Scaife ATLAS

CTS Library / Seven Against Thebes

Seven Against Thebes (305-355)

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg004.perseus-eng2:305-355
Refs {'start': {'reference': '305', 'human_reference': 'Line 305'}, 'end': {'reference': '355', 'human_reference': 'Line 355'}}
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if you abandon to the enemy this deep-soiled land and the water of Dirce which is the most nourishing of the streams that earth-encircling Poseidon
and Tethys’ children pour forth? Therefore, divine guardians of the city, hurl murderous destruction on the men outside our walls
and panic that makes them throw away their weapons, and so win glory for these citizens. Defend the city and remain in possession of your home and throne
in answer to our shrill, wailing prayers!
321
Chorus
It is a great cause for grief to hurl a primeval city to Hades in this way, quarry and slave of the spear, ravaged shamefully in the dusty ashes by an Argive man through divine will.
And grief, too, to let the women be led away captive—ah me!—young and old, dragged by the hair, like horses, with their cloaks torn off them.
A city, emptied, shouts out as the human booty perishes with mingled cries. A heavy fate, indeed, my fear anticipates.
333
Chorus
It is a lamentable thing that modest girls should be plucked unripe, before the customary rites, and should make
a loathsome journey from their homes. What? I declare that the dead will do better than the captives; for when a city is subdued—ah, ah!—many and miserable are its sufferings.
Man drags off man, or kills, or sets fires; the whole city is defiled with smoke. Mad Ares storms, subduing the people and polluting reverence.
345
Chorus
Tumults swell through the town, and against it a towering net is advancing. Man falls before man beneath the spear. Sobs and wails over gore-covered babes, just nursed at their mothers’ breasts,
resound. Rape and pillage of those fleeing through the city are the deeds of one’s own blood. Plunderer joins up with plunderer; the empty-handed calls to the empty-handed, wishing to have a partner,
each greedy for neither less nor equal share. Reason exists for imagining what will come after this.

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