The Supernatural in the Tragedies of Euripides 6i 



13. The Phceniss^ 



The subject of the " Phoenissae " is the same as that of the 

 ^schylean play : " The Seven against Thebes," namely, the war 

 of succession between Polyneices and Eteocles. 



locaste who speaks the prologue prays for her two sons, Poly- 

 neices and Eteocles : 



Phcen. 84-87: 



dXX' 03 (paevvas ovpavov valuiv Trrux^s 

 Zeii, crucTov rifxas, 56s Be avfi^acjLV reKvois. 

 XPV 5', el ao(t>ds irecpvKas, ovk eciv ppoTov 

 Tov aiiTov ael dvarvxv Kad^ecrravai.. 



" O dweller Zeus in heaven's veiling light, 

 Save us, grant reconciling to my sons ! 

 Thou oughtest not, so thou be wise, to leave 

 The same man overcome to be unblest." 



In Antigone's prayer addressed to Nemesis : 



Phcen. 182 £f.: 



Nejuecrt Kal Atos ^apv^pofxoL ^povrai, 

 KepavvQiv re (pws aWaXoev, cri) tol 

 fxe'vaXayopiai^ virepavopa Koifxl^eis' 



" O Nemesis, O ye thunders rolling deep 

 Of Zeus, thou flaming light of his levin. 

 Overweening vaunts dost thou hush into endless sleep ! " 



the imprecation is implied : " the haughty boastings of man dost 

 thou silence ; mayest thou silence his ! " i.e., Capaneus'. Then 

 Antigone appeals to Artemis : 



Phcen. 190-92 : 



fxriTTOTe juLTjiroTe ravd', (h iroTvia, k. t. X., 

 AprefjiL, dovKocrwav rXatrjj'. 



" Never, ah, never, O Artemis Queen, 

 Zeus' child with tresses of golden sheen. 

 Bowed imder bondage may I be seen ! " 



The chorus appeal to the Gods to reconcile the two brothers : 



Phcen. 586-87: 



w ??eot, yevoicrd^e tuvS' airoTpowoL KaKwv 

 Kat ^VfilSacriv tiv' OISittoi; TeKvois dore. 



" Ah Gods, be ye averters of these ills. 

 And set at one the sons of CEdipus ! " 



115 



