The Supernatural in the Tragedies of Euripides 67 



" There too was war, against Eumolpus' spear, 

 Where I to Cecrops' sons gave victory. 

 This crown of gold, as thou mayst see, have I 

 As firstfruits of the foemen's spoil received." 



Then Teiresias being urged to declare the truth, affirms that 

 the sole hope of the safety of Thebes lies in the sacrifice of 

 Creon's only son, Menoecus : 



Phoen. gii-14: 



ixKove Sij vvv ^eacf)a.To:v etxuv 686v 

 <r(f>a^aL M-evoLKfj rovSe 5el a' iirep warpas 

 ffbv irald', kweidrj ttjv Tvxn^ avro^ aaXels. 



" Hear then the tenor of mine oracle, 

 What deed of yours shall save the Thebans town. 

 Menoecus must thou slay for fatherland, 

 Thy son — since thou thyself demandest fate." 



Teiresias leaves the stage with the following characteristic 

 words upon his lips : 



Phoen. 954-59: 



ocTTts 5' efj-irvpcc xPVTo-i- t'^X^'Q-! 

 ixaraios' rjv fikv kx&po. ar]jj,r]vas tvxv, 

 TTtKpos Kad^kcTTrix ots 0.V oioivoffKoirfi- 

 \l/ev5fj 5' vir o'Lktov toI(tl xP'^^e^'ots Xeyoiv 

 dSuei TO. Tojv d^ecav. ^ol^ov av^pdoirois p-bvov 

 XPW dea-Kiicbelv, bs bkbotKev ovbkva. 



'■ . . . Who uses the diviner's art 

 Is foolish. If he heraldeth ill things, 

 He is loathed of those to whom he prophecies. 

 If pitying them that seek to him, he lie. 

 He wrongs the Gods. Sole prophet unto men 

 Ought Phoebus to have been, who feareth none." 



Euripides renders his condemnation of the soothsayers most 

 effective when he makes the aged seer himself confess that sooth- 

 sayers often do not dare to tell the truth to those that consult 

 them and therefore are compelled to cheat their clients in order 

 not to give offence. No wonder that Creon says to his son : 



Phoen. 971 : 



ct/coXacT' edcras pavrewv ^eaTrlanara. 



" Heed not the reckless words of soothsayers." 



121 



