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Seven Against Thebes (692-716)

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg004.perseus-eng2:692-716
Refs {'start': {'reference': '692', 'human_reference': 'Line 692'}, 'end': {'reference': '716', 'human_reference': 'Line 716'}}
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A savage desire eats away at you, drives you to murder, blood-sacrifice proscribed by divine law, whose only fruit is bitterness.
Eteocles
True, my own beloved father’s hateful, ruinous curse hovers before my dry, unweeping eyes, and informs me of benefit preceding subsequent death.[*]
698
Chorus
No, do not let yourself be driven to it. You will not be called a coward if you retain life nobly. Will not the avenging Erinys in her dark aegis
leave your house, when the gods receive sacrifice from your hands?
Eteocles
The gods, it seems, have already banished us from their care, yet they admire the grace we offer them when we perish. So then, why should we cringe and shy away from deadly fate?
705
Chorus
It is only at this moment that death stands close by you, for the divine spirit may change its purpose even after a long time and come on a gentler wind. But now it still seethes.
Eteocles
Yes, the curses of Oedipus have made it seethe in fury.
Too true were the phantoms in my sleeping visions, predicting the division of our father’s wealth!
712
Chorus
Obey us women, although you do not like to.
Eteocles
Recommend something that can be accomplished; your request need not be lengthy.
Chorus
Do not yourself take the road to the seventh gate!
Eteocles
Let me assure you, you will not blunt my sharpened purpose with words.
Chorus
And yet any victory, even a cowardly one, is nonetheless held in honor by God.

Tokens

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savage 1 w 7
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away 1 w 21
at 2 w 23
you 1 w 26
drives 1 w 33
you 2 w 36
to 1 w 38
murder 1 w 44
blood-sacrifice 1 w 60
proscribed 1 w 70
by 1 w 72
divine 1 w 78
law 1 w 81
whose 1 w 87
only 1 w 91
fruit 1 w 96
is 1 w 98
bitterness 1 w 108
Eteocles 1 w 117
True 1 w 121
my 1 w 124
own 1 w 127
beloved 1 w 134
father 1 w 140
s 12 w 142
hateful 1 w 149
ruinous 1 w 157
curse 1 w 162
hovers 1 w 168
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my 2 w 176
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eyes 1 w 193
and 1 w 197
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Literally 1 w 249
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whispers 1 w 301
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him 1 w 308
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Chorus 1 w 335
No 1 w 337
do 1 w 340
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let 1 w 346
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be 7 w 356
driven 1 w 362
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it 5 w 366
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your 4 w 501
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