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ANTIGONE page 8


by Sophocles 441 BC.

translated by R. C. Jebb

HAEMON:
Father, the gods implant reason in men, the highest of all things that we call our own. Not mine the skill-far from me be the quest!-to say wherein thou speakest not aright; and yet another man, too, might have some useful thought. At least, it is my natural office to watch, on thy behalf, all that men say, or do, or find to blame. For the dread of thy frown forbids the citizen to speak such words as would offend thine ear; but can hear these murmurs in the dark, these moanings of the city for this maiden; 'no woman,' they say, 'ever merited her doom less,-none ever was to die so shamefully for deeds so glorious as hers; who, when her own brother had fallen in bloody strife, would not leave him unburied, to be devoured by carrion dogs, or by any bird:-deserves not she the meed of golden honour?'
Such is the darkling rumour that spreads in secret. For me, my father, no treasure is so precious as thy welfare. What, indeed, is a nobler ornament for children than a prospering sire's fair fame, or for sire than son's? Wear not, then, one mood only in thyself; think not that thy word, and thine alone, must be right. For if any man thinks that he alone is wise,-that in speech, or in mind, he hath no peer,-such a soul, when laid open, is ever found empty.
No, though a man be wise, 'tis no shame for him to learn many things, and to bend in season. Seest thou, beside the wintry torrent's course, how the trees that yield to it save every twig, while the stiff-necked perish root and branch? And even thus he who keeps the sheet of his sail taut, and never slackens it, upsets his boat, and finishes his voyage with keel uppermost.
Nay, forego thy wrath; permit thyself to change. For if I, a younger man, may offer my thought, it were far best, I ween, that men should be all-wise by nature; but, otherwise-and oft the scale inclines not so-'tis good also to learn from those who speak aright.

LEADER:
Sire, 'tis meet that thou shouldest profit by his words, if he speaks aught in season, and thou, Haemon, by thy father's; for on both parts there hath been wise speech.

CREON:
Men of my age are we indeed to be schooled, then, by men of his?

HAEMON :
In nothing that is not right; but if I am young, thou shouldest look to my merits, not to my years.

CREON:
Is it a merit to honour the unruly?

HAEMON :
I could wish no one to show respect for evil-doers.

CREON:
Then is not she tainted with that malady?

HAEMON :
Our Theban folk, with one voice, denies it.

CREON :
Shall Thebes prescribe to me how I must rule?

HAEMON:
See, there thou hast spoken like a youth indeed.

CREON :
Am I to rule this land by other judgment than mine own?

HAEMON:
That is no city which belongs to one man.

CREON :
Is not the city held to be the ruler's?

HAEMON:
Thou wouldst make a good monarch of a desert.

CREON:
This boy, it seems, is the woman's champion.

HAEMON:
If thou art a woman; indeed, my care is for thee.

CREON:
Shameless, at open feud with thy father!

HAEMON:
Nay, I see thee offending against justice.

CREON:
Do I offend, when I respect mine own prerogatives?

HAEMON:
Thou dost not respect them, when thou tramplest on the gods' honours.

CREON :
O dastard nature, yielding place to woman!

HAEMON:
Thou wilt never find me yield to baseness.

CREON:
All thy words, at least, plead for that girl.

HAEMON:
And for thee, and for me, and for the gods below.

CREON:
Thou canst never marry her, on this side the grave.

HAEMON:
Then she must die, and in death destroy another.

CREON:
How! doth thy boldness run to open threats?

HAEMON:
What threat is it, to combat vain resolves?

CREON:
Thou shalt rue thy witless teaching of wisdom.

HAEMON:
Wert thou not my father, I would have called thee unwise.

CREON:
Thou woman's slave, use not wheedling speech with me.

HAEMON:
Thou wouldest speak, and then hear no reply?

CREON:
Sayest thou so? Now, by the heaven above us-be sure of it-thou shalt smart for taunting me in this opprobrious strain. Bring forth that hated thing, that she may die forthwith in his presence-before his eyes-at her bridegroom's side!

HAEMON :
No, not at my side-never think it-shall she perish; nor shalt thou ever set eyes more upon my face:-rave, then, with such friends as can endure thee.

(Exit HAEMON)

LEADER:
The man is gone, O king, in angry haste; a youthful mind, when stung, is fierce.

CREON :
Let him do, or dream, more than man-good speed to him!-But he shall not save these two girls from their doom.

LEADER:
Dost thou indeed purpose to slay both?

CREON:
Not her whose hands are pure: thou sayest well.

LEADER:
And by what doom mean'st thou to slay the other?

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