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in death； would I have taken this task upon me in the city's
despite。 What law； ye ask； is my warrant for that word？ The husband
lost； another might have been found； and child from another； to
replace the first…born： but； father and mother hidden with Hades； no
brother's life could ever bloom for me again。 Such was the law whereby
I held thee first in honour； but Creon deemed me guilty of error
therein； and of outrage； ah brother mine！ And now he leads me thus；
a captive in his hands； no bridal bed； no bridal song hath been
mine； no joy of marriage； no portion in the nurture of children； but
thus； forlorn of friends； unhappy one； I go living to the vaults of
death。
And what law of heaven have I transgressed？ Why； hapless one；
should I look to the gods any more；…what ally should I invoke；…when by
piety I have earned the name of impious？ Nay； then； if these things
are pleasing to the gods； when I have suffered my doom； I shall come
to know my sin； but if the sin is with my judges； I could wish them no
fuller measure of evil than they； on their part； mete wrongfully to
me。
CHORUS
Still the same tempest of the soul vexes this maiden with the same
fierce gusts。
CREON
Then for this shall her guards have cause to rue their slowness。
ANTIGONE
Ah me！ that word hath come very near to death。
CREON
I can cheer thee with no hope that this doom is not thus to be
fulfilled。
ANTIGONE
O city of my fathers in the land of Thebe！ O ye gods； eldest of
our race！…they lead me hencnow； now…they tarry not！ Behold me；
princes of Thebes； the last daughter of the house of your kings；…see
what I suffer； and from whom； because I feared to cast away the fear
of Heaven！
（ANTIGONE is led away by the guards。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Even thus endured Danae in her beauty to change the light of day
for brass…bound walls； and in that chamber； secret as the grave； she
was held close prisoner； yet was she of a proud lineage； O my
daughter； and charged with the keeping of the seed of Zeus； that
fell in the golden rain。
But dreadful is the mysterious power of fate： there is no
deliverance from it by wealth or by war； by fenced city； or dark；
sea…beaten ships。
antistrophe 1
And bonds tamed the son of Dryas； swift to wrath； that king of the
Edonians； so paid he for his frenzied taunts； when； by the will of
Dionysus； he was pent in a rocky prison。 There the fierce exuberance
of his madness slowly passed away。 That man learned to know the god；
whom in his frenzy he had provoked with mockeries； for he had sought
to quell the god…possessed women； and the Bacchanalian fire； and he
angered the Muses that love the flute。
strophe 2
And by the waters of the Dark Rocks； the waters of the twofold
sea； are the shores of Bosporus； and Thracian Salmydessus； where Ares；
neighbour to the city； saw the accurst； blinding wound dealt to the
two sons of Phineus by his fierce wife；…the wound that brought
darkness to those vengeance…craving orbs； smitten with her bloody
hands； smitten with her shuttle for a dagger。
antistrophe 2
Pining in their misery； they bewailed their cruel doom； those sons
of a mother hapless in her marriage； but she traced her descent from
the ancient line of the Erechtheidae； and in far…distant caves she was
nursed amid her father's storms； that child of Boreas； swift as a
steed over the steep hills； a daughter of gods； yet upon her also
the gray Fates bore hard； my daughter。
（Enter TEIRESIAS； led by a Boy； on the spectators' right。）
TEIRESIAS
Princes of Thebes； we have come with linked steps； both served
by the eyes of one； for thus； by a guide's help； the blind must walk。
CREON
And what； aged Teiresias； are thy tidings？
TEIRESIAS
I will tell thee； and do thou hearken to the seer。
CREON
Indeed； it has not been my wont to slight thy counsel。
TEIRESIAS
Therefore didst thou steer our city's course aright。
CREON
I have felt； and can attest； thy benefits。
TEIRESIAS
Mark that now； once more； thou standest on fate's fine edge。
CREON
What means this？ How I shudder at thy message！
TEIRESIAS
Thou wilt learn； when thou hearest the warnings of mine art。 As
I took my place on mine old seat of augury； where all birds have
been wont to gather within my ken； I heard a strange voice among them；
they were screaming with dire； feverish rage； that drowned their
language in jargon； and I knew that they were rending each other
with their talons； murderously； the whirr of wings told no doubtful
tale。
Forthwith； in fear； I essayed burnt…sacrifice on a duly kindled
altar： but from my offerings the Fire…god showed no flame； a dank
moisture； oozing from the thigh…flesh； trickled forth upon the embers；
and smoked； and sputtered； the gall was scattered to the air； and
the streaming thighs lay bared of the fat that had been wrapped
round them。
Such was the failure of the rites by which I vainly asked a
sign； as from this boy I learned； for he is my guide； as I am guide to
others。 And 'tis thy counsel that hath brought this sickness on our
State。 For the altars of our city and of our hearths have been
tainted； one and all； by birds and dogs； with carrion from the hapless
corpse； the son of Oedipus： and therefore the gods no more accept
prayer and sacrifice at our hands； or the flame of meat…offering；
nor doth any bird give a clear sign by its shrill cry； for they have
tasted the fatness of a slain man's blood。
Think； then； on these things； my son。 All men are liable to err；
but when an error hath been made； that man is no longer witless or
unblest who heals the ill into which he hath fallen； and remains not
stubborn。
Self…will； we know； incurs the charge of folly。 Nay； allow the
claim of the dead； stab not the fallen； what prowess is it to slay the
slain anew？ I have sought thy good； and for thy good I speak： and
never is it sweeter to learn from a good counsellor than when he
counsels for thine own gain。
CREON
Old man； ye all shoot your shafts at me； as archers at the
butts；…Ye must needs practise on me with seer…craft also；…aye； the
seer…tribe hath long trafficked in me； and made me their
merchandise。 Gain your gains； drive your trade； if ye list； in the
silver…gold of Sardis and the gold of India； but ye shall not hide
that man in the grave；…no； though the eagles of Zeus should bear the
carrion morsels to their Master's throne…no； not for dread of that
defilement will I suffer his burial：…for well I know that no mortal
can defile the gods。…But； aged Teiresias； the wisest fall with
shamefu