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ANTIGONE
Not to reproach or mock thee say I this； but in all sadness；
'tis thy own avenging curse； with all its load of slaughter； fire； and
ruthless war； that is fallen on thy sons。 Alas for thee； my sire！
OEDIPUS
Ah me！
ANTIGONE
Why dost thou groan？
OEDIPUS
'Tis for my sons。
ANTIGONE
Couldst thou have looked towards yon sun…god's four…horsed car and
turned the light of thine eyes on these corpses； it would have been
agony to thee。
OEDIPUS
'Tis clear enough how their evil fate o'ertook my sons； but she；
my poor wife tell me； daughter； how she came to die。
ANTIGONE
All saw her weep and heard her moan； as she rushed forth to
carry to her sons her last appeal； a mother's breast。 But the mother
found her sons at the Electran gate； in a meadow where the lotus
blooms； fighting out their duel like lions in their lair； eager to
wound each other with spears； their blood already congealed； a
murderous libation to the Death…god poured out by Ares。 Then；
snatching from corpse a sword of hammered bronze； she plunged it in
her flesh； and in sorrow for her sons fell with her arms around
them。 So to…day； father； the god； whose'er this issue is； has gathered
to a head the sum of suffering for our house。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
To…day is the beginning of many troubles to the house of
Oedipus； may he live to be more fortunate！
CREON
Cease now your lamentations； 'tis time we bethought us of their
burial。 Hear what I have to say； Oedipus。 Eteocles； thy son； left me
to rule this land； by assigning it as a marriage portion to Haemon
with the hand of thy daughter Antigone。 Wherefore I will no longer
permit thee to dwell therein； for Teiresias plainly declared that
the city would never prosper so long as thou wert in the land。 So
begone！ And this I say not to flout thee； nor because I bear thee
any grudge； but from fear that some calamity will come upon the
realm by reason of those fiends that dog thy steps。
OEDIPUS
O destiny！ to what a life of pain and sorrow didst thou bear me
beyond all men that ever were； e'en from the very first； yea for
when I was yet unborn； or ever I had left my mother's womb and seen
the light； Apollo foretold to Laius that I should become my father's
murderer； woe is me！ So； as soon as I was born； my father tried to end
again the hapless life he had given； deeming me his foe； for it was
fated he should die at my hand； so he sent me still unweaned to make a
pitiful meal for beasts； but I escaped from that。 Ah！ would that
Cithaeron had sunk into hell's yawning abyss； in that it slew me
not！ Instead thereof Fate made me a slave in the service of Polybus；
and I； poor wretch； after slaying my own father came to wed my
mother to her sorrow； and begat sons that were my brothers； whom
also I have destroyed； by bequeathing unto them the legacy of curses I
received from Laius。 For nature did not make me so void of
understanding； that I should have devised these horrors against my own
eyes and my children's life without the intervention of some god。
Let that pass。 What am I； poor wretch； to do？ Who now will be my guide
and tend the blind man's step？ Shall she； that is dead？ Were she
alive； I know right well she would。 My pair of gallant sons； then？ But
they are gone from me。 Am I still so young myself that I can find a
livelihood？ Whence could I？ O Creon； why seek thus to slay me utterly？
For so thou wilt； if thou banish me from the land。 Yet will I never
twine my arms about thy knees and betray cowardice； for I will not
belie my former gallant soul； no！ not for all my evil case。
CREON
Thy words are brave in refusing to touch my knees； and I am
equally resolved not to let thee abide in the land。 For these dead；
bear one forth…with to the palace； but the other； who came with
stranger folk to sack his native town； the dead Polyneices； cast forth
unburied beyond our frontiers。 To all the race of Cadmus shall this be
proclaimed； that whosoe'er is caught decking his corpse with wreaths
or giving it burial； shall be requited with death； unwept； unburied
let him lie； a prey to birds。 As for thee； Antigone； leave thy
mourning for these lifeless three and betake thyself indoors to
abide there in maiden state until to…morrow； when Haemon waits to
wed thee。
ANTIGONE
O father； in what cruel misery are we plunged！ For thee I mourn
more than for the dead； for in thy woes there is no opposite to
trouble； but universal sorrow is thy lot。 As for thee； thou new…made
king； why； I ask； dost thou mock my father thus with banishment？ Why
start making laws over a helpless corpse？
CREON
This was what Eteocles； not I； resolved。
ANTIGONE
A foolish thought； and foolish art thou for entertaining it！
CREON
What！ ought I not to carry out his behests？
ANTIGONE
No； not if they are wrong and ill…advised。
CREON
Why； is it not just for that other to be given to the dogs？
ANTIGONE
Nay； the vengeance ye are exacting is no lawful one。
CREON
It is； for he was his country's foe； though not a foeman born。
ANTIGONE
Well； to fate he rendered up his destinies。
CREON
Let him now pay forfeit in his burial too。
ANTIGONE
What crime did he commit in coming to claim his heritage？
CREON
Be very sure of this； yon man shall have no burial。
ANTIGONE
I will bury him； although the state forbids。
CREON
Do so； and thou wilt be making thy own grave by his。
ANTIGONE
A noble end； for two so near and dear to be laid side by side！
CREON （to his servants）
Ho！ seize and bear her within the palace。
ANTIGONE
Never！ for I will not loose my hold upon this corpse。
CREON
Heaven's decrees； girl； fit not thy fancies。
ANTIGONE
Decrees！ here is another； 〃No insult to the dead。〃
CREON
Be sure that none shall sprinkle over the corpse the moistened
dust。
ANTIGONE
O Creon； by my mother's corpse； by Jocasta； I implore thee！
CREON
'Tis but lost labour； thou wilt not gain thy prayer。
ANTIGONE
Let me but bathe the dead body…
CREON
Nay； that would be part of what the city is forbidden。
ANTIGONE
At least let me bandage the gaping wounds。
CREON
No； thou shalt never pay honour to this corpse。
ANTIGONE
O my darling！ one kiss at least will I print upon thy lips。
CREON
Do not let this mourning bring disaster on thy marriage。
ANTIGONE
Marriage！ dost think I will live to wed thy son？
CREON
Most certainly thou must； how wilt thou escape his bed？
ANTIGONE
Then if I must； our wedding…night will find another Danaid bride
in me。
CREON （turning to OEDIPUS）
Dost witness how boldly she reproached me？
ANTIGONE
Witness this steel； the sword by which I swear！
CREON
Why art so bent on being released from this marriage？
ANTIGONE