Seven Against Thebes (545-597)

His words penetrate to my heart, my hair stands on end

as I hear the loud threats of these loud-boasting, impious men. May the gods destroy them here in our land!

The sixth man I will name is of the highest moderation and a seer brave in combat, mighty Amphiaraus.

Stationed at the Homoloid gate, he repeatedly rebukes mighty Tydeus with evil names Murderer, maker of unrest in the city, principal teacher of evils to the Argives, summoner of vengeance’s Curse, servant of Slaughter, counselor to Adrastus in these evil plans. And next, with eyes looking upward, he addressed your own brother, mighty Polynices who shares your blood, and called him by name, dwelling twice upon its latter part.[*] These were his words:

Will such a deed as this be pleasing to the gods, fine to hear of and to relate to those in the future—that you sacked the city of your ancestors and your native gods and launched a foreign army against them? What justice is it to drain dry the font of your existence?[*]

And how shall your fatherland, captured by the spear for the sake of your ambition, be won over to your cause? As for me, I will enrich this earth, a seer interred beneath enemy soil. Let us fight! I anticipate no dishonorable death.

So the seer spoke as untroubled he held his all-bronze shield. No symbol was fixed to his shield’s circle. For he does not wish to appear the bravest, but to be the bravest, as he harvests the fruit of his mind’s deep furrow, where his careful resolutions grow.

I advise you to send wise and brave opponents against him. He who reveres the gods is to be feared.

Ah, the pity of fate’s omen when it makes a just man associate with the irreverent! In all things, nothing is more evil