TEIRESIAS
ForEteoclesIwouldhaveclosedmylipsandrefrainedfromallresponse，buttotheeIwillspeak，since’tisthywishtolearn。Thiscountry，Creon，hasbeenlongafflicted，eversinceLaiusbecameafatherinheaven’sdespite，begettinghaplessOedipustobehisownmother’shusband。ThatbloodyoutrageonhiseyeswasplannedbyheavenasanensampletoHellas；andthesonsofOedipusmadeagrossmistakeinwishingtothrowoverittheveiloftime，asifforsooththeycouldoutrunthegods’decree；forbyrobbingtheirfatherofhisduehonourandallowinghimnofreedom，theyenragedtheirlucklesssire；sohe，stungbysufferinganddisgraceaswell，ventedawfulcursesagainstthem；andI，becauseIleftnothingundoneorunsaidtopreventthis，incurredthehatredofthesonsofOedipus。
Butdeathinflictedbyeachother’shandsawaitsthem，Creon；andthemanyheapsofslain，somefromArgive，somefromThebanmissiles，shallcausebitterlamentationinthelandofThebes。
Alas！forthee，poorcity，thouartbeinginvolvedintheirruin，unlessIcanpersuadeoneman。ThebestcoursewastopreventanychildofOedipusbecomingeithercitizenorkinginthisland，sincetheywereunderabanandwouldoverthrowthecity。Butasevilhasthemasteryofgood，thereisstilloneotherwayofsafety；butthisitwereunsafeformetotell，andpainfultooforthosewhosehighfortuneitistosupplytheircitywitbthesavingcure。
Farewell！Iwillaway；amongsttherestmustIenduremydoom，ifneedbe；forwhatwillbecomeofme？