§414non fiet unum.
it will not be a single crime.
§414bSigna collatis micant §415vicina signis, clamor hostilis fremit; §416scelus in propinquo est: occupa, mater, preces.
[ANTIGONE] The nearby standards gleam, brought close to standards, and the hostile clamor roars; crime is near: prevent it, mother, with your prayers.
And behold, you would believe them moved by my tears, so slowly does the army advance with weapons at rest.
§419Procedit acies tarda, sed properant duces.
[MESSENGER] The battle-line proceeds slowly, but the leaders hasten.
[JOCASTA] What swift wind, carrying me in the mad whirl of a tempest, will drive me through the ethereal air?
What Sphinx, or what Stymphalian bird weaving the day with a black cloud, will carry me headlong on greedy wings?
§424aut quae per altas aeris rapiet vias §425Harpyia saevi regis observans famem §426et inter acies proiciet raptam duas?
Or what Harpy, watching over the hunger of the cruel king, will snatch me through the high paths of the air and cast me, thus snatched, between the two battle-lines?
§427Vadit furenti similis aut etiam furit.
[MESSENGER] She goes like one mad, or rather she is indeed mad.
§428sagitta qualis Parthica velox manu §429excussa fertur, qualis insano ratis §430premente vento rapitur aut qualis cadit §431delapsa caelo stella, cum stringens polum §432rectam citatis ignibus rumpit viam, §433attonita cursu fugit et binas statim §434diduxit acies, victa materna prece §435haesere bella, iamque in alternam necem §436illinc et hinc miscere cupientes manus §437librata dextra tela suspensa tenent.
Like a swift arrow shot by a Parthian hand is carried, or as a ship is swept away when a mad wind presses it, or as a falling star slips from heaven when, grazing the sky, it breaks a straight path with swift fires, so she flees, dazed in her course, and immediately parted the two battle-lines; conquered by a mother's prayer, the wars halted, and now, though desiring from this side and that to join hands for mutual slaughter, they hold their poised weapons suspended in their right hands.
Peace is favored, the sword of everyone lies down or rests in its sheath; only in the brothers' hands does it tremble.
Tearing her white hair, the mother shows it, begs those who refuse, and bathes her cheeks with tears.
§442negare matri qui diu dubitat, potest.
Can he who hesitates for a long time refuse his mother?
§443In me arma et ignes vertite, in me omnis ruat §444unam iuventus quaeque ab Inachio venit §445animosa muro quaeque Thebana ferox §446descendit arce; civis atque hostis simul §447hunc petite ventrem, qui dedit fratres viro.
[JOCASTA] Turn your weapons and fires against me; let all the youth rush upon me alone, both those who come high-spirited from the Inachian wall and those who descend fierce from the Theban citadel; citizens and enemies alike, attack this womb, which gave brothers to my husband.
Scatter and tear apart these limbs everywhere: I gave birth to both of them—will you not lay down your iron more quickly?
§450an dico et ex quo? dexteras matri date,
Or must I say also from whom?
§451date dum piae sunt.
Give your right hands to your mother, give them while they are pious.
error invitos adhuc §452fecit nocentes, omne Fortunae fuit
Hitherto error made you guilty against your will; all the blame belonged to Fortune who sinned against us.
§453peccantis in nos crimen: hoc primum nefas §454inter scientes geritur, in vestra manu est, §455utrum velitis: sancta si pietas placet, §456t donate matri pacem, si placuit scelus, §457maius paratum est: media se opponit parens,
This first crime is being committed among those who know; it is in your hand, whichever you wish: if holy piety pleases you, grant peace to your mother; if crime has pleased you, a greater one is prepared: your parent opposes herself in the midst.
§458proinde bellum tollite aut belli moram,
Therefore, remove either the war, or the delay of war.
§459sollicita cui nunc mater alterna prece
To whom now, an anxious mother, shall I direct my words with alternating prayer?
§460verba admovebo? misera quem amplectar prius?
Wretched as I am, whom shall I embrace first?
§461in utramque partem ducor affectu pari.
I am drawn to either side with equal affection.
This one was absent; but if the pacts of the brothers are valid, now the other will be absent.
ergo iam numquam duos §464nisi sic videbo? iunge complexus prior,
Shall I then never see the two except thus?
§465qui tot labores totque perpessus mala §466longo parentem fessus exilio vides, §467accede propius, elude vagina impium §468ensem et trementem iamque cupientem excuti §469hastam solo defige; maternum tuo §470coire pectus pectori clipeus vetat: §471hunc quoque repone, vinculo frontem exue §472tegumenque capitis triste belligeri leva
Join embraces first, you who, having endured so many labors and so many evils, weary with long exile, see your parent, draw near, shut up (elude) the impious sword in its sheath, and fix the spear, trembling and already desiring to be thrown, in the ground; the shield forbids a mother's breast to join with yours: lay this aside also, strip your brow of its band, and lift the grim covering of your warlike head, and show your face to your mother.
Whither do you turn your gaze away, and with fearful eye watch your brother's hand?
Flung upon you, I will cover your whole body with my embrace; the path to your death will be made through my own body.
§477quid dubius haeres? an times matris fidem?
Why do you hesitate, doubting? Or do you fear your mother's faith?
§478Timeo; nihil iam iura naturae valent.
[POLYNICES] I do fear; the laws of nature have no power now.
After those examples of brothers, not even a mother is to be trusted.
§480bRedde iam capulo manum, §481astringe galeam, laeva se clipeo inserat; §482dum frater exarmatur, armatus mane.
[ETEOCLES] Put your hand back on the hilt now, tighten your helmet, let your left hand insert itself into the shield; while your brother is being disarmed, remain armed.
§483tu pone ferrum, causa qui ferri es prior.
[JOCASTA] You lay down the iron, you who are the prior cause of the iron.
§484si pacis odium est, furere si bello placet: §485indutias te mater exiguas rogat, §486ferat ut reverso post fugam nato oscula
If there is hatred of peace, if it pleases you to rage in war: your mother asks a brief truce of you, so that she may bring kisses, either the first or the last, to her son who has returned after flight.
While I seek peace, listen unarmed. Does he fear you, and do you fear him?
I fear both, but on behalf of both. Why do you refuse to sheathe the drawn sword?
§491id gerere bellum cupitis, in quo est optimum
Rejoice in any delay: you desire to wage that war in which it is best to be conquered.
§492vinci, vereris fratris infesti dolos?
Do you fear the guiles of an hostile brother?
Whenever it is necessary to deceive or to be deceived by one's own, suffer it yourself rather than commit the crime.
But do not fear: your mother will drive away treachery both from this side and again from that.
exoro? an patri
Do I prevail upon you? Or to your father...