Note 109 — THE SEVEN WHO FOUGHT AGAINST THEBES
E. H. (Edward Hayes) Plumptre translation
The words are obscure, but seem to refer to the badge of Polyneikes, the figure of Justice described in v. 643 as on his shield. How shall that Justice, the seer asks, console Jocasta for her son's death? Another rendering gives,
“And how shall Justice quench a mother's life?”
the “mother” being the country against which Polyneikes wars.