按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Let rite be paid when rites are due。
Yet is it ill to disobey
The powers who hold by might the sway。
Thou hast withstood authority；
A self…willed rebel； thou must die。
ANTIGONE
Unwept； unwed； unfriended； hence I go；
No longer may I see the day's bright eye；
Not one friend left to share my bitter woe；
And o'er my ashes heave one passing sigh。
CREON
If wail and lamentation aught availed
To stave off death； I trow they'd never end。
Away with her； and having walled her up
In a rock…vaulted tomb； as I ordained；
Leave her alone at liberty to die；
Or； if she choose； to live in solitude；
The tomb her dwelling。 We in either case
Are guiltless as concerns this maiden's blood；
Only on earth no lodging shall she find。
ANTIGONE
O grave； O bridal bower； O prison house
Hewn from the rock； my everlasting home；
Whither I go to join the mighty host
Of kinsfolk； Persephassa's guests long dead；
The last of all； of all more miserable；
I pass； my destined span of years cut short。
And yet good hope is mine that I shall find
A welcome from my sire； a welcome too；
From thee； my mother； and my brother dear；
From with these hands； I laved and decked your limbs
In death； and poured libations on your grave。
And last； my Polyneices； unto thee
I paid due rites； and this my recompense！
Yet am I justified in wisdom's eyes。
For even had it been some child of mine；
Or husband mouldering in death's decay；
I had not wrought this deed despite the State。
What is the law I call in aid？ 'Tis thus
I argue。 Had it been a husband dead
I might have wed another； and have borne
Another child； to take the dead child's place。
But； now my sire and mother both are dead；
No second brother can be born for me。
Thus by the law of conscience I was led
To honor thee； dear brother； and was judged
By Creon guilty of a heinous crime。
And now he drags me like a criminal；
A bride unwed； amerced of marriage…song
And marriage…bed and joys of motherhood；
By friends deserted to a living grave。
What ordinance of heaven have I transgressed？
Hereafter can I look to any god
For succor； call on any man for help？
Alas； my piety is impious deemed。
Well； if such justice is approved of heaven；
I shall be taught by suffering my sin；
But if the sin is theirs； O may they suffer
No worse ills than the wrongs they do to me。
CHORUS
The same ungovernable will
Drives like a gale the maiden still。
CREON
Therefore； my guards who let her stay
Shall smart full sore for their delay。
ANTIGONE
Ah； woe is me！ This word I hear
Brings death most near。
CHORUS
I have no comfort。 What he saith；
Portends no other thing than death。
ANTIGONE
My fatherland； city of Thebes divine；
Ye gods of Thebes whence sprang my line；
Look； puissant lords of Thebes； on me；
The last of all your royal house ye see。
Martyred by men of sin； undone。
Such meed my piety hath won。
＇Exit ANTIGONE＇
CHORUS
（Str。 1）
Like to thee that maiden bright；
Danae； in her brass…bound tower；
Once exchanged the glad sunlight
For a cell； her bridal bower。
And yet she sprang of royal line；
My child； like thine；
And nursed the seed
By her conceived
Of Zeus descending in a golden shower。
Strange are the ways of Fate； her power
Nor wealth； nor arms withstand； nor tower；
Nor brass…prowed ships； that breast the sea
From Fate can flee。
（Ant。 1）
Thus Dryas' child； the rash Edonian King；
For words of high disdain
Did Bacchus to a rocky dungeon bring；
To cool the madness of a fevered brain。
His frenzy passed；
He learnt at last
'Twas madness gibes against a god to fling。
For once he fain had quenched the Maenad's fire；
And of the tuneful Nine provoked the ire。
（Str。 2）
By the Iron Rocks that guard the double main；
On Bosporus' lone strand；
Where stretcheth Salmydessus' plain
In the wild Thracian land；
There on his borders Ares witnessed
The vengeance by a jealous step…dame ta'en
The gore that trickled from a spindle red；
The sightless orbits of her step…sons twain。
（Ant。 2）
Wasting away they mourned their piteous doom；
The blasted issue of their mother's womb。
But she her lineage could trace
To great Erecththeus' race；
Daughter of Boreas in her sire's vast caves
Reared； where the tempest raves；
Swift as his horses o'er the hills she sped；
A child of gods； yet she； my child； like thee；
By Destiny
That knows not death nor ageshe too was vanquished。
＇Enter TEIRESIAS and BOY＇
TEIRESIAS
Princes of Thebes； two wayfarers as one；
Having betwixt us eyes for one； we are here。
The blind man cannot move without a guide。
CREON
Why tidings； old Teiresias？
TEIRESIAS
I will tell thee；
And when thou hearest thou must heed the seer。
CREON
Thus far I ne'er have disobeyed thy rede。
TEIRESIAS
So hast thou steered the ship of State aright。
CREON
I know it； and I gladly own my debt。
TEIRESIAS
Bethink thee that thou treadest once again
The razor edge of peril。
CREON
What is this？
Thy words inspire a dread presentiment。
TEIRESIAS
The divination of my arts shall tell。
Sitting upon my throne of augury；
As is my wont； where every fowl of heaven
Find harborage； upon mine ears was borne
A jargon strange of twitterings； hoots； and screams；
So knew I that each bird at the other tare
With bloody talons； for the whirr of wings
Could signify naught else。 Perturbed in soul；
I straight essayed the sacrifice by fire
On blazing altars； but the God of Fire
Came not in flame； and from the thigh bones dripped
And sputtered in the ashes a foul ooze；
Gall…bladders cracked and spurted up： the fat
Melted and fell and left the thigh bones bare。
Such are the signs； taught by this lad； I read
As I guide others； so the boy guides me
The frustrate signs of oracles grown dumb。
O King； thy willful temper ails the State；
For all our shrines and altars are profaned
By what has filled the maw of dogs and crows；
The flesh of Oedipus' unburied son。
Therefore the angry gods abominate
Our litanies and our burnt offerings；
Therefore no birds trill out a happy note；
Gorged with the carnival of human gore。
O ponder this； my son。 To err is common
To all men； but the man who having erred
Hugs not his errors； but repents and seeks
The cure； is not a wastrel nor unwise。
No fool； the saw goes； like the obstinate fool。
Let death disarm thy vengeance。 O forbear
To vex the dead。 What glory wilt thou win
By slaying twice the slain？ I mean thee well；
Counsel's most welcome if I promise gain。
CREON
Old man； ye all let fly at me your shafts
Like anchors at a target； yea； ye set
Your soothsayer on me。 Peddlers are ye all
And I the merchandise ye buy and sell。
Go to； and make your profit where ye will；
Silver of Sardis change for gold of Ind；
Ye will not purchase this man's burial；
Not though the winged ministers of Zeus
Should bear him in their talons to his throne；
Not e'en in awe of prodigy so dire
Would I permit his burial； for I know
No hum