The Suppliants (901-960)

As for the noble son of Oecleus, him, while yet he lived, the gods snatched hence to the bowels of the earth, and. his chariot too, manifestly blessing him; while I myself may truthfully tell the praises of the son of Oedipus, that is, Polynices,

for he was my guest-friend ere he left the town of Cadmus and crossed to Argos in voluntary exile. But dost thou know what I would have thee do in this matter?

I know naught save this,—to yield obedience to thy hests.

As for yon Capaneus, stricken by the bolt of Zeus—

Wilt bury him apart as a consecrated corpse?

Even so; but all the rest on one funeral pyre.

Where wilt thou set the tomb apart for him?

Here near this temple have I builded him a sepulchre.

Thy thralls forthwith must undertake this toil.

Myself will look to those others; let the biers advance.

Approach your sons, unhappy mothers.

This thy proposal, Adrastus, is anything but good.

Must not the mothers touch their sons?

It would kill them to see how they are altered.

’Tis bitter, truly, to see the dead even[*] at the moment of death.

Why then wilt thou add fresh grief to them?

Thou art right. Ye[*] needs must patiently abide, for the words of Theseus are good. But when we have committed them unto the flames, ye shall collect their bones. O wretched sons of men!

Why do ye get you weapons and bring slaughter on one another? Cease therefrom, give o’er your toiling, and in mutual peace keep safe your cities. Short is the span of life, so ’twere best to run its course as lightly as we may, from trouble free.