... for it is cowardly to lose the greater and to win the less. Besides, I am ashamed to think that he should gain his object by coming with arms and ravaging the land; for this would be a disgrace to Thebes , if I should yield my scepter up to him for fear of Mycenaean might. He ought not to have attempted reconcilement by armed force, mother, for words accomplish everything that even the sword of an e...