Chapter 4 Seven Heroes' Expedition to Thebes-4

Creon and Eteocles are discussing the battle plan.They decided to send seven chiefs to guard the seven gates of Thebes. But before the war, they also want to see the omen from the birds flying, and speculate on the outcome of the war.In the city of Thebes lived the prophet Tiresias, who was very famous in the time of Oedipus.He is the son of Aioeus and the goddess Callicto. When he was young, he went to visit the goddess Athena with his mother, and peeked at things that should not be seen, so he was blinded by the disaster of the goddess.The mother, Carrick, repeatedly begged the goddess for mercy to restore the child's eyesight, but Athena could do nothing.But Athena sympathized with him, and made him have a sharper sense of hearing, able to understand the language of various birds.From then on, he became a bird fortune teller.

Tiresias is old.Creon sent his youngest son Menocus to fetch him and lead him to the palace.With the support of his daughters Manto and Menocus, the old man tremblingly came to Creon.The king asked him to tell the omen of the bird's fate to the city of Thebes.Tiresias was silent for a long time, and finally said sadly: "The sons of Oedipus committed a heavy sin against their father, and they brought great disaster to Thebes; Children and grandchildren will kill each other; brothers will die at the hands of brothers; there is only one way to save the city, and that way is terrible, and I dare not tell you, goodbye!"

After speaking, he turned to leave.But Creon begged him repeatedly, and he stayed. "Do you really want to hear it?" he asked gravely. "I must, then, tell me. But tell me first, where is your son Menocus who brought me here?" "He is at your side!" replied Creon. "Let him go away as soon as possible!" said the old man. "Why?" asked Creon hastily. "Menocus is his father's faithful son, and he will keep silent. Besides, he will be very glad to know the way to save us." "Then listen to me, what I know from the voice of the birds!" said Tiresias, "the goddess of happiness will come, but the threshold is heavy for her to step over. The smallest of the dragon's teeth You must die. Only under these conditions will you be victorious!"

"My God!" cried Creon, "what on earth do you mean?" "The smallest of the descendants of Cadmus must give his life, that the whole city may be saved." "Do you want my son Menocus to die?" The king jumped up angrily, "Go away! I don't need your divination and prophecy!" "If the truth brings you disaster, do you think it will not become the truth?" Tiresias asked solemnly.Only then did Creon realize the seriousness of the matter. He knelt down in front of Tiresias, hugged his knees, and begged him to take back his prophecy, but the blind man was unmoved. "The sacrifice was inevitable," he said. "Where the spring of Dirce was where the dragon lived, the child's blood must flow there, so that the earth could be your friend. The earth used to bite the dragon with the dragon's teeth. Cadmus was injected with human blood. Now the earth must receive the blood of Cadmus' kin. The child sacrificed for his city, and he will be the savior of the whole city.

Choose yourself, Creon, there are only two paths now. " After Tiresias finished speaking, he let his daughter hold hands and left.Creon was silent for a long time.At last he cried out in horror: "How I would like to die for my country myself! But you, my child, how can I make you sacrifice? Run away, my child, as far as you can Good. Leave this accursed city, and pass through Delphi, Aetolia, as far as the temple of Dodona, and hide in the temple!" "Yes," said Menochus, with Guanghui, "I will definitely not get lost." Creon felt relieved, and went to command the battle again.But the boy suddenly knelt on the ground and prayed devoutly to the god: "Forgive me, you holy spirits in heaven, I comforted my father with lies. If I really betrayed the motherland, how despicable and innocent I am!" Cowardly! God, please listen to my oath, and accept my heart with mercy! I am willing to die to save my motherland! I am willing to jump from the top of the city into the deep dragon's lair. Just as the prophecy The family said, I will use my blood to save the motherland from the disaster."

After speaking, the boy jumped up happily and walked towards the palace wall.He stood on the highest point of the city wall, glanced at the opposing camp, and solemnly cursed them, hoping that they would perish as soon as possible.Then he drew a dagger from his underclothes, slit his throat, and fell over the top of the city, right on the edge of the Dirce Fountain, and fell to pieces.He lay peacefully beside the fountain of Dirce.