Nor death by stoning at the people's hand
Shall they escape. What passeth out of doors
Is man's concern; let woman counsel not.
Bide thou within, and no more mischief cause.
Dost hear or not? Or speak I to the deaf?
Chorus. Strophe I.
Dear son of Œdipus, I trembled sore, 190
Hearing of rattling cars the roar, the roar,
When wheel-impelling axles shrieked amain,
When sounded on mine ear
The noise of fire-wrought gear—
Within the chargers' mouths their guiding rein.
Eteocles.
What then? doth sailor means of safety find,
[1]The stern forsaking for the prow, what time
His vessel labours mid the ocean wave?
Chorus. Antistrophe I.
Relying on the gods, as was but meet,
When at our gates pattered the deadly sleet, 200
With hurrying pace I sought their statues old;
By fear possest, I there
Poured to the Blest my prayer,
That they our city's prowess would uphold.
Eteocles.
Pray that our towers be stanch 'gainst foemen's spear.
Chorus.
Grant not the gods this boon?
- ↑ The sailor prayed to the figure of his tutelary god upon the prow.
