Ah me, the madman, and the curse of Heav...

Ah me, the madman, and the curse of Heaven

And woe for us, the lamentable line

Of Oedipus, and woe that in this house

Our father's curse must find accomplishment!

But now, a truce to tears and loud lament,

Lest they should breed a still more rueful wail!

As for this Polyneices, named too well,

Soon shall we know how this device shall end-

Whether the gold-wrought symbols on his shield,

In their mad vaunting and bewildered pride,

Shall guide him as a victor to his home!

For had but justice, maiden-child of Zeus,

Stood by his act and thought, it might have been!

Yet never, from the day he reached the light

Out of the darkness of his mother's womb,

Never in childhood, nor in youthful prime,

Nor when his chin was gathering its beard,

Hath justice hailed or claimed him as her own.

Therefore I deem not that she standeth now

To aid him in this outrage on his home!

Misnamed, in truth, were justice, utterly,

If to impiety she lent her hand.

Sure in this faith, I will myself go forth

And match me with him; who hath fairer claim?

Ruler, against one fain to snatch the rule,

Brother with brother matched, and foe with foe,

Will I confront the issue. To the wall!

Aeschylus, The Seven Against Thebes.

• Full text trans. E. D. A. Morshead