Quotes from The Seven Against Thebes

Quotations follow the David Grene translation (University of Chicago Press, 2013) — our recommended edition.

1. 2

   Men of Cadmus' city, he who guards from the stern the concerns of the State and guides its helm with eyes untouched by sleep must speak to the point.

2. 3

   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.

3. 4

   For Obedience is the mother of Success, wife of Salvation — as the saying goes.

4. 5

   It is for the man to take care of business outside the house; let no woman make decrees in those matters.

5. 6

   Seven warriors, fierce regiment-commanders, slaughtered a bull over a black shield, and then touching the bull's gore with their hands they swore an oath by Ares, by Enyo, and by Rout who delights in blood, that either they will level the city and sack the Cadmeans' town by force, or will in death smear this soil with their blood.

6. 7

   In all things, nothing is more evil than evil partnership.

7. 8

   Since God hastens the deed so urgently, let the whole race of Laius, hated by Phoebus, be swept on the wind to Cocytus' destined flood!

8. 9

   Still it is God's gift when mortals succeed.

9. 10

   their iron-hearted spirit heaved, blazing with courage, as of lions with war in their eyes.

10. 11

    O Fate, giver of grievous troubles, and awful shade of Oidipus, black Erinys, you are indeed a mighty force.

11. 12

    In terror I wail loud cries of sorrow. Their army is let loose! Leaving camp, — look! — the mounted throng floods swiftly ahead.