[ http://www.oocities.org/Athens/8797/index.html ]

ANTIGONE page 6

by Sophocles 441 BC.

translated by R. C. Jebb

ANTIGONE:
Tis not my nature to join in hating, but in loving.

CREON:
Pass, then, to the world of the dead, and, it thou must needs love, love them. While I live, no woman shall rule me.

(Enter ISMENE from the house, led in by two attendants.)

CHORUS (chanting)
Lo, yonder Ismeme comes forth, shedding such tears as fond sisters weep; a cloud upon her brow casts its shadow over her darkly-flushing face, and breaks in rain on her fair cheek.

CREON :
And thou, who, lurking like a viper in my house, wast secretly draining my life-blood, while I knew not that I was nurturing two pests, to rise against my throne-come, tell me now, wilt thou also confess thy part in this burial, or wilt thou forswear all knowledge of it?

ISMENE:
I have done the deed,-if she allows my claim,-and share the burden of the charge.

ANTIGONE:
Nay, justice will not suffer thee to do that: thou didst not consent to the deed, nor did I give thee part in it.

ISMENE:
But, now that ills beset thee, I am not ashamed to sail the sea of trouble at thy side.

ANTIGONE:
Whose was the deed, Hades and the dead are witnesses: a friend in words is not the friend that I love.

ISMENE:
Nay, sister, reject me not, but let me die with thee, and duly honour the dead.

ANTIGONE:
Share not thou my death, nor claim deeds to which thou hast not put thy hand: my death will suffice.

ISMENE:
And what life is dear to me, bereft of thee?

ANTIGONE:
Ask Creon; all thy care is for him.

ISMENE:
Why vex me thus, when it avails thee nought?

ANTIGONE:
Indeed, if I mock, 'tis with pain that I mock thee.

ISMENE:
Tell me,-how can I serve thee, even now?

ANTIGONE:
Save thyself: I grudge not thy escape.

ISMENE:
Ah, woe is me! And shall I have no share in thy fate?

ANTIGONE:
Thy choice was to live; mine, to die.

ISMENE:
At least thy choice was not made without my protest.

ANTIGONE:
One world approved thy wisdom; another, mine.

ISMENE:
Howbeit, the offence is the same for both of us.

ANTIGONE:
Be of good cheer; thou livest; but my life hath long been given to death, that so I might serve the dead.

CREON:
Lo, one of these maidens hath newly shown herself foolish, as the other hath been since her life began.

ISMENE:
Yea, O king, such reason as nature may have given abides not with the unfortunate, but goes astray.

CREON:
Thine did, when thou chosest vile deeds with the vile.

ISMENE:
What life could I endure, without her presence?

CREON :
Nay, speak not of her 'presence'; she lives no more.

ISMENE:
But wilt thou slay the betrothed of thine own son?

CREON :
Nay, there are other fields for him to plough.

ISMENE:
But there can never be such love as bound him to her.

CREON :
I like not an evil wife for my son.

ANTIGONE:
Haemon, beloved! How thy father wrongs thee!

CREON:
Enough, enough of thee and of thy marriage!

LEADER OF THE CHORUS :
Wilt thou indeed rob thy son of this maiden?

CREON:
'Tis Death that shall stay these bridals for me.

LEADER:
'Tis determined, it seems, that she shall die.

CREON :
Determined, yes, for thee and for me.-(To the two attendants) No more delay-servants, take them within! Henceforth they must be women, and not range at large; for verily even the bold seek to fly, when they see Death now closing on their life.

(Exeunt attendants, guarding ANTIGONE and ISMENE.-CREON remains.)