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introduced that crafty Thessalian trick； having some knowledge thereof
from his intercourse with that country； disengaging himself from the
immediate contest； he drew back his left foot but kept his eye closely
on the pit of the other's stomach from a distance； then advancing
his right foot he plunged his weapon through his navel and fixed it in
his spine。 Down falls Polyneices； blood…bespattered； ribs and belly
contracting in his agony。 But that other； thinking his victory now
complete； threw down his sword and set to spoiling him； wholly
intent thereon； without a thought for himself。 And this indeed was his
ruin； for Polyneices； who had fallen first； was still faintly
breathing； and having in his grievous fall retained his sword； he made
last effort and drove it through the heart of Eteocles。 There they
lie； fallen side by side； biting the dust with their teeth； without
having decided the mastery。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Ah； woe is thee！ Oedipus； for thy sorrows！ how I pity thee！
Heaven； it seems； has fulfilled those curses of thine。
MESSENGER
Now hear what further woes succeeded。 Just as her two sons had
fallen and lay dying； comes their wretched mother on the scene； her
daughter with her； in hot haste； and when she saw their mortal wounds；
〃Too late；〃 she moaned； 〃my sons； the help I bring〃； and throwing
herself on each in turn she wept and wailed； sorrowing o'er all her
toil in suckling them； and so too their sister； who was with her；
〃Supporters of your mother's age I dear brothers； leaving me
forlorn； unwed！〃 Then prince Eteocles with one deep dying gasp；
hearing his mother's cry； laid on her his moist hand； and though he
could not say a word； his tear…filled eyes were eloquent to prove
his love。 But Polyneices was still alive； and seeing his sister and
his aged mother he said； 〃Mother mine； our end is come； I pity thee
and my sister Antigone and my dead brother。 For I loved him though
he turned my foe； I loved him； yes！ in spite of all。 Bury me； mother
mine； and thou； my sister dear； in my native soil； pacify the city's
wrath that may get at least that much of my own fatherland； although I
lost my home。 With thy hand； mother； close mine eyes （therewith he
himself places her fingers on the lids）； and fare ye well； for already
the darkness wraps me round。〃
So both at once breathed out their life of sorrow。 But when
their mother saw this sad mischance； in her o'ermastering grief she
snatched from a corpse its sword and wrought an awful deed； driving
the steel right through her throat； and there she lies； dead with
the dead she loved so well； her arms thrown round them both。
Thereon the host sprang to their feet and fell to wrangling； we
maintaining that victory rested with my master； they with theirs；
and amid our leaders the contention raged； some holding that
Polyneices gave the first wound with his spear； others that； as both
were dead； victory rested with neither。 Meantime Antigone crept away
from the host； and those others rushed to their weapons； but by some
lucky forethought the folk of Cadmus had sat down under arms； and by a
sudden attack we surprised the Argive host before it was fully
equipped。 Not one withstood our onset； and they filled the plain
with fugitives； while blood was streaming from the countless dead
our spears had slain。 Soon as victory crowned our warfare； some
began to rear an image to Zeus for the foe's defeat； others were
stripping the Argive dead of their shields and sending their spoils
inside the battlements； and others with Antigone are bringing her dead
brothers hither for their friends to mourn。 So the result of this
struggle to our city hovers between the two extremes of good and
evil fortune。
（The MESSENGER goes out。）
CHORUS （chanting）
No longer do the misfortunes of this house extend to hearsay only；
three corpses of the slain lie here at the palace for all to see；
who by one common death have passed to their life of gloom。
（During the lament； ANTIGONE enters； followed by servants who hear
the bodies Of JOCASTA； ETEOCLES； and POLYNEICES。）
ANTIGONE （chanting）
No veil I draw o'er my tender cheek shaded with its clustering
curls； no shame I feel from maiden modesty at the hot blood mantling
'neath my eyes； the blush upon my face； as I hurry wildly on in
death's train； casting from my hair its tire and letting my delicate
robe of saffron hue fly loose； a tearful escort to the dead。 Ah me！
Woe to thee； Polyneices！ rightly named； I trow； woe to thee；
Thebes！ no mere strife to end in strife was thine； but murder
completed by murder hath brought the house of Oedipus to ruin with
bloodshed dire and grim。 O my home； my home！ what minstrel can I
summon from the dead to chant a fitting dirge o'er my tearful fate； as
I bear these three corpses of my kin； my mother and her sons；
welcome sight to the avenging fiend that destroyed the house of
Oedipus； root and branch； in the hour that his shrewdness solved the
Sphinx's riddling rhyme and slew that savage songstress。 Woe is me！ my
father！ what other Hellene or barbarian； what noble soul among the
bygone tribes of man's poor mortal race ever endured the anguish of
such visible afflictions？
Ah！ poor maid； how piteous is thy plaint！ What bird from its
covert 'mid the leafy oak or soaring pine…tree's branch will come to
mourn with me； the maid left motherless； with cries of woe； lamenting；
ere it comes； the piteous lonely life； that henceforth must be
always mine with tears that ever stream？ On which of these corpses
shall I throw my offerings first； plucking the hair from my head？ on
the breast of the mother that suckled me； or beside the ghastly
death…wounds of my brothers' corpses？ Woe to thee； Oedipus； my aged
sire with sightless orbs； leave thy roof； disclose the misery of thy
life； thou that draggest out a weary existence within the house；
having cast a mist of darkness o'er thine eyes。 Dost hear； thou
whose aged step now gropes its way across the court； now seeks
repose on wretched pallet couch？
（OEDIPUS enters from the palace。 He chants the following lines
responsively with ANTIGONE。）
OEDIPUS
Why； daughter； hast thou dragged me to the light； supporting my
blind footsteps from the gloom of my chamber； where I lie upon my
bed and make piteous moan； a hoary sufferer； invisible as a phantom of
the air； or as a spirit from the pit； or as a dream that flies？
ANTIGONE
Father； there are tidings of sorrow for thee to bear； no more
thy sons behold the light； or thy wife who ever would toil to tend thy
blind footsteps as with a staff。 Alas for thee； my sire！
OEDIPUS
Ah me； the sorrows I endure！ I may well say that。 Tell me；
child； what fate o'ertook those three； and how they left the light。
ANTIGONE
Not to reproach or mock thee say I this； but in all sadness；
'tis thy own avenging curse； with all its