MEDITATION
I like to listen to classical music in
an otherwise complete silence. For
those who talk, the voice does not
work. You have a very brave sternum.
-
Polynices quarrelled once with his
brother, Eteocles, over control of
ancient Thebes. They made a big
deal over this, 'Seven Against Thebes,'
it was called. One of those arena-Greek
plays that Aeschylus did. Capeneus,
notable for his arrogance, challenges
even the Gods to fight him back. The
defenders have already exhausted
all their efforts in vain.
-
Against him, nothing. He was ripping
their walls apart with his bare hands.
Catapults and javelins, against him,
were useless. Watching from on high
Mount Olympus, the gods are in full
dither over him. Taking sides in the
war, against him and in fury. Then he
bellows forth his challenge to them:
-
"Are there no gods to defend this
quaking Thebes? Where are the
coward gods who were born here?
You, Jupiter, do your best against
me with all your flames! Or are you
only brave when you are scaring
timid girls?" Now even Jupiter
snorts. The clouds rush together,
the sun vanishes and storms brew.
-
Heaven holds its breath a second,
then the storms begin for real, and
lightning crashes and winds wail.
Capeneus gets in one last line:
"Here are the fires I need for Thebes!
From these lightning bolts I will
refresh my torch!"
-
And then a thunderbolt strikes him,
flung from above with all the power
of the king of the gods. Capeneus
looks like a ball of fire, his helmet
and hair aflame, his armor now a
fiery furnace. He stands firm there
still, gasping his life away. Finally
he falls, past endurance, in a mighty
roar and crash. The armies, drawn
back in fear, show their great relief.
The bystanders begin to cheer.
-
I like to listen to classical music in
an otherwise complete silence. For
those who talk, the voice does not
work. You have a very brave sternum.
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