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first； if thou wouldst learn his name。
ANTIGONE
Who is that with the white crest； who marches in the van；
lightly bearing on his arm a buckler all of bronze？
OLD SERVANT
A chieftain； lady…
ANTIGONE
Who is he？ whose son？ his name？ tell me； old man。
OLD SERVANT
Mycenae claims him for her son； in Lerna's glens he dwells； the
prince Hippomedon。
ANTIGONE
Ah！ how proud and terrible his mien！ like to an earth…born giant
he moves； with stars engraved upon his targe； resembling not a child
of earth。
OLD SERVANT
Dost see yon chieftain crossing Dirce's stream？
ANTIGONE
His harness is quite different。 Who is that？
OLD SERVANT
Tydeus； the son of Oeneus； true Aetolian spirit fires his breast。
ANTIGONE
Is this he； old man； who wedded a sister of the wife of
Polyneices？ What a foreign look his armour has！ a half…barbarian he！
OLD SERVANT
Yes； my child； all Aetolians carry shields； and are most
unerring marksmen with their darts。
ANTIGONE
How art thou so sure of these descriptions； old man？
OLD SERVANT
I carefully noted the blazons on their shields before when I
went with the terms of the truce to thy brother； so when I see them
now I know who carry them。
ANTIGONE
Who is that youth passing close to the tomb of Zethus； with long
flowing hair； but a look of fury in his eye？ is he a captain？ for
crowds of warriors follow at his heels。
OLD SERVANT
That is Parthenopaeus； Atalanta's son。
ANTIGONE
May Artemis； who hies o'er the hills with his mother； lay him
low with an arrow； for coming against my city to sack it！
OLD SERVANT
May it be so； my daughter； but with justice are they come
hither； and my fear is that the gods will take the rightful view；
ANTIGONE
Where is he who was born of the same mother as I was by a cruel
destiny？ Oh！ tell me； old friend； where Polyneices is。
OLD SERVANT
He is yonder； ranged next to Adrastus near the tomb of Niobe's
seven unwed daughters。 Dost see him？
ANTIGONE
I see him； yes！ but not distinctly； 'tis but the outline of his
form the semblance of his stalwart limbs I see。 Would I could speed
through the sky； swift as a cloud before the wind； towards my own dear
brother； and throw my arms about my darling's neck； so long； poor boy！
an exile。 How bright his golden weapons flash like the sun…god's
morning rays！
OLD SERVANT
He will soon be here； to fill thy heart with joy； according to the
truce。
ANTIGONE
Who is that； old man； on yonder car driving snow…white steeds？
OLD SERVANT
That； lady； is the prophet Amphiaraus； with him are the victims；
whose streaming blood the thirsty earth will drink。
ANTIGONE
Daughter of Latona with the dazzling zone； O moon； thou orb of
golden light！ how quietly； with what restraint he drives； goading
first one horse； then the other！ But where is Capaneus who utters
those dreadful threats against this city？
OLD SERVANT
Yonder he is； calculating how he may scale the towers； taking
the measure of our walls from base to summit。
ANTIGONE
O Nemesis； with booming thunder…peals of Zeus and blazing
levin…light； thine it is to silence such presumptuous boasting。 Is
this the man； who says he will give the maids of Thebes as captives of
his spear to Mycenae's dames； to Lerna's Trident； and the waters of
Amymone； dear to Poseidon； when he has thrown the toils of slavery
round them？ Never； never； Artemis； my queen revered； child of Zeus
with locks of gold； may I endure the yoke of slavery！
OLD SERVANT
My daughter； go within； and abide beneath the shelter of thy
maiden chamber； now that thou hast had thy wish and seen all that
thy heart desired； for I see a crowd of women moving toward the
royal palace； confusion reigning in the city。 Now the race of women by
nature loves to find fault； and if they get some slight handle for
their talk they exaggerate it； for they seem to take a pleasure in
saying everything bad of one another。
（ANTIGONE and the OLD SERVANT descend into the palace； as the
CHORUS of PHOENICIAN MAIDENS enters。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
From the Tyrian main I come； an offering choice for Loxias from
Phoenician isle； to minister to Phoebus in his halls； where his fane
lies nestling 'neath the snow…swept peaks of Parnassus； over the
Ionian sea I rowed my course； for above the plains unharvested； that
fringe the coast of Sicily； the boisterous west…wind coursed； piping
sweetest music in the sky。
antistrophe 1
Chosen from my city as beauty's gift for Loxias； to the land of
Cadmus I came； sent thither to the towers of Laius； the home of my
kin； the famous sons of Agenor； and there I became the handmaid of
Phoebus； dedicated like his offerings of wrought gold。 But as yet
the water of Castaly is waiting for me to bedew the maiden glory of my
tresses for the service of Phoebus。
epode
Hail！ thou rock that kindlest bright fire above the twin…peaked
heights of Dionysus。 Hail！ thou vine； that； day by day； makest the
lush bunches of thy grapes to drip。 Hail！ awful cavern of the serpent；
and the god's outlook on the hills； and sacred mount by snow…storms
lashed！ would I were now circling in the dance of the deathless god；
free from wild alarms； having left Dirce ere this for the vales of
Phoebus at the centre of the world！
strophe 2
But now I find the impetuous god of war is come to battle before
these walls； and hath kindled murder's torch in this city。 God grant
he fail！ for a friend's sorrows are also mine； and if this land with
its seven towers suffer any mischance； Phoenicia's realm must share
it。 Ah me！ our stock is one； all children we of Io； that horned
maid； whose sorrows I partake。
antistrophe 2
Around the city a dense array of serried shields is rousing the
spectre of bloody strife； whose issue Ares shall soon learn to his
cost； if he brings upon the sons of Oedipus the horrors of the
curse。 O Argos； city of Pelasgia！ I dread thy prowess and the
vengeance Heaven sends； for he who cometh against our home in full
panoply is entering the lists with justice on his side。
（POLYNEICES enters alone。）
POLYNEICES
Those who kept watch and ward at the gate admitted me so readily
within the walls that my only fear is； that now they have caught me in
their toils； they will not let me out unscathed； so I must turn my eye
in every direction； hither and thither； to guard against all
treachery。 Armed with this sword； I shall inspire myself with the
trus