Chapter 9 The Story of Oedipus-9

Poor Oedipus is still restless.One day Theseus brought him news that a relative of Oedipus had come to Cronus.He was not from Thebes, but now he was praying for protection at the altar of the Temple of Poseidon. "This is my son Polynices," cried Oedipus, "I will not speak to him!" But Antigone could not forget her brother.So she tried to comfort her father, to calm him down, and to ask him at least to listen to the purpose of Polynices' visit.Oedipus again asks Theseus to protect him, as he fears his son will kidnap him by force.After making preparations, he summoned Polynices.

The way Polynices enters shows that his intentions are different from Creon's.Antigone told her blind father what she saw: "I saw that he had no retinue, and that tears were streaming down his face." "Is it really him?" asked Oedipus, turning around. "Yes, father," replied Antigone, "your son Polynices has stood before you." Polynices threw himself on his father's face, wrapping his hands around his knees.He saw his father wearing ragged beggar's clothes, two sunken eye sockets, and gray hair blowing in the wind, and felt very sad. "I have sinned so badly that it is difficult for you to forgive me, Father! Can you forgive me? You don't understand me, do you? Oh, dear sister, help me, and let Father forgive me!"

"Tell us first, brother, why did you come here?" Antigone said gently, "Maybe your words will impress father and make him open his mouth to speak." So Polynices told them how his brother drove him out, how Adrastros king of Argos took him in and gave him his daughter in marriage, how he united the seven princes and Their army besieged Thebes.He asked his father to go back with him, and promised to return the crown to his father after overthrowing his arrogant brother. However, the son's repentance does not make Oedipus back down. "When the throne and the scepter were in your hands," said he, "you yourself drove out your father. Neither you nor your brother were my true sons. If I had depended on you, I would have died long ago. It is only because of the help of my daughters that I am alive today. You deserve to be punished by the gods. You cannot destroy your father's city, you and your brother must lie in your own blood. This is my answer, You can tell your allies."

Hearing his father's curse, Polynices stood up from the ground in panic, and took a few steps back in awe. "Polynices, I want you to follow my advice." Antigone stepped up to him and said, "Return your army to Argos, and never bring war to your father's city!" "That's impossible," Polynices replied after a moment's hesitation, "to retreat would be not only disgraceful to me, but also ruinous! I'd rather be wounded than be reconciled to my brother." He broke free She received her sister's hug and walked out in despair.