ETEOCLES.
Peace! stay your tongue, or else the town may hear!
CHORUS.
O warders of the walls, betray them not!
ETEOCLES.
Bestrew your cries! in silence face your fate.
CHORUS.
Gods of our city, see me not enslaved!
ETEOCLES.
On me, on all, thy cries bring slavery.
CHORUS.
Zeus, strong to smite, turn upon foes thy blow!
ETEOCLES.
Zeus, what a curse are women, wrought by thee!
CHORUS.
Weak wretches, even as men, when cities fall.
ETEOCLES.
What! clasping gods, yet voicing thy despair?
CHORUS.
In the sick heart, fear machete prey of speech.