And you, mother? Eteocles It is not lawful for you to mention your mother. Polyneices O my city! Eteocles Go to Argos , and invoke the waters of Lerna . Polyneices I will; do not be troubled; but I thank you, mother. Eteocles Go forth from the land! Polyneices I will go; but let me see my father. Eteocles You will not have your wish. Polyneices At least then my maiden sisters. Eteocles You will not ever see them either. Polyneices Ah, my sisters! Eteocles Why do you, their bitterest enemy, call on them? Polyneices To you at least farewell, mother! Jocasta Indeed I am faring well, my son! Polyneices I am no longer your son. Jocasta I was born to great sorrow. Polyneices Because my brother treats me outrageously. Eteocles I am treated just the same. Polyneices Where will you be stationed before the towers? Eteocles Why do you ask me this? Polyneices I will set myself against you for your death. Eteocles I too have the same desire. Jocasta Woe is me! what will you do, my sons? Polyneices The event will show. Jocasta Oh, try to escape your father’s curse! Exit Jocasta. Eteocles May destruction seize our whole house! Polyneices Soon my sword will be busy, plunged in gore. But I call my native land and the gods to witness, with what dishonor and bitter treatment I am being driven forth, as though I were a slave, not a son of Oedipus as much as he. If anything happens to you, my city, blame him, not me; for I did not come willingly, and unwillingly I am driven from the land. And you, Phoebus, lord of highways, and my home, farewell, and my comrades, and statues of the gods, where sheep are sacrificed. For I do not know if I can ever again address you; though hope is not yet asleep, which makes me confident that with the gods’ help I shall slay him and rule this land of Thebes . Exit Polyneices. Eteocles Get out of the country! It was a true name our father gave you, when, prompted by some god, he called you Polyneices, man of many quarrels. Exit Eteocles.