_Chor._ These things give cause for gladness and for tears, 810 Seeing that our city prospers, and our lords, The generals twain, with well-wrought Skythian steel, Have shared between them all their store of goods, And now shall have their portion in a grave, Borne on, as spake their father's grievous curse.[124] _Mess._ [The city's saved, but of the brother-kings The earth has drunk the blood, each slain by each.] _Chor._ Great Zeus! and ye, O Gods! Guardians of this our town, Who save in very deed The towers of Cadmos old, 820 Shall I rejoice and shout Over the happy chance That frees our State from harm; Or weep that ill-starred pair, The war-chiefs, childless and most miserable, Who, true to that ill name Of Polyneikes, died in impious mood, Contending overmuch? STROPHE Oh dark, and all too true That curse of Œdipus and all his race,[125] An evil chill is falling on my heart, 830 And, like a Thyiad wild, Over his grave I sing a dirge of grief, Hearing the dead have died by evil fate, Each in foul bloodshed steeped; Ah me! Ill-omened is the spear's accord.[126] ANTISTROPHE It hath wrought out its end, And hath not failed, that prayer the father poured; And Laios' reckless counsels work till now: I fear me for the State; The oracles have not yet lost their edge; 840 O men of many sorrows, ye have wrought This deed incredible; Not now in word come woes most lamentable. [_As the Chorus are speaking, the bodies of_ ETEOCLES _and_ POLYNEIKES _are brought in solemn procession by_ Theban Citizens EPODE Yea, it is all too clear, The herald's tale of woe comes full in sight; Twofold our cares, twin evils born of pride, Murderous, with double doom, Wrought unto full completeness all these ills. What shall I say? What else Are they than woes that make this house their home? But oh! my friends, ply, ply with swift, strong gale, That even stroke of hands upon your head,[127] 850 In funeral order, such as evermore O'er Acheron sends on *That bark of State, dark-rigged, accursed its voyage, Which nor Apollo visits nor the sun,[128] On to the shore unseen, The resting-place of all. [ISMENE _and_ ANTIGONE _are seen approaching in mourning garments, followed by a procession of women wailing and lamenting_