader should tell the better news, and not the worse.
Antigone Is this then your fixed decision, my brother?
Polyneices Yes, and do not detain me. This path now will be my destiny, ill-fated and evil, because of my father here and his Furies. But as for you two, may Zeus grant you good things, if you bring these things to completion for me when I am dead, since in life you will see me no more. Now release me, and farewell; for nevermore will you behold me living.
Antigone Ah, wretched that I am!
Polyneices Do not mourn for me.
Antigone And who would not mourn you, brother, when you are hurrying off to a death foreseen?
Polyneices If it is fated, then I must die.
Antigone No, no, listen to my prayer!
Polyneices Do not plead for what must not be.
Antigone Then I, indeed, am utterly wretched, if I must lose you!
Polyneices It rests with the divinity, this way or that. But as for you two, I pray to the gods that you may never meet with evil; for in all men’s eyes you do not deserve to suffer.
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