will do that belike which a piece of dead flesh biddeth you, and not that which a man of wisdom and understanding counselleth you unto. But neither geometricians, nor those that use lineary demonstrations, if haply they be banished, are deprived of their liberty, but that they may discourse and speak frankly (if their art and science of such things as they have learned and known: how then should good, honest, and honourable persons be debarred of that freedom, in case they be exiled? But in truth, it is cowardice and baseness of mind which always stoppeth the voice, tieth the tongue, stifleth the wind-pipe, and causeth men to be speechless. But proceed we to that which followeth afterwards in Euripides:
Jocasta. But thus we say, those that are banished
With hopes always of better days be fed.
Polynices. Good eyes they have, afar off they do see.
Staying for things that most uncertain be.
Certainly these words imply rather a blame and reprehension of folly than of exile. For they be not those who have learned and do know how to apply themselves unto things present, and to use their estate such as it is, but such as continually depend upon the expectance of future fortunes, and covet evermore that which is absent and wanting, who are tossed to and fro with hope as in a little punt or boat floating upon the water; yea, although they were never in their lifetime without the walls of the city wherein they were born: moreover whereas we read in the same Euripides:
Jocasta. Thy father's friends and allies, have not they
Been kind and helpful to thee, as they may?
Polynices. Look to thyself, from troubles God thee bless.
Friend's help is naught, if one be in distress.
Jocasta. Thy noble blood, from whence thou art descended:
Hath it not thee advanc'd and much amended?
Polynices. I hold it ill to be in want and need,
For parentage and birth doth not men feed.
These speeches of Polynices are not only untrue, but also bewray his unthankfulness, when he seemeth thus to blame his want of honour and due regard for his nobility, and to complain that he was destitute of friends by occasion of his exile, considering that in respect of his noble birth, banished though he were, yet so highly honoured he was that he was thought worthy to be matched in marriage with a king's daughter, and as for friends, allies and confederates, he was able to gather a puissant army of them, by whose aid and power he returned into his own
